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English translation of Open Letter to French Bishops from Nous Sommes Aussi Eglise (NSAE) (January, 2008) It was with joy that we received the report of the Dutch Dominicans "Kerk en Ambt" ("The Church and Ministry") . The situations described and the questions raised are in fact directly applicable to France. The aging of priests, without replacements, is a serious crisis. Like you, we have seen our communities progressively deprived of the services of an ordained priest. Core Christians, we have the right to freely and respectfully ask you: despite many cries of alarm, have you not denied the crisis and preferred keeping your silence to displeasing Rome, leaving communities to fend for themselves, often without the Eucharist? Have you even noticed the positive side of the crisis, that pushes us to adapt to the new position of the Church in a changed world? We do not underestimate the difficulties that are part of a bishop's charge. But we must move ahead. The great virtue of the authors of the Dutch report is to have had the courage to make it public. Tongues are loosened. The questions posed provoke exchanges and discussions: how to let communities democratically choose their leaders and those women or men who will preside over the Eucharist and the sacraments they celebrate. Is it necessary to recruit them among celibate males who sign up for life? What is the status of women? Must we give the priesthood in its present form priority over the community's right to the Eucharist? Must we not examine the exercise of power in the Church? Etc. The worksite is huge. It is open to all women and men. As the French Dominican, Herve Legrand, who is very critical of the text of his Dutch brothers, says: "One must formally acknowledge to the local authorities that their cry of alarm is justified. Now that this debate has begun around this approach and the response to it, it would be well to conduct it according to clear and suitable rules as with all worthwhile debates." The request we address to you is simple: that you establish a face-to-face confrontation in our community and that you participate fully in the debates. Far from being a threat to the Church, we have a veritable godsend: we must know how to profit from it. "When it comes, the Spirit of truth, it will lead you toward the fulness of truth." (Jn 16:13)
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