http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPISCOPAL_BISHOPS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-05-15-21-47-17
Episcopal church ordains its 2nd openly gay bishop
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- "Seven years after the Episcopal Church caused an uproar by consecrating its first openly gay bishop, it has done the same thing again - only this time with a woman.
The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, was ordained and consecrated on Saturday, making her the second openly gay bishop in church history and one of the first two female bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles' 114-year history.
She was installed at Long Beach Arena before 3,000 people, who burst into applause at the end, church spokesman Bob Williams said."
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now- https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2025/10/rev-dr-bridget-mary-meehan-arcwp-chat.html
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Flood of New Priest Sex Abuse Claims in Belgium After Resignation of Bishop Who Admitted Sexual Abuse of Boy
Flood of new priest sex abuse claims
From correspondents in Brussels
From: AFP
May 12, 2010 7:04AM
A BELGIAN committee probing allegations of pedophilia by priests has been flooded with complaints since the resignation of a bishop who admitted sexually abusing a boy, its president said today.
Some 270 new complaints have been filed with the commission since Roger Vangheluwe, bishop of the Flemish city of Bruges, quit his post on April 23, said Peter Adriaenssens, according to Belga news agency.
Ninety-five per cent of the complaints have come from the northern Belgian region of Flanders, where Bruges is located, according to Adriaenssens, while 90 per cent involve boys.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/flood-of-new-priest-sex-abuse-claims/story-e6frf7jx-1225865319747
From correspondents in Brussels
From: AFP
May 12, 2010 7:04AM
A BELGIAN committee probing allegations of pedophilia by priests has been flooded with complaints since the resignation of a bishop who admitted sexually abusing a boy, its president said today.
Some 270 new complaints have been filed with the commission since Roger Vangheluwe, bishop of the Flemish city of Bruges, quit his post on April 23, said Peter Adriaenssens, according to Belga news agency.
Ninety-five per cent of the complaints have come from the northern Belgian region of Flanders, where Bruges is located, according to Adriaenssens, while 90 per cent involve boys.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/flood-of-new-priest-sex-abuse-claims/story-e6frf7jx-1225865319747
Friday, May 14, 2010
Memorial Service Was Held for Lee Dotson at Oakwood Manor in Sarasota, Florida on May 14, 2010
Leslie C. Dotson (Lee) was born on September 15, 1945 and died on Saturday May 8, 2010. On Friday, May 14 th at 11:00 AM close to 100 people from Oakwood Manor in Sarasota, Florida attended an inspiring Memorial Service for Lee. It was a profound celebration of Lee's life. His wife Evelyn wept during the testimonials as close friends recalled some wonderful memories and stories about Lee. Todd, his son accompanied his mother and stood with her as they greeted all in the receiving line. Lee is survived by Kimberly Hancock, his daughter and son-in-law Ben Hancock, and their two children , Cooper and Chloe Hancock, and Mike Budd, son-in-law, all from Rhode Island.
Lee was a retired Master Sergent in Air Force/ National Guard and a retired Postal Worker.
Bridget Mary Meehan wrote the Memorial Service and led the prayers. Judy and Louise, friends of the family read Psalm 23 and the Gospel of John 14:1-3. Jack Meehan played the sax and trumpet: Amazing Grace, Danny Boy, the Air Force Anthem and When the Saints Go Marching in. Jack also played a melody of spiritual and Scottish songs before and after the service.
Lee and Evelyn's friends from Oakwood hosted a luncheon immediately following the service.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
Article about Archdiocese of Chicago's Denial of Funeral for Roman Catholic Womenpriest Janine Denomme who is Dying
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=164664
A simple wish runs into a buzzsaw of bureaucracy
by Dayna Dion
May 13, 2010
Janine Denomme is dying. She has advanced colon and liver cancer, and a final wish: to have her funeral at Chicago’s St. Gertrude Catholic Parish, where she has devotedly worshipped and served for years.
The only problem is that she was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest last month. And the Catholic Church forbids women from becoming priests. In fact, it kicks them out for doing so.
So, last week, Denomme discovered her funeral wish won’t be granted. The church in which she has faithfully worshipped during her life will not be the church in which she is honored after her death.
The decision not to honor Denomme’s wish was made by the Archdiocese of Chicago, said the Rev. Dominic Grassi, pastor of St. Gertrude’s. “They told me I could not have the funeral here,” he said.
..." Today, there are nearly 100 ordained female priests or deacons, including three in the Chicago area, and the number is growing, said Bridget Mary Meehan, a spokeswoman for Roman Catholic Womenpriests."
"And Meehan says the ordinations are technically valid: “Our first bishops were ordained by a male bishop with apostolic succession, in full communion with the pope. Therefore, our orders are valid.”
"Technically valid or not, the Catholic Church’s local leaders have denied Denomme’s request for a funeral at St. Gertrude's, and that denial has been met with anger, sadness and confusion..."
...."One of those questions, from Meehan’s perspective, is whether the Catholic Church is actually following the word of Christ. “The institutional leaders are contradicting the message of Jesus here, which is love one another,” she said. “How is denying a funeral to someone living Christ’s example of love for one another just? It’s not.”
The church’s decision to reject Denomme’s wish also raises questions of equality, Meehan said. “Pedophiles have been protected and covered up, but women who are stepping up to serve their church, which is in great need at this moment, are being excluded and punished harshly,” she said..."
A simple wish runs into a buzzsaw of bureaucracy
by Dayna Dion
May 13, 2010
Janine Denomme is dying. She has advanced colon and liver cancer, and a final wish: to have her funeral at Chicago’s St. Gertrude Catholic Parish, where she has devotedly worshipped and served for years.
The only problem is that she was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest last month. And the Catholic Church forbids women from becoming priests. In fact, it kicks them out for doing so.
So, last week, Denomme discovered her funeral wish won’t be granted. The church in which she has faithfully worshipped during her life will not be the church in which she is honored after her death.
The decision not to honor Denomme’s wish was made by the Archdiocese of Chicago, said the Rev. Dominic Grassi, pastor of St. Gertrude’s. “They told me I could not have the funeral here,” he said.
..." Today, there are nearly 100 ordained female priests or deacons, including three in the Chicago area, and the number is growing, said Bridget Mary Meehan, a spokeswoman for Roman Catholic Womenpriests."
"And Meehan says the ordinations are technically valid: “Our first bishops were ordained by a male bishop with apostolic succession, in full communion with the pope. Therefore, our orders are valid.”
"Technically valid or not, the Catholic Church’s local leaders have denied Denomme’s request for a funeral at St. Gertrude's, and that denial has been met with anger, sadness and confusion..."
...."One of those questions, from Meehan’s perspective, is whether the Catholic Church is actually following the word of Christ. “The institutional leaders are contradicting the message of Jesus here, which is love one another,” she said. “How is denying a funeral to someone living Christ’s example of love for one another just? It’s not.”
The church’s decision to reject Denomme’s wish also raises questions of equality, Meehan said. “Pedophiles have been protected and covered up, but women who are stepping up to serve their church, which is in great need at this moment, are being excluded and punished harshly,” she said..."
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Roman Catholic Womanpriest Janice Sevre-Dusynska presides at Liturgy in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 12, 2010
Last night I presided at a Eucharistic liturgy held in a non-Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. About 65 people were present -- quite a lot considering it was publicized by word of mouth, the telephone and email. The community did not want media or press. It was initiated when a few people formed a committee several weeks ago with the intent of having me preside. They invited me to their meeting. I was asked to select the readings/Gospel and music. They obtained copyright permission and ran off copies of the liturgy/songs. Seven people served as musicians/choir. We celebrated a Pentecost Liturgy which empowers the community: Six people as well as myself read parts of the Eucharistic prayer. Another woman served as deacon. Two people from the community read the Wisdom reading and the Gospel. Six members of the community served as Eucharistic minister in addition to myself. During the consecration, all present were asked to extend their hands in blessing of the bread and wine and say the prayer of consecration. I gave a dialogue-homily. I spoke for a few minutes about the Wisdom reading: how Jesus the Sophia of God is calling us to friendship. Then I gave a bit of background information about Roman Catholic Womenpriests: That it wasn't just add women and stir, but rather that we were intent about living out and bringing about the reforms in the priesthod and Church that we had talked about since 1975, when the Episcopal women were ordained.Then I opened it up to the community inviting them to dialogue about the reading/Gospel, RCWP... They asked questions about the RCWP community and also about the sackcloth alb which I had folded beneath the altar table. I explained that I had used it as my prostration cloth during my ordination and spoke about the U.S. involvement in human suffering caused by our foreign policies, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.. I said that I wore it while witnessing to the 300 U.S. bishops in Baltimore, Maryland at their biannual meeting after the U.S. invaded Iraq. I told the community that I believe our U.S. bishops need to be in sackcloth albs with ashes on their foreheads and be vigiling day and night outside the East Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. to stop the killing in Iraq and Afghanistan. I had also worn my sackcloth alb when I presided at Eucharistic Liturgy at Ft. Benning during our weekend vigil to close the School of the Americas in November of 2008. On the sackcloth alb was placed a vase of flowers and also my mother's babushka and wedding crown, some lace from my Busia, and my communion prayer book -- symbolic objects from my life's journey. The community did not want photos taken during the Mass as they did not want their prayers to be interrupted by picture-taking. Also, the community did not want to be photographed...lest they incur ecclesiastical trouble. My husband took pictures over their heads and the one sent you is the best we could do. I hope it will work for you... Afterwards we had fellowship/reception. The people asked if I could preside at a monthly liturgy. I agreed. Please let me know if you need any further information. I have a copy of my homily, the Wisdom reading and Gospel. Mass of the Holy Spirit The Entrance Song was "All Are Welcome" The Reading was from the Book of Wisdom 7: 24-30. We used the Responsorial Psalm, "Holy Is Your Name" - Luke 1: 46-55. The Gospel for May 12th was from John 16: 12-15. Presentation of the Gifts: Servant Song" Communion Song: "Eat This Bread." Closing Song: "We Are Marching"
Fr. Roy Bourgeois's National Tour Reaches Iowa/Mary Kay Kusner, Candidate for Ordination as a Roman Catholic Womanpriest Shares Inspirational Journey
Roman Catholic Womenpriests and deacons
from Midwest Region, Mary Kay Kusner, second
from left
Fr.Roy at Janice Sevre-Dusynska's ordination
in Lexington, Kentucky
Special thanks to Rodger Routh - Iowa Peace and Justice
for the following inspirational videos of Fr. Roy and future Roman Catholic Womanpriest, Mary Kay Kusner. Video-graphersoundslikesouth1@yahoo.com
Fr. Roy Bourgeois M.M. , under threat of excommunications by theVatican, spoke about the need for justice in the Catholic Church, andthat the time is now to allow the ordination of women as priests.Bourgeois, founder of SAO Watch, www.soaw.org is on a speaking tour tospread the message in support of woman's ordination and updating thecause of closing the School of the Americas.
2 videos of Fr. Roy's talk
http://www.youtube.com/user/soundslikesouth1#p/u/7/ro3m_tyuahI
http://www.youtube.com/user/soundslikesouth1#p/u/8/0HWyB4AxgfI
Also, speaking was Mary Kay Kusner, a candidate for ordination set to take place this spring in Iowa City. Mary shares her journey to ordination in this video. Both Kusner and Bourgouis spoke to a standing room only crowd at the Ames library.
http://www.youtube.com/user/soundslikesouth1#p/u/6/6zEE677ovkU
www.marykaykusner.com
www.fullcirleic.com
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.com
We are so blessed to have Fr. Roy Bourgeois and Mary Kay Kusner who give powerful testimonies as prophets in our midst. They share their love for the Catholic Church , the people of God, and the share their desire to renew our church in the spirit of Jesus who called women and men as equals to witness to the liberating message of empowerment of Gospel equality. Fr. Roy and Mary Kay open their hearts and share their journeys as they call all of us to reclaim justice for women in our church. May you be blessed as, I was.
Watch their riveting testimonials as a clarion call of reform for the Roman Catholic Church. Share it with your family, friends and communities. As we celebrate Pentecost, the Holy Spirit's gifts are once again among us in the people of God, gifting the church, the Body of Christ, with renewed hope and joy! Roman Catholic Womenpriests are here to serve Catholic communities now in an inclusive, accountable, people-empowered, non-hierarchical church of love, compassion and justice for all . Join us
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
"Why the Paedophilia Scandal Happened " Article by John Wijngaards
Why the paedophilia scandal happened: because of the abuse of authority in the Roman Catholic Church
The paedophilia scandal that has engulfed the Church in North America and Europe reveals it as a systemic problem. The problem was not caused by errors of some isolated individuals, but by the failing of a centralised system that has affected all parts of the Church.
