25 January 2019
To Members of the Planning
Committee for the Clerical Sex Abuse Conference called by Pope Francis:
Reverend
Hans Zollner, Germany
Cardinal
Blase Cupich, Chicago, U.S.A.
Cardinal
Oswald Gracias, Mumbai, India
Archbishop
Charles J. Scicluna, Malta
The ongoing worldwide scandal
of clergy sexual abuse and cover-up dramatically affects all of God's people.
Sexual abuse of any kind is a crime which must be reported and dealt with by
civil authorities so that justice can truly be served. Healing the spiritual wounds suffered by
victims of abuse requires that Church authorities listen with the heart of
Christ if the Church is to heal this wound to the Body of Christ. Pope Francis has responded by convening a
meeting of the heads of bishops' national conferences in February. You are
tasked with preparing for this meeting. We hope you will consider the following
observations and recommendations.
Pope Francis has stated, “To
say 'no' to abuse is to say an emphatic 'no' to all forms of clericalism.”
(Letter to the People of God, par. 2.4)
We agree that clericalism is a key issue because it maintains the
Church's clergy/lay structure, which is seriously flawed since it reserves
decision-making to a small minority of unmarried men. Unfortunately, they are more akin to a
secular pyramidal corporation rather than a college of Apostles whose mission
is to teach, govern and sanctify through sacrament and example, the whole
People of God. Real change against abuse
must start with essential change to the Church's clergy/lay structure. Two changes we consider essential to restore
the credibility of the teaching authority of the Church are the inclusion of
women in all ministries of the Church and the end to mandatory celibacy.
We speak as women who love
the Church and have accepted, in prophetic obedience to the Holy Spirit, to
exercise a leadership of service within Catholic faith communities, tending the
broken souls of those wounded by the Church.
We minister to victims of clergy sexual harassment, exploitation and
assault, and to their families. We also journey with offending priests to help
them find forgiveness and healing.
The absence of women in
positions of ecclesial authority denies the Church the wisdom and insight women
bring to the processes of discernment and decision making. Patriarchal gender stereotyping silences the
voice of half of humanity. Women know from experience that the hierarchy of the
Catholic Church is a primary carrier of the global toxic virus of misogyny and
the violence it engenders. The cure for that virus is equality: the inclusion
of women in all ministries of the Church so that men and women are equal
partners in gathering and shepherding God's people.
Further, if the Church would
recognize the dual call to priesthood as well as marriage, the insights of
family life would enrich the ministry of its priests as it does with its
deacons. An end to mandatory celibacy would afford priests and bishops the
emotional support and stability of family life (see Gen 2:18; I Tim 3:2-5) and
would provide a role model for parishioners. This is not to say that we do not
honour the charism of celibacy in those who receive it.
The members (women and men)
of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests movement join their voices
with all who hope that your meeting in Rome will produce the real changes
necessary to restructure Church governance.
A conversion from clericalism and entitlement to service is imperative
in order to heal the grave wounds to the Body of Christ and move the Church
into the 21st century.
We earnestly pray that the
Spirit will guide your deliberations and your decision making, to bring the
Church out of the darkness into Christ's light, "for the Holy Spirit
Itself is a burning and shining serenity, which cannot be nullified, and which
enkindles ardent virtue so as to put all darkness to light" (St. Hildegard
of Bingen).
Respectfully,
Roman Catholic Women Priests:
+Marie
Evans Bouclin, (Sudbury, ON, Bishop Emerita, RCWP Canada)
+Merlene
Olivia Doko, (Pismo Beach, CA, Bishop Emerita, RCWP USA)
+Patricia
Fresen, (Capetown, RCWP South Africa)
+Joan M. Clark Houk, (South Bend, IN, RCWP-USA, Great Waters
Region)
+Andrea
Michele Johnson, (Annapolis, MD, RCWP USA, Eastern Region)
+Jane
Kryzanowski, (Regina, SK, RCWP, Canada)
+Christine
Mayr-Lumetzberger, (Pettenbach, RCWP Austria/ Europe)
+Nancy
Louise Meyer, (Indianapolis, IN, RCWP USA, Midwest Region)
+Ida
Raming, (Stuttgart, RCWP Germany)
+Sibyl
Dana Reynolds, (Pebble Beach, CA, Bishop Emerita, RCWP USA)
+Suzanne Avison Thiel, (Portland, OR, RCWP USA,
Western Region)
+Jane
Via, (San Diego, CA, RCWP USA, Western Region)
On behalf of the members
of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests:
+Olga
Lucia Alvarez (Columbia, S.A., ARCWP)
+Michele
Birch-Conery (Windsor, ON, ARCWP)
+Mary
Eileen Collingwood (Hudson, OH, ARCWP)
+Bridget
Mary Meehan (Sarasota, FL, ARCWP)
Contacts:
Jane
Kryzanowski
306-737-2927
Bridget
Mary Meehan
703-505-0004
enclosed: A Litany For
Renewal
A LITANY FOR RENEWAL
Compassionate Holy One…
In our season of brokenness, you call us to walk
a higher road:
--As we follow the Way of Jesus, guide us as a
community of equals, to build a reconciled and renewed Church for today’s
world.
In our season of brokenness, we seek healing for
ourselves and those who cross our paths:
--As we follow the Way of Jesus, may we embody
his teachings of merciful and unconditional love, forgiveness, and inclusivity.
In our season of brokenness, the fervent needs of
our brothers and sisters are before us:
--As we follow the Way of Jesus, open our hearts
and eyes to fully witness the depths of human suffering. Inspire our courage
and fuel our spirits with the grace of acceptance to embrace diversity, use our
voices for the voiceless, and speak truth to power.
--As we follow the Way of Jesus, we pray for your
people, especially those in power, to
cherish our natural resources and watch over your creatures. Help us to value
and care for the vast interconnectedness and myriad threads within the fabric
of your Creation.
Compassionate Holy One…
As we follow the Way of Jesus, make us
hope-bringers, truth-tellers, and messengers of Peace. Unite our hearts through our prayers, heal
our brokenness, and inspire the co-creation of a vibrantly re-imagined and welcoming
Church. Together, let us envision a blessed season of radiant
wholeness...ablaze with Christ’s Love.
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