52 groups wanting Church reform write to Pope Francis

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Leaders of 52 groups seeking reform and renewal in the Catholic Church have written to Pope Francis asking for a meeting.

They urge the Pope to take immediate action to appoint more women to Church leadership positions.

The Pope’s frequent references to pastoral care for people and to the status of women are cited.

But the letter stops short of calling for women’s ordination, as Pope Francis has already ruled that out.

The groups also ask that banning people from Communion cease.

Among the groups, from Europe, Asia and the USA, are three national associations of priests and the We Are Church lay movement.

Also among the signatories are the American Catholics for Choice and Call to Action.

A press release accompanying the letter states the groups represent millions of Catholics around the world “who are deeply committed to our Church, but hope for changes on issues of governance and care”.

They want the Pope to end what they call “the use of Communion as a reward for doctrinal orthodoxy”.

Their letter said Communion “gives a place at the table to those who have been made to feel they were not worthy”.

“This includes many who have felt alienated from our Church and its sacramental life for many years, including divorced and remarried Catholics, Catholics in same sex relationships, and others.

Communion “is a sacrament of love and peace, of mercy and forgiveness offered by Jesus to all on the night before he died. It does not imply conformity with Church teachings in all instances and it does not endorse all aspects of moral choice made by the recipient,” the letter continues.

“It does, however, offer love and healing to Catholics who experience alienation and rejection.”

The groups said their proposals are “free of theological complexity and are readily able to be advanced without a break with what some might see as imperative continuity with former teachings”.

Sources