Since the Second Vatican Council a small but powerful group in the Catholic Church has taken control of governance. Continuing a trend that had started from the beginning of the 20th century, this group, headed by conservative Popes, has abused, and is still abusing, spiritual authority in order to block attempts at 'modernising' the Church.
We speak of a real abuse because
their measures go against the real intentions of Jesus Christ to whom they ultimately owe their authority;
their actions contravene the clear principles of reform endorsed by the Second Vatican Council (1963-1965), the most authoritative body of vision and legislation in recent times.
We will highlight three aspects of this abuse that have had a significant influence on how paedophilia cases among the clergy were handled in the Church.
I. The appointment of 'party-line' bishops
From the 1960's, the Popes and their Vatican assistants have tried to appoint only bishops and archbishops who agree to their policies and who see loyalty to decrees emanating from Rome as their highest priority.
As well documented in Papal Power by Paul Collins, a book that we have in its entirety on our website, the Popes have now drawn all authority to themselves, reducing bishops to low-level officials executing their wishes.
A stringent new secret examination of candidates for the episcopacyeliminates any priest who shows signs of disagreement with Vatican policies.
An oath of fidelity ensures that new bishops feel bound to observe to the letter all instructions received from Rome.
Constant pressure is put on bishops 'to resolutely refuse any support to those people, whether individuals or groups, who defend the priestly ordination of women, whether they do so in the name of progress, human rights, compassion or whatever reason it may be' (Letter of the Congregation for Doctrine to Bishops,Osservatore Romano 13 September 1983).
Individual bishops receive detailed instructions from Rome regarding supposed 'dissidents' in their dioceses.
The Synods of Bishops, which were instituted by the Vatican Council to curb curial monopoly, have been deprived of any real influence by a rigging of the agenda, by saturating committees with members of the Roman Curia, by a subtle censorship of bishops' contributions, by selectively omitting resolutions voted on by the bishops. This has been documented in detail for the Synod on the Family. See J. Grootaers and J. A. Selling, The 1980 Synod of Bishops On the Role of the Family, Louvain 1983, 375 pages. Similar manipulations took place at the Synods on Evangelisation, on the Laity, on Africa, on Asia, on Europe, to mention but a few (see The Tablet, correspondence 16 Oct - 20 Nov 1999.
As a result, in the pedophilia cases, bishops consulted Rome for advice and followed the code of secrecy that was advocated by their Vatican masters.
The result of the bishops' dependence on Rome is a lamentable reduction of status. Bishops in the Catholic Church are often considered, both by their priests and the laity, to be merely 'yes-men' whose main concern is to please authorities in Rome. Some jokes that do the rounds in the Catholic community illustrate the point.
A little girl accompanied her mother to the ordination of a new bishop. At one moment in the long rite, the candidate bishop knelt down and the three ordaining bishops surrounded him, stretching their hands over his head. The little girl who stood up high in the pew to have a good look, then whispered to her mother: "Mum, what are they doing now?" "Hush, child", she replied. "They're taking out his backbone!"
A monsignor who had been newly appointed to the Congregation in Rome that appoints bishops, was taken to St Peter's Basilica by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation. "Now look at these these tiles, these marble flagstones on the floor", the Cardinal said to him. "New bishops are just like that. If you lay them down properly from the start, you can walk over them for the rest of their lives!"
II. The suppression of lay authority in the Church
In spite of the Second Vatican Council's decrees that define the Catholic Church in terms of the People of God and that call for real co-responsibility of the laity in all levels of the Church: national, diocesan and parish, Vatican authorities have done everything possible to reduce the influence of lay people on Church governance.
The rights and duties accorded to the laity do not respond to what was the intention of the Council, as pointed out by church lawyer Ladislas Orsy.
The laity in the Church has no say because the Church is a clerical patriarchal society clinging on to power, according to theologian Peter C. Morea.
Pope John Paul II recently beatified Pope Pius IX (1848 - 1878) in spite of the man's condemnation of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, socialism, democracy and the emancipation of slaves.This action was fully supported by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who was then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Under pressure of the Bishops' Synod on the Laity, the Vatican appointed aSpecial Commission on the Function of Women in Society and in the Church(FWSC) in 1974. However, during meetings of this commission (FWSC) women members experienced a lack of freedom of expression and of open consultation. ‘Our views are being systematically suppressed.’Read the full report by Rie Vendrik, one of the participants.
The Pope and his advisors forget where the infallibility of their teaching authority originates. Infallibility finds its source in the inerrancy which is a gift to the whole community of faith.
The Pope and his advisors neglect to consult the faithful as they should, as had already been advocated by Cardinal John Henry Newman.
If the ordinary laity, men and women, had been involved in the decision making on local, diocesan and national level, the abuse by pedophile priests would have been exposed and dealt with long ago. The desire to keep everything under central control and to hide the truth through secrecy delayed discovering the full extent of the problem and the need of drastic action.
III. The suppression of the free speech of theologians and experts
In order to maintain total control of opinion and action within the universal Church, the Popes and his Vatican lieutenants have created a climate in which all form of 'dissent' or 'protest' against the official party-line is vigorously suppressed. This applies especially to theologians and all experts who enjoy a specific expertise.
Let us start by looking at the principles laid down in Church documents (Vatican II):
Do theologians enjoy ‘academic freedom’ in the Church?They do by law, but not always in practice.
Can a theologian legitimately dissent from officially taught doctrine?Yes he/she can, if there are good reasons for it.
Do theologians at times have a duty to express dissent from officially taught doctrine?True obedience to the Gospel and truth may demand open opposition to the teaching authority.
Can clear guidelines for dissent be formulated?No, since many situations are unique.
May a theologian’s dissent be voiced through the public media?Yes, it may. Often the attitude of the Roman authorities leave no other way.
In reality, however, the Vatican suppresses all forms of legitimate disagreement or protest.
Theologians. Professors in seminaries and theological colleges are required to swear the oath of loyalty which now, since Ad Tuendam Fidem (28 May 1998), includes agreement to the ban on women priests. Theologians have been dismissed from their teaching posts because of their dissenting views. Others have been warned that they will be dismissed if they speak out on controversial issue. Rome has issued new instructions that put Catholic Colleges under more direct ecclesiastical control.
Editors, Writers, Publishers. Many Catholic newspapers and magazines are vulnerable because they are owned by dioceses or by publishing houses owned by religious congregations. Rome has issued strict instructions to book censors not to give theImprimatur or Nihil Obstat to books that advocate change in the Church. The Liturgical Press of St. John's Abbey, Minnesota, North American publisher of Woman at the Altar by Lavinia Byrne, allegedly burnt its stock of 1300 copies when it was informed by the local bishop that Rome was displeased with the book.
Parish Priests, Lay leaders. Through the new oath of loyalty priests too are put under pressure to fall in line with Rome's opposition to women priests.
Congresses and Meetings of Catholic Organisations. The outcome of such consultations is often manipulated by Roman interference. An infamous example is the Third World Congress for the Lay Apostolate (Rome 1967) that manifested the wide range of 'hierarchical control mechanisms' that Rome has used ever since. Read J.G.Vaillancourt, Papal Power. A Study of Vatican Control over Lay Catholic Elites, Berkeley 1980.
Donum Veritatis, the Roman ‘Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian’ was written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the present Pope. This document makes the papal and curial magisterium the final norm of truth.
The situation has led to a climate of terror, with theologians and others in Church service, showing external assent while disagreeing inside. a. The magisterium has become ‘ the battle-cry of intransigent people’ (Prof. Bernard Häring)b. ‘I look at my church and I am troubled’ (Mgr. John J. Egan)c. ‘There is much untruth in the Church. There is hypocrisy and humbug at all levels. There is pretended loyalty, outward profession of the official line accompanied by inner denial; there is the corrupting power of fear’ (Fr. Owen O’Sullivan)d.‘Violence in the Church’ (Fr. Camilo Macisse)e. The Impact of Humanae Vitae (John Mahoney S.J.)Practical and academic experts in many disciplines have been trying to point out the failings of the present system. Their silencing contributed significantly to the culture that allowed the pedophilia abuse to continue unchecked.
John Wijngaards---
The paedophilia scandal that has engulfed the Church in North America and Europe reveals it as a systemic problem. The problem was not caused by errors of some isolated individuals, but by the failing of a centralised system that has affected all parts of the Church.
Since the Second Vatican Council a small but powerful group in the Catholic Church has taken control of governance. Continuing a trend that had started from the beginning of the 20th century, this group, headed by conservative Popes, has abused, and is still abusing, spiritual authority in order to block attempts at 'modernising' the Church.
We speak of a real abuse because
their measures go against the real intentions of Jesus Christ to whom they ultimately owe their authority;
their actions contravene the clear principles of reform endorsed by the Second Vatican Council (1963-1965), the most authoritative body of vision and legislation in recent times.
We will highlight three aspects of this abuse that have had a significant influence on how paedophilia cases among the clergy were handled in the Church.
I. The appointment of 'party-line' bishops
From the 1960's, the Popes and their Vatican assistants have tried to appoint only bishops and archbishops who agree to their policies and who see loyalty to decrees emanating from Rome as their highest priority.
As well documented in Papal Power by Paul Collins, a book that we have in its entirety on our website, the Popes have now drawn all authority to themselves, reducing bishops to low-level officials executing their wishes.
A stringent new secret examination of candidates for the episcopacyeliminates any priest who shows signs of disagreement with Vatican policies.
An oath of fidelity ensures that new bishops feel bound to observe to the letter all instructions received from Rome.
Constant pressure is put on bishops 'to resolutely refuse any support to those people, whether individuals or groups, who defend the priestly ordination of women, whether they do so in the name of progress, human rights, compassion or whatever reason it may be' (Letter of the Congregation for Doctrine to Bishops,Osservatore Romano 13 September 1983).
Individual bishops receive detailed instructions from Rome regarding supposed 'dissidents' in their dioceses.
The Synods of Bishops, which were instituted by the Vatican Council to curb curial monopoly, have been deprived of any real influence by a rigging of the agenda, by saturating committees with members of the Roman Curia, by a subtle censorship of bishops' contributions, by selectively omitting resolutions voted on by the bishops. This has been documented in detail for the Synod on the Family. See J. Grootaers and J. A. Selling, The 1980 Synod of Bishops On the Role of the Family, Louvain 1983, 375 pages. Similar manipulations took place at the Synods on Evangelisation, on the Laity, on Africa, on Asia, on Europe, to mention but a few (see The Tablet, correspondence 16 Oct - 20 Nov 1999.
As a result, in the pedophilia cases, bishops consulted Rome for advice and followed the code of secrecy that was advocated by their Vatican masters.
The result of the bishops' dependence on Rome is a lamentable reduction of status. Bishops in the Catholic Church are often considered, both by their priests and the laity, to be merely 'yes-men' whose main concern is to please authorities in Rome. Some jokes that do the rounds in the Catholic community illustrate the point.
A little girl accompanied her mother to the ordination of a new bishop. At one moment in the long rite, the candidate bishop knelt down and the three ordaining bishops surrounded him, stretching their hands over his head. The little girl who stood up high in the pew to have a good look, then whispered to her mother: "Mum, what are they doing now?" "Hush, child", she replied. "They're taking out his backbone!"
A monsignor who had been newly appointed to the Congregation in Rome that appoints bishops, was taken to St Peter's Basilica by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation. "Now look at these these tiles, these marble flagstones on the floor", the Cardinal said to him. "New bishops are just like that. If you lay them down properly from the start, you can walk over them for the rest of their lives!"
II. The suppression of lay authority in the Church
In spite of the Second Vatican Council's decrees that define the Catholic Church in terms of the People of God and that call for real co-responsibility of the laity in all levels of the Church: national, diocesan and parish, Vatican authorities have done everything possible to reduce the influence of lay people on Church governance.
The rights and duties accorded to the laity do not respond to what was the intention of the Council, as pointed out by church lawyer Ladislas Orsy.
The laity in the Church has no say because the Church is a clerical patriarchal society clinging on to power, according to theologian Peter C. Morea.
Pope John Paul II recently beatified Pope Pius IX (1848 - 1878) in spite of the man's condemnation of religious freedom, freedom of conscience, socialism, democracy and the emancipation of slaves.This action was fully supported by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger who was then Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Under pressure of the Bishops' Synod on the Laity, the Vatican appointed aSpecial Commission on the Function of Women in Society and in the Church(FWSC) in 1974. However, during meetings of this commission (FWSC) women members experienced a lack of freedom of expression and of open consultation. ‘Our views are being systematically suppressed.’Read the full report by Rie Vendrik, one of the participants.
The Pope and his advisors forget where the infallibility of their teaching authority originates. Infallibility finds its source in the inerrancy which is a gift to the whole community of faith.
