Dear Friends of FutureChurch: We hope you enjoy our May E-Newsletter. Share it with others by clicking here.
|
Hans Kung, John
Wijngaards Analyze Credibility Crisis Hans
Kung recently wrote an open letter to the world's bishops asking them to not keep
silent work for reform, at collegially, find regional solutions to the priest
shortage and call a council or at least a representative assembly of
bishops. Meanwhile, theologian
John Wijngaards traces the historical decisions in the wake of Vatican II that
led to the current situation. He
says "The paedophilia scandal that has engulfed the Church in North America and
Europe reveals it as a systemic
problem. The problem was not caused by errors of some isolated individuals, but
by the failing of a centralised system that has affected all parts of the
Church." See links below for complete articles:
Kung:
Church in Worst Credibility Crisis Since Reformation
Wijngaards: Why the Paedophilia Scandel Happened: Abuse of Authority in the Roman Catholic Church
|
|
Vatican rejects Boston churches' appeals The Vatican has rejected final appeals by 10 parishes closed by the Archdiocese of Boston in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal, leaving parishioners to consider fighting the closings in civilian courts, the leader of a parish advocacy group said Monday. Peter Borre of the Council of Parishes which is supporting parishioiners who have been conducting round the clock vigils for over five years said he did not expect the parishioners to back down now: "We expect the vigils to continue, so it's up to the archdiocese to decide whether to call in the cops,"
Read more...(USA Today)
Read Catholic News Service article
|
Magdala Celebrations Highlight Early Women Leaders
A new Mary of Magdala prayer
service and resources from archaeology highlighting women leaders in early
Christianity (from the fourth until the 9th centuries) are available for free
download. These women are nearly unknown, but thanks to catacomb frescos,
sarcophagi friezes, original art, paintings and mosaics, we are beginning to
learn and share their stories. To date over 150 celebrations are planned with
many more to come.
Download prayer service here
Read about early women leaders from archaeology
|
Will Canon Law
Change Open Way for Female Deacons? Just before Christmas, Pope Benedict made changes in canon law to
clarify the role of deacons. According to female diaconate expert, Dr.
Phyllis Zagano, the changes "may have ended the controversy over whether women
can be ordained deacons." The changes make it explicit that governance
rests with bishops and priests, while deacons are to serve in "the liturgy, the
word and charity." An in depth 1974 analysis by a member of the
International Theological Commission, Fr. Cipriano Vagaggini OSB, confirmed the
tradition of ordained women deacons in the church. Once that became clear, the
argument among the prelates revolved around how to restore women to the
diaconate while barring them from the priesthood. Zagano believes
Benedict's canonical change could be interpreted as addressing that issue.
Read more...
|
100 US Anglican Parishes Seek to Join Roman Catholic Church In early March about 100
traditionalist Anglican parishes in the United States decided to join the
Catholic Church as a group under the guidelines established in Pope Benedict
XVI's apostolic constitution "Anglicanorum Coetibus." Meanwhile, three traditionalist
Anglican bishops from the Church ofEngland met secretly with Vatican officials
in Rome to discuss making a similar move.
More about US transfers...
Anglican bishops in secret Vatican summit
Anglicans entering Catholic Church should blend well, Cardinal Levada says
|
Crying Out with A Million Voices FutureChurch is launching a new education-advocacy effort geared to providing ordinary Catholics with tools to discuss pressing issues facing the Catholic Church and to resist unjust suppression of that discussion by some Church officials. The failure of bishops to deal with the priest shortage, women's equality in the church, clergy sex abuse, and the lack of transparency in no small number of financial scandals is driving even the most faithful Catholics from the Church.
Even so, FutureChurch believes the power of the Spirit at work in the People of God has great healing and transformative potential for the life of the Church.The Million Voices project will provide education and advocacy information to address these and other painful situations. Email emily@futurechurch.org to be notified when the free downloadable resource becomes available (late April or early May). Read more...
|
Homilies Should Be Under Eight Minutes Long, says Vatican Official Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary-general of
the Synod of Bishops recently said homilies should be no longer than eight
minutes. In a new book titled, "The Word of God," the archbishop
highlighted some tips that came out of the 2008 Synod of Bishops on the Bible.
Everyone should spend an appropriate amount of time to craft a well-prepared
and relevant sermon for Mass, he said. Read more (scroll to bottom)...
|
|
Vatican Confirms New Missal Translations
The U.S. Bishops' conference announced April 30 that
the Vatican has confirmed the new English translation of the Roman Missal, but
said the exact date for its implementation has not been set. The Vatican also
approved a series of adaptations and proper texts for use in the United States.
The translations have been widely criticized for using an archaic style of English
in an attempt to render translations as close to Latin as possible. Read more...
Compare translations
|
Tens of
Thousands Join Church at Easter
Tens of
thousands of new Catholics, including an 89-year-old former atheist, joined the
church at the Easter Vigil, April 3. Jean Henry of Easton, Md. found that "this
life is hell if you're an atheist," But she also found hope and new life
through what she considers "an intervention by God."
Read more...
|
Sponsor a Listening Session On the Future of the Church The American Catholic Council is a new coalition of organizations, communities and individuals organizing "discussion at every level of the Catholic Church in the United States to consider the state and future of our Church." The coalition will convene a nationwide conference on Pentecost 2011 (June 10-12) at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan.
But first it hopes to encourage local and regional listening sessions to be held over the next 18 months.
To download a free toolkit for sessions in your home, parish or small faith community click here.
For more info on the American Catholic Council, click here.
|
