Recently, Archbishop Dolan has presented the plan that will
close 31 parishes in a process that will leave NYC with only 55 Catholic
Churches, compared to an original 112. He has stressed this is necessary for
the Church’s future. I
disagree. This action has resulted only because the Church remains firmly
entrenched in the past.
The archbishop referred to churches that were once filled
on Sunday morning being now almost empty as one reason. Usually the challenges
of modern life are blamed for the absences. I wonder if he’s
ever thought that people may not want to attend a church where….
• men
and their designated leaders make key decisions with only token consultation of
those most affected.
• love,
if not shared within specific contexts, may be a source of sin, or even worse,
the reason to label someone as being “disordered.”
• its
most treasured possession - Eucharist - is withheld not from people who cheat
the poor or libel the stranger. Rather the Eucharist is denied those who commit
their lives to others in the wrong ways or who use birth control even to
protect women’s health.
• a
person who seeks only to give her fullest self in ordained ministry to God and
creation is not only refused the opportunity, but kicked out of the Church
itself if she dares to speak or act.
I suspect that many have left the Church with such reasons
in mind, and now those who have remained will feel ever more acutely what
happens as this Church refuses to budge from the past.
Rather than accepting with gratitude the gifts of all
willing to offer their lives to ordained ministry, the Church prefers to make
parishes not only larger but more impersonal as handfuls of men seek to meet
the sacramental needs of hundreds of parishioners. Furthermore, priests who do
show support for women’s ordination are deemed to be so dangerous that they
are severely punished or even kicked
out, regardless of their age or years of
service.
How tragic this all is! In having seen such closures before
in Louisville, KY, I ache, knowing that as these parishes close, some of our
most vulnerable people, especially in neighborhoods such as East Harlem, will
become incapable of attending weekly Mass. Within merged parishes, another
problem arises. Many people, especially our children today, will never know
what it is to celebrate a sacrament with a priest who is also a beloved friend.
With so many people to serve, at best these priests may know their parishioners’ names. At
worst, they’ll be walking into baptisms, weddings, even funerals,
having never even talked to those they will serve.
Fortunately, another part of the Catholic Church is moving
forward, embracing the ordinations not only of women, but married men as well.
Still small, but ever so vibrant and growing, it comprises several communities
scattered about the world, welcoming all to our Eucharistic table, knowing God
would never deny love in any expression, any offering.
Already ordained as a deacon into one branch of this
Church, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, I will be soon
ordained a priest here in NYC. I would love to serve this Archdiocese even now
as deacon; but, alas, having been created in God’s
image, I am woman. I am here… trusting that as the Holy Spirit
moves, we who seek to embrace the future will find each other.
Denise Menard Davis, ARCWP
1 comment:
Delecta Graviora
“In July 2010, the Vatican placed Roman Catholic Women Priests in the most serious crime category, “delecta graviora”, right along with the pedophiles. The only difference is that the Vatican excommunicated the women priests, but not the pedophiles. “ Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP (BMM)
“Who are the pope and hierarchy to say that men only have a call to priestly ministry? The Pope and hierarchy cannot limit God’s call with religious decrees, and rules like canon law. If they do, they will remain blind? (BMM)
“Like Rosa Parks, who refused to sit in the back of the bus, Roman Catholic Women Priests demonstrate by our actions of prophetic obedience to the Spirit that an unjust law must be broken in order to be changed. “ (BMM)
“This discrimination against women contradicts the Second Vatican Council document, The Church in the Modern World that states “Every type of discrimination… based on sex is to be eradicated as contrary to God’s intent.” The tragedy is that sexism is a major factor in the physical, emotional and spiritual abuse of women and too often leads to violence against women worldwide. In 1975, an international group of Catholic Scripture scholars, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, concluded that the ordination of women could not be excluded on the basis of Scripture. The church’s ban on women priests contradicts its own scholarship.” (BMM)
The real ‘delecta graviora’ is the exclusion of women from the priesthood and hierarchy. Abuse of authority should also fit under this category. The ‘indoctrination’ (brainwashing) of candidates for ordination creates a mindset heavily dependent on obedience and uniformity. “Don’t even think about it!” applies to much of what is taught. Priests who believe women can and should be considered for priesthood have told me, “I have to be careful!” Where is their prophetic courage?
I believe that the refusal to ‘even talk about it’ is almost as grave as the abuse of children. It is the abuse of half of humanity, half of the Church.
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