The Pope and his advisors neglect to consult the faithful as they should, as had already been advocated by Cardinal John Henry Newman.
If the ordinary laity, men and women, had been involved in the decision making on local, diocesan and national level, the abuse by pedophile priests would have been exposed and dealt with long ago. The desire to keep everything under central control and to hide the truth through secrecy delayed discovering the full extent of the problem and the need of drastic action.
III. The suppression of the free speech of theologians and experts
In order to maintain total control of opinion and action within the universal Church, the Popes and his Vatican lieutenants have created a climate in which all form of 'dissent' or 'protest' against the official party-line is vigorously suppressed. This applies especially to theologians and all experts who enjoy a specific expertise.
Let us start by looking at the principles laid down in Church documents (Vatican II):
Do theologians enjoy ‘academic freedom’ in the Church?They do by law, but not always in practice.
Can a theologian legitimately dissent from officially taught doctrine?Yes he/she can, if there are good reasons for it.
Do theologians at times have a duty to express dissent from officially taught doctrine?True obedience to the Gospel and truth may demand open opposition to the teaching authority.
Can clear guidelines for dissent be formulated?No, since many situations are unique.
May a theologian’s dissent be voiced through the public media?Yes, it may. Often the attitude of the Roman authorities leave no other way.
In reality, however, the Vatican suppresses all forms of legitimate disagreement or protest.
Theologians. Professors in seminaries and theological colleges are required to swear the oath of loyalty which now, since Ad Tuendam Fidem (28 May 1998), includes agreement to the ban on women priests. Theologians have been dismissed from their teaching posts because of their dissenting views. Others have been warned that they will be dismissed if they speak out on controversial issue. Rome has issued new instructions that put Catholic Colleges under more direct ecclesiastical control.
Editors, Writers, Publishers. Many Catholic newspapers and magazines are vulnerable because they are owned by dioceses or by publishing houses owned by religious congregations. Rome has issued strict instructions to book censors not to give theImprimatur or Nihil Obstat to books that advocate change in the Church. The Liturgical Press of St. John's Abbey, Minnesota, North American publisher of Woman at the Altar by Lavinia Byrne, allegedly burnt its stock of 1300 copies when it was informed by the local bishop that Rome was displeased with the book.
Parish Priests, Lay leaders. Through the new oath of loyalty priests too are put under pressure to fall in line with Rome's opposition to women priests.
Congresses and Meetings of Catholic Organisations. The outcome of such consultations is often manipulated by Roman interference. An infamous example is the Third World Congress for the Lay Apostolate (Rome 1967) that manifested the wide range of 'hierarchical control mechanisms' that Rome has used ever since. Read J.G.Vaillancourt, Papal Power. A Study of Vatican Control over Lay Catholic Elites, Berkeley 1980.
Donum Veritatis, the Roman ‘Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian’ was written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before he became the present Pope. This document makes the papal and curial magisterium the final norm of truth.
The situation has led to a climate of terror, with theologians and others in Church service, showing external assent while disagreeing inside. a. The magisterium has become ‘ the battle-cry of intransigent people’ (Prof. Bernard Häring)b. ‘I look at my church and I am troubled’ (Mgr. John J. Egan)c. ‘There is much untruth in the Church. There is hypocrisy and humbug at all levels. There is pretended loyalty, outward profession of the official line accompanied by inner denial; there is the corrupting power of fear’ (Fr. Owen O’Sullivan)d.‘Violence in the Church’ (Fr. Camilo Macisse)e. The Impact of Humanae Vitae (John Mahoney S.J.)Practical and academic experts in many disciplines have been trying to point out the failings of the present system. Their silencing contributed significantly to the culture that allowed the pedophilia abuse to continue unchecked.
John Wijngaards---
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
From Pedophiles to Popes: Doing the Vatican Shuffle
Voice from the Desert ...http://reform-network.net
"Instructions coming directly from Rome have required every bishop and cardinal to keep matters secret. These instructions were themselves kept secret; the cover-up was itself covered up. Then in 2002, John Paul put it in writing, specifically mandating that all charges against priests were to be reported secretly to the Vatican and hearings were to be held in camera, a procedure that directly defies state criminal codes. Rather than being defrocked, many outed pedophile priests have been allowed to advance into well-positioned posts as administrators, vicars, and parochial school officials—repeatedly accused by their victims while repeatedly promoted by their superiors.
Church spokesmen employ a vocabulary of compassion and healing—not for the victims but for the victimizers. They treat the child rapist as a sinner who confesses his transgression and vows to mend his ways. Instead of incarceration, there is repentance and absolution."
Catholic Church’s ‘zero tolerance’ doesn’t apply to bishops who left abusers in ministry
17th lawsuit filed against Christian Brothers for child sex abuse and fraud
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: A message from SNAP in New York City
Michigan’s “Child Victims Act” introduced
FACT SHEET: Sexual Abuse of Minors by U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops and Priests
MUST READ: Archbishop of Vienna accuses one of Pope’s closest aides of abuse cover-up
GOOD CITIZENSHIP EXAMPLE: Letter from Dominic Tomasso to the President of the United States
Is opposition to reform of statutes of limitation (SOL) the new Catholic bishops’ litmus test for Catholic politicians?
SNAP National Conference, in Chicago, July 30 to August 1The Vatican announces its decision to change the pope’s name to Innocent!
"Instructions coming directly from Rome have required every bishop and cardinal to keep matters secret. These instructions were themselves kept secret; the cover-up was itself covered up. Then in 2002, John Paul put it in writing, specifically mandating that all charges against priests were to be reported secretly to the Vatican and hearings were to be held in camera, a procedure that directly defies state criminal codes. Rather than being defrocked, many outed pedophile priests have been allowed to advance into well-positioned posts as administrators, vicars, and parochial school officials—repeatedly accused by their victims while repeatedly promoted by their superiors.
Church spokesmen employ a vocabulary of compassion and healing—not for the victims but for the victimizers. They treat the child rapist as a sinner who confesses his transgression and vows to mend his ways. Instead of incarceration, there is repentance and absolution."
Catholic Church’s ‘zero tolerance’ doesn’t apply to bishops who left abusers in ministry
17th lawsuit filed against Christian Brothers for child sex abuse and fraud
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: A message from SNAP in New York City
Michigan’s “Child Victims Act” introduced
FACT SHEET: Sexual Abuse of Minors by U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops and Priests
MUST READ: Archbishop of Vienna accuses one of Pope’s closest aides of abuse cover-up
GOOD CITIZENSHIP EXAMPLE: Letter from Dominic Tomasso to the President of the United States
Is opposition to reform of statutes of limitation (SOL) the new Catholic bishops’ litmus test for Catholic politicians?
SNAP National Conference, in Chicago, July 30 to August 1The Vatican announces its decision to change the pope’s name to Innocent!
Roman Catholic Womenprests: Site has recent ordinations in CA. and FL.
roman catholic womenpriests movies:
Bishop Olivia Doko Ordination in California 2010 - At the Roman Catholic women Priests: Bishop Olivia Doko Ordination in California 2010 - At the altar Roman Catholic women Priests: Bishop Olivia Doko ...
videos.wittysparks.com
Bishop Olivia Doko Ordination in California 2010 - At the Roman Catholic women Priests: Bishop Olivia Doko Ordination in California 2010 - At the altar Roman Catholic women Priests: Bishop Olivia Doko ...
videos.wittysparks.com
Pope Issues Most Direct Words to Date on Abuse
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/world/europe/12pope.html?hp
May 11, 2010
Pope Issues Most Direct Words to Date on Abuse
By RACHEL DONADIO
EXCERPT:
“The church has a profound need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn on the one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. And forgiveness does not substitute justice.”
"In placing the blame for sex abuse directly on the church, Benedict appeared to distance himself from other church officials who in recent weeks have criticized the news media for reporting on the sex abuse crisis, which they called attacks on the church."
May 11, 2010
Pope Issues Most Direct Words to Date on Abuse
By RACHEL DONADIO
EXCERPT:
“The church has a profound need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn on the one hand forgiveness but also the necessity of justice. And forgiveness does not substitute justice.”
"In placing the blame for sex abuse directly on the church, Benedict appeared to distance himself from other church officials who in recent weeks have criticized the news media for reporting on the sex abuse crisis, which they called attacks on the church."
Pope, Cardinal Rodé: no time for world's women religious leaders/Roman Catholic Womenpriests Are Open to Dialogue with Women Religious Leaders
This is a sad testimony to the Vatican's treatment of women religious leaders. They have no time to dialogue with you, but plenty of time to conduct investigations. Something is wrong with this picture!
But, the good news is the thousands of nuns are living their prophetic vocation serving God's people on the margins.
The church is in crisis. Parishes are being closed and merged. The people are hungry for sacramental ministry in the context of a vibrant community in which they are empowered as equals to share their gifts.
The Catholic Community needs you, the leaders of women relgious worldwide, to support your sisters who are called to priestly ministry in inclusive, justice-seeking, Gospel-centered communities. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are ordaining qualified women who support an inclusive priestly ministry. We will have no problem clearing our schedules to meet with you. Sounds like a vocation call to me, a match made in heaven! Are you ready? If so, contact us:
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
Bridget Mary Meehan, sfcc
Pope, Cardinal Rodé: no time for world's women religious leaders
by Thomas C. Fox on May. 11, 2010
http://ncronline.org/taxonomy/term/170
"The Holy Father today, (Monday, May 10), according to the Vatican Press Office, received in separate audiences: two prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Belgium, Bishop Lucas Van Looy of Ghent, and Msgr. Koen Vanhoutte, the diocesan administrator of Bruges. He also received Italian Bishop Valentino Di Cerbo of Alife-Caiazzo, accompanied by members of his family.
Nothing unusual – except for a mention of who he did not receive in audience.
Who the Holy Father did not receive in audience was any (or all) of the 800 general superiors of international women religious orders who are in Rome from all corners of the globe for a once in three-year general assembly. These women religious represent close to 1 million women religious worldwide.
The women have been meeting here in Rome since last Friday. "
But, the good news is the thousands of nuns are living their prophetic vocation serving God's people on the margins.
The church is in crisis. Parishes are being closed and merged. The people are hungry for sacramental ministry in the context of a vibrant community in which they are empowered as equals to share their gifts.
The Catholic Community needs you, the leaders of women relgious worldwide, to support your sisters who are called to priestly ministry in inclusive, justice-seeking, Gospel-centered communities. Roman Catholic Womenpriests are ordaining qualified women who support an inclusive priestly ministry. We will have no problem clearing our schedules to meet with you. Sounds like a vocation call to me, a match made in heaven! Are you ready? If so, contact us:
www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
Bridget Mary Meehan, sfcc
Pope, Cardinal Rodé: no time for world's women religious leaders
by Thomas C. Fox on May. 11, 2010
http://ncronline.org/taxonomy/term/170
"The Holy Father today, (Monday, May 10), according to the Vatican Press Office, received in separate audiences: two prelates from the Episcopal Conference of Belgium, Bishop Lucas Van Looy of Ghent, and Msgr. Koen Vanhoutte, the diocesan administrator of Bruges. He also received Italian Bishop Valentino Di Cerbo of Alife-Caiazzo, accompanied by members of his family.
Nothing unusual – except for a mention of who he did not receive in audience.
Who the Holy Father did not receive in audience was any (or all) of the 800 general superiors of international women religious orders who are in Rome from all corners of the globe for a once in three-year general assembly. These women religious represent close to 1 million women religious worldwide.
The women have been meeting here in Rome since last Friday. "
Monday, May 10, 2010
Archbishop of Vienna accuses one of Pope’s closest aides of abuse cover-up
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7121062.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797093
Archbishop of Vienna accuses one of Pope’s closest aides of abuse cover-up
"Open warfare broke out in the Vatican over the clerical sex abuse scandal at the weekend as Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, accused one of Pope Benedict XVI’s closest aides of covering up past scandals.
"Cardinal Schönborn, 65, seen as a possible future Pope, accused Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 82, the former Vatican Secretary of State (Prime Minister), of having blocked investigations into sex abuse crimes committed by his predecessor in Vienna, the late Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer."
Cardinal Schönborn, a former theology pupil of Pope Benedict and a close ally, also charged Cardinal Sodano with causing “massive harm” to victims by dismissing claims of clerical abuse as “petty gossip” on Easter Sunday."
Archbishop of Vienna accuses one of Pope’s closest aides of abuse cover-up
"Open warfare broke out in the Vatican over the clerical sex abuse scandal at the weekend as Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, accused one of Pope Benedict XVI’s closest aides of covering up past scandals.
"Cardinal Schönborn, 65, seen as a possible future Pope, accused Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 82, the former Vatican Secretary of State (Prime Minister), of having blocked investigations into sex abuse crimes committed by his predecessor in Vienna, the late Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer."
