Papal Leadership For The 21st Century

Papal Leadership for the 21st Century:
Pastoral, Reform-Minded Pope

Write U.S. Cardinal Electors Today!

Dear Friend

I send below our media release about FutureChurch's new

Position Statement on Papal Leadership for the 21st Century.

You can read the full statement. Then, we hope you will write U.S. Cardinal Electors.

Remember to friend us on Facebook

since by God's providence I will be in Rome March 11-28, leading a pilgrimage to archaeological sites of early women leaders in the Church. We'll post regularly from Rome.

Last, see the links on the right to send e-postcards for optional celibacy and women deacons. We fixed a web glitch so please try again if you were deterred earlier. We will still try to deliver these to Vatican offices.

Please keep us and our Church in your Lenten prayer before our good God.

Chris Schenk csj

For Immediate Release:

FutureChurch Seeks Election of Pastoral, Reform-Minded Pope

Encourages U.S. Catholics To Write Cardinal Electors

(Cleveland) On Thursday February 14, the Board of Trustees of FutureChurch unanimously approved a position statement detailing challenges in the church and the qualities needed in candidates for the next Pope.

Entitled "Papal Leadership for the 21^st Century" the statement asks for a "reform-minded" Pope who will address the need for change in an array of church practices. The group urges election of a candidate who would "encourage consultative structures that involve Catholic people in decisions that directly affect them; practice subsidiarity, reduce unnecessary centralization of authority, value due process for alleged errors, encourage accountability and transparency, and value access to the Eucharist [the Mass] over an exclusively male celibate priesthood. "

Full position statement and addresses of Cardinal-Electors available at www.futurechurch.org

"Given the power struggles that resulted after Pope Benedict tried to address Vatican financial scandals and clergy sex abuse, it is clear that reform of Church governance is desperately needed," said FutureChurch executive director, Sr. Christine Schenk.

"Somehow, we've got to help the Roman bureaucracy remember they are there to serve the 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, " said FutureChurch board member Mary Louise Hartman. "Millions of Catholics have no access to the most sacred gifts of Catholic life, the Eucharist and the other sacraments."

"Canon law tells us that Catholics have a right to the Mass, but in countries like Brazil, eighty percent of all Sunday services are services of the Word because there are no priests. This has got to change," said Schenk.

"We have an obligation under canon law to 'make our views known on matters concerning the good of the church,'" said Hartman. "So we are asking our members and supporters to write the Cardinal Electors immediately and offer their views about what is needed for Papal Leadership in the 21^st Century."

Sister Chris Schenk, FutureChurch Staff, Board Members in Rome during Conclave. FutureChurch's March 14-21 pilgrimage to archaeological sites of early women leaders in the Church sold out three months ago. Sr. Chris will lead the pilgrimage as planned and will be in Rome She will be available by email and cell 216-513-3647. Calls from U.S. require international access of 011-1 In Italy the access is 00. For pilgrimage info http://pilgrimages.com/futurechurch/ March 11-28 .