Liberal Catholics Pushing Changes in the Church to gather in Detroit: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests +Mary MMOJ Community Will Be There!

by Niraj Warikoo

Detroit Free Press

"The council is pushing for lay people to have a greater say in church decision-making, which is often top-down. And many are calling for women, gay and non-celibate priests, along with more of an emphasis on social justice issues rather than abortion or anti-birth control efforts. On Sunday, it plans to endorse a 10-point list of rights and responsibilities for Catholics. "

"Kathy Chateau, 54, of St. Clair Shores will be at the liberal conference in Detroit because she said she's fed up with the church's views on women and what she calls its lack of accountability over issues such as child abuse.Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792 or nwarikoo@freepress.com

Bridget Mary's Reflection:
The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests and Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida will share their stories of living Gospel equality now! Contacts: Diane Dougherty at 770-683-8101,Donna Rougeux 859-221-3082, Jack Duffy 608 - 444-2987

BAD News About Catholic Church:
http://coloradoindependent.com/90356/denvers-chaput-among-likely-replacements-for-embattled-philly-cardinal-rigali

The Philadelphia archdiocese has been doing damage control since February, when a grand jury skewered Rigali, his bishops and staff for retaining dozens of problem priests. It charged three priests and a Catholic school teacher with rape and a priest-administrator or monsignor with endangering children by only shuffling accused priests to different posts. The panel said the Church allowed nearly 40 suspected abusers to continue working.Rigali’s replacement will be walking into a storm. Trial preparations continue for two of the archdiocese priests accused of child molestation. The two men declined to make plea deals earlier this week.

Strain on internal relations at the archdiocese has become a matter of public record. The head of the archdiocese panel on priest sex abuse last month responded angrily to criticism heaped on the panel by the grand jury. Ana Maria Catanzaro wrote at the Catholic magazine Commonweal that Rigali and his bishops “failed miserably at being open and transparent” with the panel and so panel members couldn’t perform genuine oversight and shouldn’t be made to carry blame.“What will it take for bishops to accept that their attitude of superiority and privilege only harms their image and the church’s image?” she wrote. "

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/08/2937490/diocese-official-who-oversees.htmlofficial-who-oversees.html

Wed, Jun. 08, 2011 11:19 PM

Once-accused priest now leads diocese inquiries into sex abuse
By JUDY L. THOMAS
The Kansas City Star

"The Catholic official who oversees sex abuse complaints against priests in the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, has himself been accused of past sexual improprieties.A Kansas City man wrote the bishop of the diocese four years ago, alleging sexual harassment in 1984 by the Rev. Robert Murphy, a priest who is now vicar general."