Cardinal Schönborn, a former theology pupil of Pope Benedict and a close ally, also charged Cardinal Sodano with causing “massive harm” to victims by dismissing claims of clerical abuse as “petty gossip” on Easter Sunday."
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Brazilian Archbishop/ "We're all potential paedophiles", says archbishop who claims children are 'spontaneously gay'
An archbishop has defended the child sex scandal that has engulfed the Roman Catholic Church by claiming it reflects the behaviour of society at large.
Brazilian priest Dadeus Grings also said adolescents are 'spontaneously homosexual' and in need of guidance.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1273774/Dadeus-Grings-Were-potential-paedophiles-says-archbishop.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Brazilian priest Dadeus Grings also said adolescents are 'spontaneously homosexual' and in need of guidance.
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1273774/Dadeus-Grings-Were-potential-paedophiles-says-archbishop.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Pope Accepts Resignation of a Bishop in Germany/New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/world/europe/09pope.html
May 8, 2010
Pope Accepts Resignation of a Bishop in Germany
By RACHEL DONADIO
EXCERPTS:
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of a German bishop under investigation for sexual abuse, the latest high-profile resignation since a sexual abuse crisis erupted in the Roman Catholic Church.
Through a lawyer, Bishop Mixa, 69, denied the accusations, which date to his time as bishop in the Bavarian town of Eichstätt from 1996 to 2005, The Augsburger Allgemeine said.
May 8, 2010
Pope Accepts Resignation of a Bishop in Germany
By RACHEL DONADIO
EXCERPTS:
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday accepted the resignation of a German bishop under investigation for sexual abuse, the latest high-profile resignation since a sexual abuse crisis erupted in the Roman Catholic Church.
Through a lawyer, Bishop Mixa, 69, denied the accusations, which date to his time as bishop in the Bavarian town of Eichstätt from 1996 to 2005, The Augsburger Allgemeine said.
Friday, May 7, 2010
"How to Save Your Soul Without Religion"/New Blog by Sister Karol Jackowski, sfcc
http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/2010/05/how-to-save-your-soul-without-religion.html
How to Save Your Soul Without Religion
Posted by Sister Karol Jackowski
" Having spent half my life as a nun working at a Catholic College for women – Saint Mary’s in Notre Dame, Indiana – it wasn’t until I moved to New York City in 1990 and became a writer that I discovered so many people whose souls were nourished and saved without any religion at all."
Losing My Religion
"Last month, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life released a report entitled “Religion Among the Millenials” which found that one in four 18- to 29-year-olds are unaffiliated with a religion, but also appear to be more spiritually conscious and driven than older generations."
If you want to find out more, and you are in for a treat if you do:Visit her website at KarolJackowski.com.
http://www.karoljackowski.com/JackowskiSiteIndex.html
Sister Karol Jackowski, a Sister for Christian Community is one funny nun! I recommend her new book: Ten Fun Things to Do Before You Die! She is helping us lighten up and enjoy our spiritual lives as the beloved in whom the Divine dwells, and who accompanies us everywhere.
The challenge for those of us who are working for renewal in Catholicism is to be the message that we proclaim. Instead of a focus on rules and regulations, we in the renewal movements like Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering a new face of Catholicism that is inclusive, welcoming and joy-filled.
Karol, my sister, you go, girl!
Your sister,
Bridget Mary Meehan sfcc
How to Save Your Soul Without Religion
Posted by Sister Karol Jackowski
" Having spent half my life as a nun working at a Catholic College for women – Saint Mary’s in Notre Dame, Indiana – it wasn’t until I moved to New York City in 1990 and became a writer that I discovered so many people whose souls were nourished and saved without any religion at all."
Losing My Religion
"Last month, the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life released a report entitled “Religion Among the Millenials” which found that one in four 18- to 29-year-olds are unaffiliated with a religion, but also appear to be more spiritually conscious and driven than older generations."
If you want to find out more, and you are in for a treat if you do:Visit her website at KarolJackowski.com.
http://www.karoljackowski.com/JackowskiSiteIndex.html
Sister Karol Jackowski, a Sister for Christian Community is one funny nun! I recommend her new book: Ten Fun Things to Do Before You Die! She is helping us lighten up and enjoy our spiritual lives as the beloved in whom the Divine dwells, and who accompanies us everywhere.
The challenge for those of us who are working for renewal in Catholicism is to be the message that we proclaim. Instead of a focus on rules and regulations, we in the renewal movements like Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering a new face of Catholicism that is inclusive, welcoming and joy-filled.
Karol, my sister, you go, girl!
Your sister,
Bridget Mary Meehan sfcc
Austria Cardinal Schonborn Attacks Sodano Urges Reform in Catholic Church
Schönborn attacks Sodano and urges reform
Christa Pongratz-Lippitt8 May 2010
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/14678
"The head of the Austrian Church has launched an attack of one of the most senior cardinals in the Vatican, saying that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, “deeply wronged” the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy when he dismissed media reports of the scandal. In a meeting with editors of the main Austrian daily newspapers last week, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, also said the Roman Curia was “urgently in need of reform”, and that lasting gay relationships deserved respect. He reiterated his view that the Church needs to reconsider its position on re-married divorcees."....
Is this the beginning of the institutional church dealing with the issue of sexual abuse and the need for reform in a more open, realistic way? I wonder how Cardinal Schonborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, feels about women priests! It is interesting to me that one of our first womenpriests is from Austria and lives in Austria, Roman Catholic Woman bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, who has celebrated funerals and weddings with male Catholic priests in Catholic Churches in Austria with the knowlege of diocesan officials. Perhaps, let us hope this is a crack in the stained glass ceiling in the Roman Catholic Church!
Bridget Mary Meehan
sofiabmm@aol.com
Christa Pongratz-Lippitt8 May 2010
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/14678
"The head of the Austrian Church has launched an attack of one of the most senior cardinals in the Vatican, saying that Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, “deeply wronged” the victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy when he dismissed media reports of the scandal. In a meeting with editors of the main Austrian daily newspapers last week, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, also said the Roman Curia was “urgently in need of reform”, and that lasting gay relationships deserved respect. He reiterated his view that the Church needs to reconsider its position on re-married divorcees."....
Is this the beginning of the institutional church dealing with the issue of sexual abuse and the need for reform in a more open, realistic way? I wonder how Cardinal Schonborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, feels about women priests! It is interesting to me that one of our first womenpriests is from Austria and lives in Austria, Roman Catholic Woman bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger, who has celebrated funerals and weddings with male Catholic priests in Catholic Churches in Austria with the knowlege of diocesan officials. Perhaps, let us hope this is a crack in the stained glass ceiling in the Roman Catholic Church!
Bridget Mary Meehan
sofiabmm@aol.com
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Dateline TV Interview with Fr. Tom Doyle
http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/transcript/id/600432/n/Interview-with-Father-Tom-Doyle
GEORGE NEGUS:"It sounds like you're saying if the Church has a close look at itself in the way you're suggesting it has to almost pull the whole institution apart and start all over again."
"FATHER TOM DOYLE: Well, I think there are a lot of things that they should take a close look at - celibacy being one of them. They're deathly afraid to look at the women priests issue because they claim that Jesus Christ only ordained men. Well, that's a long short there - to presume that Christ had an ordination ceremony at the Last Supper, you know, that's a bit of a stretch..."
FATHER TOM DOYLE: "It's unfortunate that it takes this type of destruction to move it towards change, but that's what has to happen, I believe. I'm not one anymore to mince words and be diplomatic and fart around with this. I mean, this is it. I've spent 25 years talking to people who've been ruined because of this stuff, and you know, the whole damn thing, they ought to sell the Vatican to the Mormons or to Disney or something and go out and start all over again."
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a new model of priestly ministry that is not hierarchical. We have become the change that the church needs to be.
Check us out. www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com
GEORGE NEGUS:"It sounds like you're saying if the Church has a close look at itself in the way you're suggesting it has to almost pull the whole institution apart and start all over again."
"FATHER TOM DOYLE: Well, I think there are a lot of things that they should take a close look at - celibacy being one of them. They're deathly afraid to look at the women priests issue because they claim that Jesus Christ only ordained men. Well, that's a long short there - to presume that Christ had an ordination ceremony at the Last Supper, you know, that's a bit of a stretch..."
FATHER TOM DOYLE: "It's unfortunate that it takes this type of destruction to move it towards change, but that's what has to happen, I believe. I'm not one anymore to mince words and be diplomatic and fart around with this. I mean, this is it. I've spent 25 years talking to people who've been ruined because of this stuff, and you know, the whole damn thing, they ought to sell the Vatican to the Mormons or to Disney or something and go out and start all over again."
Roman Catholic Womenpriests are offering the church a new model of priestly ministry that is not hierarchical. We have become the change that the church needs to be.
Check us out. www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Holy Week with Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community Fort Myers, Florida-Roman Catholic Woman Priest Judy Lee
Holy Week calls forth the faithful of Good Shepherd Community in Fort Myers, Florida as it does throughout the world. With tremendous love and passion our people, poor, once homeless, and some still homeless along with persons who support us from various local Catholic parishes, and other Christian denominations, including Lamb of God Lutheran-Episcopal Church, walk together from Palm Sunday through Easter.
These pictures show us blessing the palms outside on Palm Sunday before processing into the House Church where we worship on one side and where up to five homeless individuals live as they make the transition from homelessness on the other side.
It shows our people outside in the local park walking the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. We pray in front of the Hospital where we lost six of our homeless people this year. On the Cross are petitions written by our people and nailed to the Cross with Jesus. With the fifteenth Station we all rise again with Jesus and say "We rise, we rise!" Then we proceed to the Church for our Good Friday worship.
On Easter this year we also had three baptisms-of a Grandmother and two of her grand daughters. So our Easter celebration was doubly full of joy this year!
Each week in the Easter Octave we say: Jesus is risen and I rise. We are filled with new life as we anticipate the refreshment of the Holy Spirit and pray that we may be a serving church.
Pastor Judy Lee, RCWP
"Church Leaders Are Spinning Their Wheels"/Article by Sr. Maureen Paul Turlish/National Catholic Reporter
Church leaders are spinning their wheels
by Maureen Paul Turlish on May. 04, 2010 -NCR Online
http://ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/church-leaders-are-spinning-their-wheels
The institutional Roman Catholic church can attack every newspaper in every country in the world but that will not change the fact that as an institution it has participated in an extremely well documented, egregious pattern of enabling and covering up for the sexual abuse of thousands of innocent children the world over during almost an entire century.
"What are the systemic and endemic flaws in church structure and governance that gave rise to the continuing crisis of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church? ...
..."And is it really necessary for bishops to call down God's wrath on another newspaper when what they should be doing is "besieging" their fellow hierarchs to initiate the reform and renewal that is so necessary?"
"Have they learned so little in eight years?"
[Maureen Paul Turlish, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, is a victims' advocate and writes from New Castle, Del.]
by Maureen Paul Turlish on May. 04, 2010 -NCR Online
http://ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/church-leaders-are-spinning-their-wheels
The institutional Roman Catholic church can attack every newspaper in every country in the world but that will not change the fact that as an institution it has participated in an extremely well documented, egregious pattern of enabling and covering up for the sexual abuse of thousands of innocent children the world over during almost an entire century.
"What are the systemic and endemic flaws in church structure and governance that gave rise to the continuing crisis of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic church? ...
..."And is it really necessary for bishops to call down God's wrath on another newspaper when what they should be doing is "besieging" their fellow hierarchs to initiate the reform and renewal that is so necessary?"
"Have they learned so little in eight years?"
[Maureen Paul Turlish, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, is a victims' advocate and writes from New Castle, Del.]
Vatican Launches Investigatons Against Nuns/ Modern Day Inquisition/ Nuns Should Not Cooperate in their own Oppression
What a waste of money and a travesty of justice? Instead of focusing on structural reforms that will prevent sex abuse in the future, including women priests and married priests, the Vatican is launching a modern day inquisition of the nuns, one of the most dedicated workforces in history. Why? One of the top reasons is women's ordination. We now have women priests and the Vatican is afraid that they will join us in our journey toward justice and equality for women in ministry in the church. I sure hope so.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will ordain qualified candidates, including nuns of course, who are committed to a renewed priestly ministry in an inclusive church!
Sisters, as I have said before, it is time to affirm freedom of conscience , rid yourselves of the alabatross of institutional oppression, and continue your work for justice, peace and equality around the world. Do not coooperate in your own oppression. Witness prophetic obedience to Gospel equality and lead the way in union with the people of God toward a renewed, reformed, liberated Catholic Church! You have the support of millions of Catholics! Perhaps, you may want to consider non-canonical status like my religious community, Sisters for Christian Community.
