Write the Cardinals
Pope John Paul II has summoned all the US cardinals to Rome
for a meeting early next week to discuss the ongoing crisis of clergy
sexual abuse.
Now is the time, before the cardinals leave for Rome, for
progressive Catholics to voice their opinions on the inadequacy of the
hierarchy's current response. Tell them that this situation has illustrated
the desperate need for reform in our priesthood and church. Remind them
about the need for honest and open leadership. Ask them to end the secrecy,
cover-up and violation of our trust.
Below is a sample letter written by WOC Board member, Diana
Wear, as well as a list of e-mail addresses and/or fax numbers for the
cardinals and representatives from the USCCB going to Rome. Please take
the time to contact these leaders as they prepare for their work with
the Pope next week.
Dear Cardinal,
I extend my Easter greetings to you at this most blessed
time. May the peace and love of our risen Christ be with you today, and with
all those who look to you for pastoral guidance. I know this must be a difficult
time for you. Please know that I am praying with you, for you, and most especially
for the future of our church.
I am writing to you at this crucial moment to encourage
the undertaking of honest and prophetic dialogue regarding priesthood in the
Roman Catholic Church, which is so desperately needed at this time. As I am
sure you are aware, the current sexual abuse scandals are but a symptom of
a much deeper problem. Please do not return from your
meetings in Rome armed only with pronouncements that the church will institute
new “zero tolerance” policies for priests who rape and molest. We
need more than that from you.
Please pray and be open to guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Pray and study intensely about the office of priesthood. It is an important
office whose greatest function is serving the People of God. Priesthood is
not about gender, marital status, or sexual orientation. Therefore, we need
not choose our candidates for priesthood with these factors in mind. Rather,
our decisions should be based only on a candidates ability to serve our people.
We are a people hungry for the Word of God preached and proclaimed in a rich
and meaningful way. Our church has, for a very long time, fallen away from
this understanding, and we are now suffering the consequences of those actions.
I am closing with an excerpt from the “Mission and
Purpose” of the Women's Ordination Conference (WOC) drafted over 26 years
ago, and still on the minds and hearts of many Catholic people today. May
these words offer you support and encouragement in your deliberations.
† The church, in fidelity to the gospel, must be open
to the full and equal participation of women in all its ministries;
† Women have an equal right with men to have their
call to ordination tested and their church leadership respected;
† Decisions affecting the life of the whole church
should reflect female as well as male experience and thought;
† The church hierarchy should not define male and
female “roles” or perpetuate any system that defines or limits ones
gifts or calling on the basis of gender;
† Renewing the priesthood is a critical step in revitalizing
the entire church and being an effective, welcoming presence in our contemporary
world.
In Christ,
Signature
_________________________________
William Henry Keeler, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Fax: (410) 727-8234
cardinal@archbalt.org
Bernard Francis Law, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Boston
Fax: (617) 782-8358
Francis Eugene George, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Chicago
Fax: (312) 337-6379
Adam Joseph Maida, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Detroit
Fax: (313) 237-4642
Roger Michael Mahony, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Fax: (213) 637-6510
info@la-archdiocese.org
Edward Michael Egan, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of New York
Fax: (212) 826-6020
Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Fax: (215) 587-4545
archbish@adphila.org
Theodore Edgar McCarrick, Cardinal, Archbishop
Archdiocese of Washington
Fax: (301) 853-5346
William Stephen Skylstad, Bishop
Diocese of Spokane
Fax: (509) 358-7302
Wilton Daniel Gregory, Bishop
USCCB President
Diocese of Belleville
Fax: (618) 277-0387
Monsignor William P. Fay
USCCB General Secretary
Fax: (202) 541-3166
wfay@usccb.org
*** This ACTION ALERT E-MAIL is from the Women's Ordination
Conference. Send comments or information for future ACTION ALERTS to Joy Barnes,
WOC Program Director at grassroots@womensordination.org.
For more information about WOC and how to become a WOC member, visit www.womensordination.org.
***
