Jerry Filteau is NCR Washington correspondent.
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/saying-bishops-scared-panelists-urge-laity-take-lead
“We are becoming a do-it-yourself church” for the laity, said Jesuit Fr. Thomas J. Reese, one of three senior fellows of the Woodstock Theological Center in Washington who spoke at “The Future of the Church: A Woodstock Forum on Sources of Hope,” held at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia Dec. 5.
The U.S. Catholic hierarchy today is fearful and defensive, a far cry from the collaborative, pastorally transformed hierarchy that emerged during and after the Second Vatican Council, said Dolores R. Leckey, former longtime head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Laity, Family, Women and Youth, and a noted writer on spirituality."
"He said that for him the most depressing finding of the Pew study was that 71 percent of former Catholics said the reason they left the church was “that my spiritual needs were not met by the church -- in other words, our fundamental product failed.”
"Another major negative factor in U.S. Catholic membership trends, Reese said, is that in the United States today, many of those leaving are women."
“In the 19th century we lost men in Europe. We didn’t lose the women,” he said. “Today we’re losing women too. ... Mothers are more important to the Catholic church than priests, because they are the ones that pass the faith on to the next generation. They are the ones who teach the kids how to pray, answer their questions about God, etc. Women are absolutely essential. If we lose women, we might as well close shop. And then the worst thing about this is that the more educated a woman becomes, the more alienated she tends to become from the Catholic church.”....
Bridget Mary's Reflection
Of course, women are alienated! The language of the liturgy is exclusive, all male imagery is used in Catholic worship and there are no women priests at the altar in Catholic parishes. The "elephant in the Roman Catholic living room" is the issue of gender justice and the empowerment of the people of God in leadership roles that are decision-making in our church.. Women priests are integral part of justice for all. We need a people-empowered community of faith to meet the spiritual needs of Catholics today in vibrant worshipping communities as well as a strong prophetic presence as we stand in solidarity with the poor and oppressed to change the structures of domination that breed injustice and violence.
Roman Catholic Women Priests are offering a renewed model of priestly ministry in a community of equals in the grassroots communities where we serve. We are not leaving the church, but leading our beloved church into its future now. For many it is a holy shakeup whose time has come!
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/
2 comments:
I have enjoyed reading your blog and signed up today to follow it on a regular basis. I loved your piece, I believe it was back in November, about the US Catholic Bishops basically ignoring the gay teen suicides, as well as same sex marriage. I am Catholic and have been from birth. I live in Oklahoma and recently had a book published that I am using as a vehicle to educate society on homosexuality in order that the ignorance can be wiped out. Education is the way to understanding and acceptance and eventual equality for all. Please go to my blog for more details at http://www.thegaylyblogger.blogspot.com GOD BLESS YOU!
Bridget Mary,
A person's spiritual needs can only be met when their belief system is compatable with the Catholic Faith.
When one does not believe and profess what the Church believes and professes, it should come as no surprise that one is not having their spiritual needs met. When one professes a different Faith then what Christ revealed, how can the person RECIEVE Christ? How can a person who rejects the message of Christ be FED with the LIFE of Christ? Answer? THEY CAN'T and therefore will go elsewhere.
They will go to a Church that is more compatable with their Faith and therefore will find in that Church teachings which will meet their spiritual needs.
In any case the numbers prove nothing. If you read the Bible you see that many of Jesus followers left him, especially AFTER he said something they found OFFENSIVE, and therefore refused to accept.
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