Bridget Mary Meehan
sofiabmm@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 4, 2010
Media Contact:Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director, O: 773.404.0004 x262
Nicole Sotelo, Communications Director, O: 773.404.0004 x285
As World Examines Vatican on Sexual Abuse; Vatican Quietly Launches Investigations Against Nuns While the world's attention focuses on the Vatican this month in the continuing revelations of sexual abuse cover-up, the Vatican also quietly launched its on-site investigations of women religious in the United States.As part of a multi-year investigation that began in 2009, these on-site visitations are the third of a four-phase investigation into the lives of approximately 53,000 women religious. Teams of visitors chosen by Mother Clare Millea, the Vatican-appointed investigator, will visit selected congregations during the weeks of April 11th to May 30th and again from September 12th to December 12th. "Where are the church's priorities?" asked Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director of Call To Action, the nation's largest progressive Catholic justice organization. "Instead of focusing on how they can prevent additional sexual abuse of vulnerable children, the Vatican is spending time and money on an investigation into women's religious communities and ministries that have often been at the forefront of caring for children in schools, hospitals, food kitchens and parish communities.""The Vatican has estimated that their investigation will cost $1.1 million dollars. It is unconscionable that a church that prides itself on helping the poor would spend over a million dollars investigating its own people due to a small group of conservative male leaders who do not like the fact that women religious do not always fall under their control. It is an egregious example of the sexism that still pervades our religious structures.""Our prayers remain with the women religious during this time of trial," said FitzGerald. "We urge the Vatican to focus on real priorities now: caring for the survivors of sexual abuse and creating new structures of accountable leadership so that our churches may become safe places, true sanctuaries, for children and families everywhere.
"For more information, see: Vatican asks U.S. bishops to fund $1.1 million sisters study http://ncronline.org/news/women/vatican-asks-us-bishops-fund-11-million-sisters-study
Apostolic Visitator details on-site visit guidelineshttp://ncronline.org/news/women/apostolic-visitator-details-site-visit-guidelines
Official Apostolic Visitation Websitehttp://www.apostolicvisitation.org/en/index.html###
Call To Action (CTA) is a Catholic movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society. An independent national organization of over 25,000 people and 53 local chapters, CTA believes that the Spirit of God is at work in the whole church, not just its appointed leaders. Visit our website at www.cta-usa.org.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests will ordain qualified candidates, including nuns of course, who are committed to a renewed priestly ministry in an inclusive church!
Sisters, as I have said before, it is time to affirm freedom of conscience , rid yourselves of the alabatross of institutional oppression, and continue your work for justice, peace and equality around the world. Do not coooperate in your own oppression. Witness prophetic obedience to Gospel equality and lead the way in union with the people of God toward a renewed, reformed, liberated Catholic Church! You have the support of millions of Catholics! Perhaps, you may want to consider non-canonical status like my religious community, Sisters for Christian Community.
Bridget Mary Meehan
sofiabmm@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMay 4, 2010
Media Contact:Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director, O: 773.404.0004 x262
Nicole Sotelo, Communications Director, O: 773.404.0004 x285
As World Examines Vatican on Sexual Abuse; Vatican Quietly Launches Investigations Against Nuns While the world's attention focuses on the Vatican this month in the continuing revelations of sexual abuse cover-up, the Vatican also quietly launched its on-site investigations of women religious in the United States.As part of a multi-year investigation that began in 2009, these on-site visitations are the third of a four-phase investigation into the lives of approximately 53,000 women religious. Teams of visitors chosen by Mother Clare Millea, the Vatican-appointed investigator, will visit selected congregations during the weeks of April 11th to May 30th and again from September 12th to December 12th. "Where are the church's priorities?" asked Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director of Call To Action, the nation's largest progressive Catholic justice organization. "Instead of focusing on how they can prevent additional sexual abuse of vulnerable children, the Vatican is spending time and money on an investigation into women's religious communities and ministries that have often been at the forefront of caring for children in schools, hospitals, food kitchens and parish communities.""The Vatican has estimated that their investigation will cost $1.1 million dollars. It is unconscionable that a church that prides itself on helping the poor would spend over a million dollars investigating its own people due to a small group of conservative male leaders who do not like the fact that women religious do not always fall under their control. It is an egregious example of the sexism that still pervades our religious structures.""Our prayers remain with the women religious during this time of trial," said FitzGerald. "We urge the Vatican to focus on real priorities now: caring for the survivors of sexual abuse and creating new structures of accountable leadership so that our churches may become safe places, true sanctuaries, for children and families everywhere.
"For more information, see: Vatican asks U.S. bishops to fund $1.1 million sisters study http://ncronline.org/news/women/vatican-asks-us-bishops-fund-11-million-sisters-study
Apostolic Visitator details on-site visit guidelineshttp://ncronline.org/news/women/apostolic-visitator-details-site-visit-guidelines
Official Apostolic Visitation Websitehttp://www.apostolicvisitation.org/en/index.html###
Call To Action (CTA) is a Catholic movement working for equality and justice in the Church and society. An independent national organization of over 25,000 people and 53 local chapters, CTA believes that the Spirit of God is at work in the whole church, not just its appointed leaders. Visit our website at www.cta-usa.org.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Vatican Statement on Apostolic Visitation of Legionaries of Christ
Vatican Statement on Apostolic Visitation of Legionaries of Christ
"....One of the sessions took place in the presence of the Holy Father, to whom the Visitors presented a summary of their report, which had been previously submitted. During the visitation over 1,000 Legionnaires were met in person and hundreds of written documents were examined. The Visitors have visited almost all the religious houses and many of the works of the apostolate directed by the Congregation. 2. The Apostolic Visitation was able to ascertain that the behaviour of Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado has caused serious consequences in the life and structure of the Legion, so much so, to require a journey of profound re-evaluation. The serious and objectively immoral behaviour of Fr. Maciel, supported by incontrovertible evidence, at times constitutes real crimes, and manifests a life devoid of scruples and of genuine religious feeling. The large majority of Legionaries were unaware of that life, particularly because of the system of relations created by Fr. Maciel, who had skilfully managed to build up an alibi, to gain the trust, confidence and surrounding silence and strengthen his role as a charismatic founder. Not infrequently the lamentable disgracing and expulsion of those who doubted his upright conduct, and the misconception of not wanting to harm the good that the Legion was doing, had created around him a defence mechanism which made him untouchable for a long time , thus rendering knowledge of his real life difficult. 3. The sincere zeal of the majority of the Legionaries - which also emerged from the Visitation of the congregation houses and their many works, and which is appreciated by many - led many in the past to believe that the charges, which gradually became more insistent and widespread, could only be slander. Therefore the discovery and knowledge of the truth about the founder resulted in surprise, dismay and deep sorrow among members of the Legion, as clearly evidenced by the Visitors.4. From the results of the Apostolic Visitation it has emerged clearly, among other elements: a) the need to redefine the charism of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, preserving the core truth, that of "Militia Christi", which characterizes the apostolic and missionary action of the Church and which is not identifiable with efficacy at any cost; b) the need to review the exercise of authority, which must be conjoined to the truth, in respect of conscience and to develop in light of the Gospel as an authentic ecclesial service; c) the need to preserve young people's enthusiasm of faith, the missionary zeal, the apostolic dynamism, through appropriate formation. Indeed, disappointment about the founder could call into question the core of this vocation and charism that belongs and is specific to the Legionaries of Christ. 5. The Holy Father would like to assure all Legionnaires and members of the "Regnum Christi" Movement that they will not be left alone: the Church has a strong desire to accompany them and help them in the path of purification that awaits them. It will also mean sincere confrontation with all those who, inside and outside the Legion, were victims of sexual abuse and of the power system devised by the founder. It is to them, at this time, that the thoughts and prayers of the Holy Father go, along with his gratitude to the many who, even in the midst of great hardships, had the courage and perseverance to demand the truth. 6. The Holy Father, in thanking the Visitors for the delicate work which they competently carried out with generosity and deep pastoral sensitivity, assured them that he will soon indicate the modalities of this process of accompaniment, starting with the appointment of a Delegate and a Study Commission on the Constitution. The Holy Father will send a Visitor to the Regnum Christi Movement, in response to insistent requests from consecrated members thereof. 7. Finally, to all Legionaries of Christ, their families, committed lay people in the Regnum Christi movement, the Holy Father renewes his encouragement during this difficult time for the Congregation and each one of them. He urges them not to lose sight that their vocation, which originated from Christ’s call and is animated by the ideal to witness his love to the world, is a true gift from God, a treasure for the Church, the indestructible foundation on which to build their personal future and that of the Legion. "
"....One of the sessions took place in the presence of the Holy Father, to whom the Visitors presented a summary of their report, which had been previously submitted. During the visitation over 1,000 Legionnaires were met in person and hundreds of written documents were examined. The Visitors have visited almost all the religious houses and many of the works of the apostolate directed by the Congregation. 2. The Apostolic Visitation was able to ascertain that the behaviour of Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado has caused serious consequences in the life and structure of the Legion, so much so, to require a journey of profound re-evaluation. The serious and objectively immoral behaviour of Fr. Maciel, supported by incontrovertible evidence, at times constitutes real crimes, and manifests a life devoid of scruples and of genuine religious feeling. The large majority of Legionaries were unaware of that life, particularly because of the system of relations created by Fr. Maciel, who had skilfully managed to build up an alibi, to gain the trust, confidence and surrounding silence and strengthen his role as a charismatic founder. Not infrequently the lamentable disgracing and expulsion of those who doubted his upright conduct, and the misconception of not wanting to harm the good that the Legion was doing, had created around him a defence mechanism which made him untouchable for a long time , thus rendering knowledge of his real life difficult. 3. The sincere zeal of the majority of the Legionaries - which also emerged from the Visitation of the congregation houses and their many works, and which is appreciated by many - led many in the past to believe that the charges, which gradually became more insistent and widespread, could only be slander. Therefore the discovery and knowledge of the truth about the founder resulted in surprise, dismay and deep sorrow among members of the Legion, as clearly evidenced by the Visitors.4. From the results of the Apostolic Visitation it has emerged clearly, among other elements: a) the need to redefine the charism of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, preserving the core truth, that of "Militia Christi", which characterizes the apostolic and missionary action of the Church and which is not identifiable with efficacy at any cost; b) the need to review the exercise of authority, which must be conjoined to the truth, in respect of conscience and to develop in light of the Gospel as an authentic ecclesial service; c) the need to preserve young people's enthusiasm of faith, the missionary zeal, the apostolic dynamism, through appropriate formation. Indeed, disappointment about the founder could call into question the core of this vocation and charism that belongs and is specific to the Legionaries of Christ. 5. The Holy Father would like to assure all Legionnaires and members of the "Regnum Christi" Movement that they will not be left alone: the Church has a strong desire to accompany them and help them in the path of purification that awaits them. It will also mean sincere confrontation with all those who, inside and outside the Legion, were victims of sexual abuse and of the power system devised by the founder. It is to them, at this time, that the thoughts and prayers of the Holy Father go, along with his gratitude to the many who, even in the midst of great hardships, had the courage and perseverance to demand the truth. 6. The Holy Father, in thanking the Visitors for the delicate work which they competently carried out with generosity and deep pastoral sensitivity, assured them that he will soon indicate the modalities of this process of accompaniment, starting with the appointment of a Delegate and a Study Commission on the Constitution. The Holy Father will send a Visitor to the Regnum Christi Movement, in response to insistent requests from consecrated members thereof. 7. Finally, to all Legionaries of Christ, their families, committed lay people in the Regnum Christi movement, the Holy Father renewes his encouragement during this difficult time for the Congregation and each one of them. He urges them not to lose sight that their vocation, which originated from Christ’s call and is animated by the ideal to witness his love to the world, is a true gift from God, a treasure for the Church, the indestructible foundation on which to build their personal future and that of the Legion. "
"Who Can Mock this Church?" by Nicholas D. Kristof/ Catholics Need to Reform Structures / Sex Abuse Crisis/Womenpriests
Op-Ed Columnist
Who Can Mock This Church?
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: May 1, 2010 - NY TIMES
JUBA, Sudan
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/opinion/02kristof.html?src=me
Maybe the Catholic Church should be turned upside down.
"Jesus wasn’t known for pontificating from palaces, covering up scandals, or issuing Paleolithic edicts on social issues. Does anyone think he would have protected clergymen who raped children?"
"Yet if the top of the church has strayed from its roots, much of its base is still deeply inspiring.In the city of Juba, I met Cathy Arata, a nun from New Jersey who spent years working with battered women in Appalachia. Then she moved to El Salvador during the brutal civil war there, putting her life on the line to protect peasants..."
