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National Media Covers Parish Closings
Over the past six weeks, mainstream and Catholic media have taken an interest in the efforts of Catholic parishioners appealing the closing of their vibrant parishes. Articles and feature stories have appeared in the New York Times, Time Magazine, ABC World News Tonight, and the National Catholic Reporter. January 6, the New York Times published a front page story: In a Quiet Rebellion, Parishioners Keep the Faith about the four year vigil of parishioners at ST. Frances Xaviar Cabrini parish in Scituate MA: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/us/06vigil.htmlJanuary 19, Time Magazine published: Postcard from Adams about the parishioners at St. Stanaslas Kostka parish in Adams, MA who are determined to save their century old parish: January 19, Time Magazine published: Postcard from Adams about the parishioners at St. Stanaslas Kostka parish in Adams, MA who are determined to save their century old parish: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1870539,00.htmlJanuary 23, The National Catholic Reporter published a comprehensive overview of parish closings throughout the US, and quoting FutureChurch's Sr. Chris Schenk. The paper also ran an insightful editorial about keeping parishes open with parish life coordinators rather than closing them because of too few priests. Parish Closing Trauma: http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/3090EDITORIAL: The church's future is now http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=node/3135January 26, ABC's World News Tonight aired an investigative story about six parishes, five in Boston and one in New Orleaans who have been struggling to keep their parishes open. Church squatters protest Archdiocese http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=boston%20vigils&type |
Hidden Women of Holy Week and Eastertide Barbara Litrell and Emily Holtel Hoag of FutureChurch led a creative "Women at the Foot of the Cross" celebration presented from the point of view of Jesus' women disciples both historical and contemporary, at the national Call To Action conference last November. CD images of women, ancient and modern, enhanced the celebration. The service was developed by the Celebrating Women Witness ministry of St. John Vianney parish in Sedona, Arizona which uses the service every year as part of their Lenten devotions .
FutureChurch has created a new New CD! Hidden Women of Holy Week and Eastertide resource. It includes a beautiful pictoral CD as well as prayer resources and suggestions for how to put "women back in the biblical picture" during the Easter season, Lent and Holy Week. $12 (includes s/h) To order click here.
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Fr. Reese Says Benedict Undermining Legacy.Writing for a blog for the Washington Post , Fr. Tom Reese has these insights to share: "The four bishops, along with Archbishop Lefebvre, were excommunicated because Lefebvre ordained them as bishops without the approval of the pope. They were not excommunicated because of their beliefs about the Shoah or Vatican II.
Lifting the excommunication says nothing about their beliefs. It is the ecclesial equivalent of a "cease fire" not a peace treaty. The bishops are still suspended from ministry, they are forbidden to act as bishops or even as priests. Long and difficult negotiations will be needed to bring about any reconciliation between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X. There is a very good chance that these negotiations will fail.
In my view, lifting the excommunications was a judgment call, and I would defend the pope's right to make that decision. My disappointment is that while the Vatican is enthusiastic in wooing the right, it has no patience with the left. Only the right side of the cafeteria is open." To read complete article click here.
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European Theologians Petition for Vatican II A group of European theologians have called for the full implementation of Vatican II and for rehabilitation of other "lost sheep" in the wake of Rome's decision to rescind the excommunication of four Lefebrite Bishops who denied the teachings of the Council. The theologians have launched an internet petition. To read and sign it, click here. |
More Ways to Support Fr. Roy Bourgeois We have had a number of requests about how to further support Fr. Roy Bourgeois. For Fr. Roy's address as well as those of the Apostolic Nuncio, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Maryknoll Fathers, click here.
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