Australian Catholics for Renewal, in an open letter addressed to the Pope and the Bishops of Australia say that the church no longer has the power to inspire people.
“It (the Church) has alienated too many adults who were born of Catholic parents, attended Catholic schools and lived a sacramental life,” the letter says.
The Catholics for Renewal chairman, Peter Johnstone, called for “ordinary Catholics” to speak out and for priests to listen to them.
The Letter calls specifically for two ‘first steps’, namely that
- each diocesan bishop convene a synod in his diocese to discuss how the local Church might be a more authentic witness in the 21st century, and
- Pope Benedict allow a return to a more accountable and consultative process for the appointment of bishops giving both priests and people a real voice as was earlier Church practice.
The Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Bishops of Australia Petition to Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Bishops of Australia was created by Catholics for Renewal and written by Peter J Johnstone (pj_johnstone@hotmail.com).
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