Yes, the people, including nuns like Sr. Cathy, are the face of Jesus in our midst! We are blessed the lived example of so many saints who have gone before us and who are in our midst.
That being said, this does not mean that ordinary Catholics can sit back and accept the status quo of inequality, injustice, and criminal behavior that is at the heart of our church's institutional meltdown! We are the church, all of us, not just the pope and the bishops. Catholics are responsible to do all we can to hold our leaders, including the pope and hierarchy accountable, for this global devastating sexual abuse crisis. We must take on the tough task of structural reform immediately. We need a renewed priestly ministry that includes women and men serving the church in a community of equals, that is fully accountable, open, inclusive, and just. Bridget Mary Meehan
Who Can Mock This Church?
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: May 1, 2010 - NY TIMES
JUBA, Sudan
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/opinion/02kristof.html?src=me
Maybe the Catholic Church should be turned upside down.
"Jesus wasn’t known for pontificating from palaces, covering up scandals, or issuing Paleolithic edicts on social issues. Does anyone think he would have protected clergymen who raped children?"
"Yet if the top of the church has strayed from its roots, much of its base is still deeply inspiring.In the city of Juba, I met Cathy Arata, a nun from New Jersey who spent years working with battered women in Appalachia. Then she moved to El Salvador during the brutal civil war there, putting her life on the line to protect peasants..."
Yes, the people, including nuns like Sr. Cathy, are the face of Jesus in our midst! We are blessed the lived example of so many saints who have gone before us and who are in our midst.
That being said, this does not mean that ordinary Catholics can sit back and accept the status quo of inequality, injustice, and criminal behavior that is at the heart of our church's institutional meltdown! We are the church, all of us, not just the pope and the bishops. Catholics are responsible to do all we can to hold our leaders, including the pope and hierarchy accountable, for this global devastating sexual abuse crisis. We must take on the tough task of structural reform immediately. We need a renewed priestly ministry that includes women and men serving the church in a community of equals, that is fully accountable, open, inclusive, and just. Bridget Mary Meehan
Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal Sharpens Rift Over what a Priest Should Be/Vatican Model Outdated/ Needed a Church of Equals /Time for Womenpriests
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/0502/Catholic-sexual-abuse-scandal-sharpens-church-rift-over-what-a-priest-should-be
Catholic sexual abuse scandal sharpens church rift over what a priest should be
Progressive Catholics and theologians in the US and Europe say the Vatican's model of a priest is outdated. The global sexual abuse scandal has sharpened the church's inner struggle over how to reform that model.
By Robert Marquand, Staff writer / May 2, 2010 -
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
Munich, Germany; and Paris
"One member of the Benedictine order who is close to the university but was not authorized to speak to the media described the directives, which came out of Cardinal Ratzinger’s office, as part of a “purification of the church concept in which women should not be in the classes. A lot of us feel this creates instead a fortress church, a reclusive model…priests leave school and immediately go into communities and work with married people, and women, but have had little contact with either group in their priestly formation. This all originated in the Vatican.” ...
"At the same time, a shortage in priests is looming. "
“The problem for us isn’t the future, the problem is now,” says a French priest in the 16th district of Paris."
"Numbers are falling: Some 700 foreign priests, mostly from Africa, work in French parishes. "
"In Germany, one finds Polish, Indian, and African men taking up priestly slack. A senior priest in Bavaria says his graduating seminary class in 1982 had 90 priests; this year’s class has fewer than 10... "
The Vatican needs to stop isolating its priests from healthy relationships with women. Women are not the problem, clericalism and discrimination against women are playing a destructive role in the Catholic Church today. There is no vocation shortage in the Catholic Church if women and married priests were officially sanctoned. In the 21st century, the Catholic Church needs to practice the equality that Jesus modeled to embrace all women and men who are called and gifted for sacramental service. We need a vibrant priestly ministry that is inclusive, Christ-centered and community oriented, where Jesus' example of a discipleship of equals is the ideal. The Roman Catholic Womenpriests Movement offers the church a renewed model of priestly ministry in partnership with the people with whom we serve in grassroots communities now. There is no room in the Catholc Church for sexism and discrimination against women. the Church needs women now more then ever to step to heal and transform Catholicism. Bridget Mary Meehan
Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordains 2 priests, 3 deacons at Spiritus Christi in Rochester, New York on May 1, 2010
Roman Catholic Womenpriests ordains 2 priests, 3 deacons at Spiritus Christi
James Goodman • Staff writer • May 2, 2010
"Chava Redonnet was ordained a priest in Rochester on Saturday in what she considers to be an act of ecclesiastical disobedience.
Although the Roman Catholic Church prohibits the ordination of women as priests, deacons and bishops, Redonnet considers herself to be Catholic and hopes to move the church in a more inclusive direction.
"About 350 people attended the ordination at Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester.
Bishop Andrea Johnson of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests, an international group established in 2002, conducted the ordinations of Redonnet and Theresa Novak Chabot of Manchester, N.H.
Three women were also ordained as deacons during Saturday's service: Patricia LaRosa of Rochester, Caryl Conroy Johnson of Philadelphia and Ann Penick of La Plata, Md.
"The risks are significant. But the call is clear," said Johnson.
She went on to say: "God's work is the work of justice and peace for all."
James Goodman • Staff writer • May 2, 2010
"Chava Redonnet was ordained a priest in Rochester on Saturday in what she considers to be an act of ecclesiastical disobedience.
Although the Roman Catholic Church prohibits the ordination of women as priests, deacons and bishops, Redonnet considers herself to be Catholic and hopes to move the church in a more inclusive direction.
"About 350 people attended the ordination at Spiritus Christi Church in Rochester.
Bishop Andrea Johnson of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests, an international group established in 2002, conducted the ordinations of Redonnet and Theresa Novak Chabot of Manchester, N.H.
Three women were also ordained as deacons during Saturday's service: Patricia LaRosa of Rochester, Caryl Conroy Johnson of Philadelphia and Ann Penick of La Plata, Md.
"The risks are significant. But the call is clear," said Johnson.
She went on to say: "God's work is the work of justice and peace for all."
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Bring Pope to Justice/Newsweek Article
Unfortunately, the Vatican has acted as if it is above the law in providing a safe haven for bishops like Cardinal Law. This article raises major issues for the pope and the current way the Vatican operates. No matter what happens in the legal sphere, the court of public opinion , including Catholics worlwide, are holding the pope, the Vatican, and their bishops accountable.
The institutional church must abandon the sense of entitlement that gives special honors and priviledges to the hierarchy. This is what has led it to its current demise: protecting itself as the expense of the thousands of victims who were sexually abused. Catholics must step up now and take action to reform the church in grassroots communities, where decision-making is in the hands of the people and priests, not just the hierarchy, and where women priests, married priests as well as celibate priests serve in a renewed priestly ministry. It is time!
Bridget Mary Meehan
Bring Pope to Justice
http://www.newsweek.com/id/236934
"Detain or subpoena the pope for questioning in the child-rape scandal? You must be joking! All right then, try the only alternative formulation: declare the pope to be above and beyond all local and international laws, and immune when it comes to his personal and institutional responsibility for sheltering criminals. The joke there would be on us."
..."This point must have hung in the air a bit, and perhaps lodged in Cardinal Law's own mind, because in December of that year he left Boston just hours before state troopers arrived with a subpoena seeking his grand-jury testimony. Where did he go? To Rome, where he later voted in the election of Pope Benedict XVI and now presides over the beautiful church of Santa Maria Maggiore, as well as several Vatican subcommittees.".....
The institutional church must abandon the sense of entitlement that gives special honors and priviledges to the hierarchy. This is what has led it to its current demise: protecting itself as the expense of the thousands of victims who were sexually abused. Catholics must step up now and take action to reform the church in grassroots communities, where decision-making is in the hands of the people and priests, not just the hierarchy, and where women priests, married priests as well as celibate priests serve in a renewed priestly ministry. It is time!
Bridget Mary Meehan
Bring Pope to Justice
http://www.newsweek.com/id/236934
"Detain or subpoena the pope for questioning in the child-rape scandal? You must be joking! All right then, try the only alternative formulation: declare the pope to be above and beyond all local and international laws, and immune when it comes to his personal and institutional responsibility for sheltering criminals. The joke there would be on us."
..."This point must have hung in the air a bit, and perhaps lodged in Cardinal Law's own mind, because in December of that year he left Boston just hours before state troopers arrived with a subpoena seeking his grand-jury testimony. Where did he go? To Rome, where he later voted in the election of Pope Benedict XVI and now presides over the beautiful church of Santa Maria Maggiore, as well as several Vatican subcommittees.".....
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Cardinal Levada Failed to Mention that He Did Nothing to restrict a Priest Abuser after Learning that Priest had Molested a 13 year old Boy
"Cardinal Levada in his interview failed to mention that he himself (according to an Associated Press report published today) "did nothing to restrict a California priest after learning in 1995 that the priest had molested a 13 year old boy a decade earlier" . Levada admitted this in a 2005 deposition. The priest was finally removed from ministry in 2002 when the USCCB ennacted the zero-tolerance policy. A Vatican lawyer defended Levada's inaction as being appropriate "under the standards of the time" before 2002. "
Bill Schuch
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/jan-june10/levadafull_04-27.html
Bill Schuch
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/jan-june10/levadafull_04-27.html
Women Find A Way, a book about the Movement and Stories of Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Available in English and Now Published in German
First Ordination in the U.S.
in Pittsburgh, July 31, 2006
http://www.virtualbookworm.com/bookstore/product/women_find_a_way.htmll
Women Find A Way, a book about Roman Catholic Womenpriests Movement features stores about some of the early pioneering women who are transforming the Catholic Church in a renewed priestly ministry. These women were ordained in apostolic succession. Women Find a Way is available on amazon.com and other online retailers. See link.
Now Women Find a Way is published in German. See below.
Elsie Hainz McGrath, Bridget Mary Meehan, Ida Raming (Hg.)
Elsie Hainz McGrath, Bridget Mary Meehan, Ida Raming (Hg.)
Frauen finden einen Weg:
Die internationale Bewegung
Roemisch-Katholische Priesterinnen
Was ist aus der ersten oeffentlichen Ordination von sieben Frauen zu roemisch-katholischen Priesterinnen im Jahre 2002 geworden?
In diesem Buch erfahren Sie es! Aus einem kleinen Anfang hat sich inzwischen eine staendig wachsende internationale Bewegung entwickelt: Priesterinnen, die dem Volk Gottes in vielfaeltiger Weise dienen, die Hauskirchen oder groessere Gemeinden betreuen, als Seelsorgerinnen in Krankenhaeusern und in der Obdachlosenarbeit taetig sind. Bischoefinnen begleiten und ordinieren weitere Frauen zu Diakoninnen und Priesterinnen.
So entstehen Christuszentrierte, inklusive Gemeinden, und so wird Kirche von innen heraus mit dem Segen der goettlichen Geistkraft erneuert.
(website: www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org)
Die Herausgeberinnen:
Bridget Mary Meehan, Schwester der Christian Community, mit einem Doktorgrad in pastoralem Dienst;
Elsie Hainz McGrath, Priesterin der Gemeinde Therese of Divine Peace – Inclusive Community in St. Louis;
Ida Raming, Dr. theol., Zahlreiche Publikationen, besonders zur Thematik: Stellung und Wertung der Frau in der roemisch-katholischen Kirche.
(Theologische Orientierungen, Bd. 13, 216 S., 19,90 Euro, ISBN 3-643-10240-9)
Lit Verlag: Berlin Muenster Wien Zuerich London, 2009
Friday, April 30, 2010
Abuse Crisis Is Actually a Hierarchy Crisis/ Roman Catholic Womenpriests Ordain Two Womenpriests in Canada in April 2010
I agree with the NCR Editorial. This crisis is a hierarchy crisis, and a disaster for the Catholic Church. The Vatican and bishops are accountable and should be held responsible. This is a tragedy that belongs at the door of Pope Benedict. What can Catholics do? Stop paying and obeying. Demand change from the all-boys clerical club. cut off all funds until meaningful structural reforms are adapted such as decision-making authority in the hands of a leadership that is inclusive of women and men, non-ordained and ordained--- ordinary Catholics whose first loyalty is to the Gospel of Jesus. Catholics should also call forth from their communities spiritual leaders including married priests, women priests and other ecclesial leaders to preside at sacramental celebrations in a priest-short, sacramental church. Roman Catholic Womenpriests serve in grassroots communities in the U.S. Canada, and Europe, and are ordaining qualified candidates who are committed to a renewed priestly ministry. See photo of recent ordination in Canada of two new womenpriests.
Bridget Mary Meehan
Abuse crisis is actually a hierarchy crisis
by An NCR Editorial on Apr. 30, 2010
by An NCR Editorial on Apr. 30, 2010
"...The sex abuse crisis is actually a hierarchy crisis...The overwhelming evidence shows that from parish priest to pope, those charged with protecting the community, on hearing that children were being sexually abused, acted first to protect the institutional church. "
..."Who among the bishops would stand in a pulpit and admonish a congregation to follow their example in dealing with serious sin: deny, attack the accuser, hide the crime, pay for silence if discovered, and admit “mistakes were made” only when public pressure makes disclosure inevitable?"
..." It is beyond dispute now, as reporting of the crisis spreads worldwide, that the bishops used the secrecy of their privileged culture, the trust that those within the church and even the wider society conferred on them, as well as the labyrinthine and hidden protocols of their culture to shuffle offending priests and to avoid scrutiny by civil authorities. "
"The bishops’ strategy grew out of a model of governance owing more to the concept of royalty and to court behavior than to the demands of the Gospel. The royal model admits no wrong, requires absolute loyalty and is accountable to no one. Compassion has little place in the prince’s world."
Fr. Donald Cozzens, who has written extensively about the clergy culture and its shadow sides, commented, “We are witnessing the collapse of the Roman Catholic empire -- not, I hope, of the Roman Catholic church. "
..."Who among the bishops would stand in a pulpit and admonish a congregation to follow their example in dealing with serious sin: deny, attack the accuser, hide the crime, pay for silence if discovered, and admit “mistakes were made” only when public pressure makes disclosure inevitable?"
..." It is beyond dispute now, as reporting of the crisis spreads worldwide, that the bishops used the secrecy of their privileged culture, the trust that those within the church and even the wider society conferred on them, as well as the labyrinthine and hidden protocols of their culture to shuffle offending priests and to avoid scrutiny by civil authorities. "
"The bishops’ strategy grew out of a model of governance owing more to the concept of royalty and to court behavior than to the demands of the Gospel. The royal model admits no wrong, requires absolute loyalty and is accountable to no one. Compassion has little place in the prince’s world."
Fr. Donald Cozzens, who has written extensively about the clergy culture and its shadow sides, commented, “We are witnessing the collapse of the Roman Catholic empire -- not, I hope, of the Roman Catholic church. "
In Abuse Crisis, a Church is Pitted Against Society and Itself/New York Times
In Abuse Crisis, a Church Is Pitted Against Society and Itself
By RACHEL DONADIO
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/world/europe/30pope.html?src=mv
Published: April 29, 2010
VATICAN CITY — "As the sexual abuse crisis continues to unfold in the Roman Catholic Church, with more victims coming forward worldwide and three bishops resigning last week alone, it is clear the issue is more than a passing storm or a problem of papal communications. "
"Instead, the church is undergoing nothing less than an epochal shift: It pits those who hold fast to a more traditional idea of protecting bishops and priests above all against those who call for more openness and accountability. The battle lines are drawn between the church and society at large, which clearly clamors for accountability, and also inside the church itself.
Uncomfortably, the crisis also pits the moral legacies of two popes against each other: the towering and modernizing John Paul II, who nonetheless did little about sexual abuse; and his successor, Benedict XVI, who in recent years, at least, has taken the issue of pedophile priests more seriously."
"He has had little choice, given the depth of the scandal and the anger it has unleashed. But when supporters defend Benedict, they are implicitly condemning John Paul and how an entire generation of bishops and the Vatican hierarchy acted in response to criminal behavior."
By RACHEL DONADIO
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/world/europe/30pope.html?src=mv
Published: April 29, 2010
VATICAN CITY — "As the sexual abuse crisis continues to unfold in the Roman Catholic Church, with more victims coming forward worldwide and three bishops resigning last week alone, it is clear the issue is more than a passing storm or a problem of papal communications. "
"Instead, the church is undergoing nothing less than an epochal shift: It pits those who hold fast to a more traditional idea of protecting bishops and priests above all against those who call for more openness and accountability. The battle lines are drawn between the church and society at large, which clearly clamors for accountability, and also inside the church itself.
Uncomfortably, the crisis also pits the moral legacies of two popes against each other: the towering and modernizing John Paul II, who nonetheless did little about sexual abuse; and his successor, Benedict XVI, who in recent years, at least, has taken the issue of pedophile priests more seriously."
"He has had little choice, given the depth of the scandal and the anger it has unleashed. But when supporters defend Benedict, they are implicitly condemning John Paul and how an entire generation of bishops and the Vatican hierarchy acted in response to criminal behavior."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Michael Rigdon and Bridget Mary Meehan Discuss Renewed Model of Priestly Ministry on Sarasota TV Program
Priest Partners, Michael Rigdon and Bridget Mary Meehan discuss a renewed model of priestly ministry in union with the people in the community as a important step to transform the hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church. Michael Rigdon, Lee Breyer, and Bridget Mary, are priest partners who serve with Leadership Circle of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community who meets for liturgy on Sat. evenings at 6pm at St. Andrew UCC Church
Posted by Bridget Mary at 4:32 PM
Legionaries Break Silence on Founder's Sex Abuse
Legionaries break silence on founder's sex abuse
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer
Legionaries break silence on founder's sex abuse
EXCERPTS:
The No. 2 official in the conservative Legionaries of Christ order has broken his silence on revelations that the group's founder had fathered children and abused seminarians...
The revelations of Maciel's double life raised many questions that the Legion still hasn't publicly answered, including whether any current leaders covered up Maciel's misdeeds and whether any donations were used to facilitate the sexual misconduct or pay its victims.
"The case against Maciel is being closely watched as the Vatican struggles to show that it is serious about rooting out clerical sex abuse and being more transparent. The Maciel case has long been seen as emblematic of Vatican inaction on abuse complaints, since sex abuse victims had tried in the 1990s to bring a canonical trial against Maciel but were shut down by his supporters at the Vatican."
"Only in March of this year did the Legionaries acknowledge that Maciel had also sexually abused seminarians and that two men are claiming to be his sons. One of those men has asked the Legionaries for $26 million and says Maciel had promised him and his two brothers a trust fund when he died as financial compensation for the alleged sexual abuse they endured at Maciel's hands."
By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press Writer
Legionaries break silence on founder's sex abuse
EXCERPTS:
The No. 2 official in the conservative Legionaries of Christ order has broken his silence on revelations that the group's founder had fathered children and abused seminarians...
The revelations of Maciel's double life raised many questions that the Legion still hasn't publicly answered, including whether any current leaders covered up Maciel's misdeeds and whether any donations were used to facilitate the sexual misconduct or pay its victims.
"The case against Maciel is being closely watched as the Vatican struggles to show that it is serious about rooting out clerical sex abuse and being more transparent. The Maciel case has long been seen as emblematic of Vatican inaction on abuse complaints, since sex abuse victims had tried in the 1990s to bring a canonical trial against Maciel but were shut down by his supporters at the Vatican."
"Only in March of this year did the Legionaries acknowledge that Maciel had also sexually abused seminarians and that two men are claiming to be his sons. One of those men has asked the Legionaries for $26 million and says Maciel had promised him and his two brothers a trust fund when he died as financial compensation for the alleged sexual abuse they endured at Maciel's hands."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
"Secret Sex in the Celibate System" by Richard Sipe/National Catholic Reporter
Secret sex in the celibate system
by A.W. Richard Sipe on Apr. 28, 2010 - NCR Online
Viewpoint
ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/secret-sex-celibate-system
..."Roman Catholic clerical culture favors doctrinal rigidity, conformity, obedience, submission and psychosexual immaturity, mistaken for innocence, in its candidates. These are the personality elements that lead to advancement and power in the clerical system. Single men are more easily controlled if their sexuality is secret. Double lives on all levels of clerical life are tolerated if they do not cause scandal or raise legal problems. Sexual activity between bishops and priests and adult partners is well known within clerical circles. The secret system forms a comfortable refuge for unresolved gay conflicts. There is a new emerging awareness of the systemic nature of sexual/celibate behavior within the Roman Catholic ministry that is increasingly destabilizing to the church.
"Dire consequences will follow the exposure of this sexual system embedded in a secret celibate culture. Authorities who are or have been sexually active, although not with minors, are hard put to publicly correct clerics who are abusing minors. The need for secrecy, the cover-up, extends beyond defending criminal activity of a sex abuser. The power and control that holds the Roman Catholic church together depends on preservation of the celibate myth. The Vatican and Pope John Paul II declared its inviolability."....
by A.W. Richard Sipe on Apr. 28, 2010 - NCR Online
Viewpoint
ncronline.org/blogs/examining-crisis/secret-sex-celibate-system
..."Roman Catholic clerical culture favors doctrinal rigidity, conformity, obedience, submission and psychosexual immaturity, mistaken for innocence, in its candidates. These are the personality elements that lead to advancement and power in the clerical system. Single men are more easily controlled if their sexuality is secret. Double lives on all levels of clerical life are tolerated if they do not cause scandal or raise legal problems. Sexual activity between bishops and priests and adult partners is well known within clerical circles. The secret system forms a comfortable refuge for unresolved gay conflicts. There is a new emerging awareness of the systemic nature of sexual/celibate behavior within the Roman Catholic ministry that is increasingly destabilizing to the church.
"Dire consequences will follow the exposure of this sexual system embedded in a secret celibate culture. Authorities who are or have been sexually active, although not with minors, are hard put to publicly correct clerics who are abusing minors. The need for secrecy, the cover-up, extends beyond defending criminal activity of a sex abuser. The power and control that holds the Roman Catholic church together depends on preservation of the celibate myth. The Vatican and Pope John Paul II declared its inviolability."....
Sweden's Sole Bishop Ready to Resign/Sex Abuse Scandal in Catholic Church
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=6130
Less than two weeks after he urged victims of clerical abuse to come forward so that “the guilty priests-- if they are still alive-- can receive just punishment for the crimes they have committed,” Sweden’s sole bishop says he is ready to resign amid claims that he failed in 2003 to address an abuse allegation adequately. A woman alleges that after she informed the bishop she had been abused by a priest who was having an affair with her mother, she was referred to a therapist.
“As a bishop I take full responsibility for that and am prepared to face the consequences,” said Bishop Anders Arborelius. “If it is due to me that it was not investigated, I am ready to face the consequences and ask the Pope to relieve me from my work as a bishop.”
Less than two weeks after he urged victims of clerical abuse to come forward so that “the guilty priests-- if they are still alive-- can receive just punishment for the crimes they have committed,” Sweden’s sole bishop says he is ready to resign amid claims that he failed in 2003 to address an abuse allegation adequately. A woman alleges that after she informed the bishop she had been abused by a priest who was having an affair with her mother, she was referred to a therapist.
“As a bishop I take full responsibility for that and am prepared to face the consequences,” said Bishop Anders Arborelius. “If it is due to me that it was not investigated, I am ready to face the consequences and ask the Pope to relieve me from my work as a bishop.”
Embattled German Bishops Submits Resignation
http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100422-26707.html
"Following weeks of claims of child beatings at the Schrobenhausen children’s home – and further suggestions he may have misused Church funds – Bishop Mixa, 68, sent a resignation letter to the Vatican to avoid further damage to the Church’s reputation, Mixa's office confirmed Thursday morning.
“I am taking this step in the unshakeable faith in God’s mercy and confidently hope that the Father in heaven will lead the Church of Augsburg to a good future,” he wrote, according to daily Augsburger Allgemeine.
His resignation would apply to his positions as Bishop of Augsburg and Catholic Military Bishop for the German Bundeswehr."...
"Following weeks of claims of child beatings at the Schrobenhausen children’s home – and further suggestions he may have misused Church funds – Bishop Mixa, 68, sent a resignation letter to the Vatican to avoid further damage to the Church’s reputation, Mixa's office confirmed Thursday morning.
“I am taking this step in the unshakeable faith in God’s mercy and confidently hope that the Father in heaven will lead the Church of Augsburg to a good future,” he wrote, according to daily Augsburger Allgemeine.
His resignation would apply to his positions as Bishop of Augsburg and Catholic Military Bishop for the German Bundeswehr."...
At Spiritus Leadership Begins With Love
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100427/NEWS0201/4270319/1002/NE
"Especially in a church, Callan says, "the key thing in leadership is to create an atmosphere of love. You have to remember people's birthdays and anniversaries," and learn to "bring a little sunshine." Callan says Ramerman is much better than he at confronting problems ("I prefer to avoid confrontation," he says). "People will go to town if they feel loved," he says, "and that's my main talent." Ramerman says she has learned not to put off dealing with problems, especially personnel problems that can affect other staff and parishioners. But, she says, making sure that people feel loved "is the most transformative thing we can do."...
...The church has many ministries and each one requires many volunteers — and that's essential, Ramerman says, to encouraging people to find compassionate outlets for their many talents. The Spiritus leadership style encourages leaders to step forward and lead. Neither Ramerman nor Callan is reluctant to ask people to make a big commitment. Callan told of the church's efforts to renovate a home for men coming out of prison. "We asked people for $5,000 — about what it would cost for each room," and people wrote checks...
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Congratulations to Mary Ramerman, Jim Callan and the Spiritus Christi community. You are an image of Christ's love in our world and a model of a renewed Catholic parish in action! You are an inspiration to all that change is possible, and that Catholics will embrace a vibrant model of service in a loving community.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
"Especially in a church, Callan says, "the key thing in leadership is to create an atmosphere of love. You have to remember people's birthdays and anniversaries," and learn to "bring a little sunshine." Callan says Ramerman is much better than he at confronting problems ("I prefer to avoid confrontation," he says). "People will go to town if they feel loved," he says, "and that's my main talent." Ramerman says she has learned not to put off dealing with problems, especially personnel problems that can affect other staff and parishioners. But, she says, making sure that people feel loved "is the most transformative thing we can do."...
...The church has many ministries and each one requires many volunteers — and that's essential, Ramerman says, to encouraging people to find compassionate outlets for their many talents. The Spiritus leadership style encourages leaders to step forward and lead. Neither Ramerman nor Callan is reluctant to ask people to make a big commitment. Callan told of the church's efforts to renovate a home for men coming out of prison. "We asked people for $5,000 — about what it would cost for each room," and people wrote checks...
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Congratulations to Mary Ramerman, Jim Callan and the Spiritus Christi community. You are an image of Christ's love in our world and a model of a renewed Catholic parish in action! You are an inspiration to all that change is possible, and that Catholics will embrace a vibrant model of service in a loving community.
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
"All About Inclusivity" Article on Roman Catholic Womenpriests 2010 Ordination at Centennial United Church in Victoria, BC
"All about Inclusivity"
Article Link:
http://www.newcatholictimes.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=1726&ptid=1
Site Name: New Catholic Times
Site URL: http://www.newcatholictimes.com/
All about Inclusivity
Author: Phil Little
Posted by: Editor on April 26, 2010 1:00:00 AM
(Reprinted with permission of New Catholic Tmes)
She was followed by Bishop Patricia Fresen who spoke on the unusual ordination text from John citing the encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery. Bishop Patricia highlighted that Jesus was an orthodox Jew who took his religion seriously but he did not hesitate to critique the law or even break the law when it was applied unjustly or for evil purposes. Jesus did not come to condemn but to offer new life.
Years ago in a previous lifetime I participated in a Peruvian priest's movement. We gathered in our local groups to share news, to seek an analysis of current political and religious situations, and to deepen our commitment to Vatican II and the Latin American experiences of Medellin and Puebla. Through this movement I was provided with an essential support that educated and nourished me, helping to situate my own position as a "foreign" gringo priest working among the very poorest. This movement sort of disappeared in the 1980's, but was not forced out by authorities in the church or the state who feared its influence. In its own analysis within the context of encouraging and supporting base Christian communities, the group decided that it should "decrease" so that the "community" and its leadership could "increase". As priests of the old order, but still good faithful priests, they saw that their ministry came from and within the people of God. Clergy dominance, even when progressive, was a problem and a liability in the development of real Christian communities.
I see myself as "a priest of the old order", not chosen by a Christian community and somewhat dubious of any real "calling" other than coming out of the altar boy farm system and with a somewhat general feeling that as a priest I could do something positive for others. Much of the crisis of the church today I would attribute to this institutional apparatus that fashions priests of the old order who simply are obsolete in the church that is needed today. Old wine skins for new wine - and the precious nectar is wasted or ruined.
Through our local CORPUS group on Vancouver Island we had contact with the first woman candidate for the priesthood - Michele Birch-Conery, Ph.D. -through the Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) movement. Michele began to attend our monthly ecumenical gatherings. Michele is a most accomplished woman, a professor of English literature, and prior to that she has a medical background as a "flying nurse" serving remote areas. Michele was near retirement. Why would she want to be a priest? Is this just not a feminist face to the "priest of the old order" paradigm? I was sceptical - and not too sure.
I was a human rights advocate in my work as a union representative and I understood the fundamental inequality that women in the church have faced over the centuries. The misogynist theology and policies of a patriarchal church contributed to the suffering, exclusion and oppression of women - well to be honest it still does. I understood that the RCWP movement was a logical next step for Catholic women. Groups like CNWE (Catholic Network for Women's Equality) can only talk about the issues for so long, but eventually advocating for change leads to action.
As happens sometimes the spark for change comes from a place least expected. A group of three bishops approached Dr.Patricia Fresen (a professor of theology in Rome) and asked her to consider ordination. Patricia is another of those women who has led a full life as an educator and as a member of a religious order could have chosen to retire gracefully in comfort. She had been jailed in South Africa for defying the laws of apartheid by allowing black children to attend the school where she was the director. She knew of the struggle for equality and she stood with the oppressed and paid the price. Reluctantly Patricia listened to the arguments of these bishops and she accepted ordination to the priesthood and then later as bishop so that she could make an effort in the struggle against inequality in the community that was her church. Again she paid a hefty price as she was expelled from her religious community at the insistence of the Vatican. This meant that all financial support and the security of religious life for a faithful member were abruptly ended. That was not the "vow" of poverty - rather it is real poverty.
I met Patricia Fresen a few years ago when she was visiting Vancouver Island and she asked to come and see our new home in Saltair. We asked her to bless our new home even before we had moved in and she consented graciously. There is a gentleness and depth of wisdom that comes from Patricia and I wish we could have more time with her.
On April 17, 2010 Patricia was again back on Vancouver Island for the ordination of two women to the priesthood. One of them I know as she had joined our mid-island community gatherings with her husband Robert. Kim Sylvester is another accomplished woman, professor of music with a full career behind her as well as her life as mother and grandmother. Kim felt the "call" to the priesthood and began the journey and preparation. How could you not support such a good woman? Yet still - the same question - another priest of the old order but with a woman's face?
I had a minor role in the ordination ceremony as videographer, something for which I am minimally qualified. Michele Birch-Conery drafted me and gave me her camera which is about 100 times better than my mini-Canon camera. The ordination was celebrated in the Centennial United Church in Victoria with the gracious support of its minister, Rev. Alana Menu. I recognized Rev. Rosalind Westaway, an Anglican priest, who recently retired and lives nearby in Ladysmith. Rosalind gave the welcome to the congregation. There were other women Anglican priests present. I noticed that like myself there were other married RC priests present - a former OMI and a former Jesuit among them. The church "felt" particularly warm and comfortable - this coming from one who is not known to be attentive to "feelings".
Francois Brassard was the master of ceremonies and managed to keep everything flowing smoothly. There was a choir, led by Gordon Miller, which had obviously put much effort into preparing for this ordination. Bishop Patricia came in the procession with the two women candidates and a number of other co-celebrants. There was a presentation of the candidates and witnesses to their calling came forth and spoke on their behalf.
The Liturgy of the Word was most powerful. Perhaps it was the texts chosen (Proverbs 8:32-25, 9:1-6, Acts 16:11-15, John 8:1-8) but also the readers - an Anglican priest, a laywoman and the gospel read by Rev. Alana Menu. The Rev. Ellen Willinham, an Anglican priest, then spoke about the calling of women to leadership roles in the church. She was followed by Bishop Patricia Fresen who spoke on the unusual ordination text from John citing the encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in the act of adultery. Bishop Patricia highlighted that Jesus was an orthodox Jew who took his religion seriously but he did not hesitate to critique the law or even break the law when it was applied unjustly or for evil purposes. Jesus did not come to condemn but to offer new life. This ordination was conducted according to the traditional ritual of the Church, except for the contravention of Canon 1024 which states that only a "male" can be validly ordained. Patricia outlined how this canon stands in contrast to centuries of tradition and the very example of inclusivity as witnessed in the life of Jesus as found in the gospels.
After the liturgy of the word the choir led the congregation in the singing of the Taize version of the "Veni Sancte Spiritu". This was not an ordinary church type hymn - there was almost a mystical breath of harmony as the entire congregation became one with the choir in this simple but profound prayer. Again the Myers-Briggs test says I am not a "feeling type" of guy, but there was something different happening. No dove fluttered down from the rafters, but there was a strong sense of communal unison in purpose.
As the candidates prostrated themselves before the altar, as is tradition, the community prayed in song the Litany of the Saints. This litany highlighted many of the great women of our religious tradition but also included modern saints like Bishop Romero. "All you holy men and women, pray for us" was the response and it was an invocation that made them present in this moment of deep religious renewal. Then Bishop Patricia explained the ritual of the "laying on hands" - a gesture without words that was itself the prayer. Bishop Patricia then invited the co-celebrants to follow her and then others in the congregation to then join in this prayer of the "laying on hands". All of the women priests and ministers, including those of other Christian communions, joined in this prayer of ordination as well as many of the congregation including family members of the candidates. I maintained my position as videographer but found myself profoundly affected when Rev. Alana Menu approached the candidates and joined in this ritual. I know Alana and her husband through another instance and rejoiced in her own ordination as a United Church minister only a few years ago.
Deep within me I recognized that something more profound was happening before my eyes. This was not just the ordination of two women, but it was the tearing down of walls of separation. Patricia Fresen had gone to jail in South Africa to include young black students in the school run by her religious order. This was not just equality but it was "inclusivity" - refusing to exclude and refusing to be excluded. Pope Benedict would have us believe that the other Christian communions are not real churches, and that their salvation depends on them joining us. Here I was witness to a different dimension of ecumenism - not a formal week of prayer for Christian unity as governed by the old order - but a demonstration that ecumenism is unity when it is made to happen. Women ministers united to pray for these two RC candidates in a gesture of solidarity and ecclesial love.
The communion table was again a moment that highlighted "inclusivity". Patricia Fresen highlighted two aspects that perhaps are symbolic but very powerful in the R.C.W.P. movement. The "program of service" had printed in bold "Please note that our tradition is that the Presider and ministers receive communion last, not first". At the beginning of the communion service it was also announced that at the Lord's Table "all are invited".
Religious movements and organizations pass through different stages beginning with "inspiration" and sometimes ending with "rigid institutionalization". There are powerful signs that the R.C.W.P. movement desires to move priesthood into a new paradigm. Will the inspiration provided by leaders such as Bishop Patricia Fresen sustain the group as it grows and matures? Is it possible that this new paradigm of priestly leadership will prove "contagious" and maybe even begin to influence the old order priests? Pope Benedict XVI has shown that he can go to extraordinary limits to rehabilitate renegade bishops of the Pius X movement, even when they turn out to be anti-Semitic holocaust deniers.
Perhaps with some time and growth, a successor pope might realize that for the good of the universal church, it would be opportune to offer full communion to these women who are ordained. In the meanwhile, there is some excitement, akin to the refreshing spirit in the air in the first years after Vatican II. Maybe some of the priests of the old order, those still in ministry and those who are retired and married, need to accept that it would be a "kairos" type moment to accept an option to "decrease" so that something new and potentially very alive can "increase".
Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
Title Author Date-Time
All about Inclusivity
Gerry Grundy April 27, 2010 09:57 AMI am ready for this step at any time. Priests of both genders and an open communion are two things that our church is ready for. We can't wait for the hierarchy to deem it appropriate to do so. My wife and I continue to work at the grass roots of ecumenism, enjoying what we see in other denominations and embracing what we see as good. We must be ready to make bold steps as Jesus, Peter and Paul did even when being criticized for thinking outside the box. I have wanted for a long time to put on the sign of our church "All are welcome" and showing that by disposing of the tradition of an closed communion, which is so contradictory to the inclusivity of Jesus. The exclusion of women priests is based upon such weak arguments of dubious biblical research. If we keep working at it, it will eventually come to the whole church.
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All about Inclusivity
Dennis Benoit April 27, 2010 02:06 PMThis women's ordination in Victoria was the second one I attended there and each time was deeply moved by the faith of the ordinands, presiders and all others who were present. Being present among those whom the Vatican has declared "outcasts" to put it mildly creates a special bond, similar to that experienced by those whom Jesus befriended and defended against the unjust laws created by the religious authorities of His time. The fact that Jesus spent the majority of His public ministry with such people without judgement or disapproval should strengthen the faith of all of us, knowing that we are not cut off from the love and grace of God whatsoever. I, a gay catholic, know first hand what it is like to be treated unjustly by most of our Catholic clergy. My faith community, Dignity Vancouver (and Dignity Canada) unconditionally acknowledge and welcome the ministry of our Catholic Women priests. One such priest, Michele Birch-Conery has aready facilitated a day of retreat and presided at a Eucharistic liturgy with us in Vancouver. Events such as these ordinations are true signs that a universal church is now underway.
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