FOCUS E-News May 28 - June 3, 2017

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FutureChurch and Voice of theFaithful Call on U.S. Bishops toPublicly Support WomenDeacons

In a statement released today,FutureChurch and Voice of the Faithfulcall on U.S. Bishops to publicly supportwomen deacons.

As Pope Francis’s commissionstudying the possibility of restoringwomen deacons continues its work,FutureChurch and Voice of the Faithful(VOTF) urge U.S. Catholic Bishops topublicly support the restoration of theancient practice of ordaining womendeacons and to petition the Holy See toallow women to function in our Churchas permanent deacons.

Women have traditionally carried out80 to 85% of the lay ministry of ourChurch*, yet they do not have equalaccess to all positions within the Churchor an equal voice in decision-makingprocesses. Since the restoration of thepermanent diaconate following theSecond Vatican Council, malecandidates have been chosen largely

from among those who already performdiaconal service. Women who likewiseare leaders in such ministries shouldnot be deprived of the graces of thesacrament. Further, the decliningnumber of priests and the increasingburden of providing adequate ministryto our people make ordaining women tothe diaconate an obvious option foraddressing that issue.

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Learn more Catholicwomendeacons.org

New resources to open discussion withyour priest, deacon or bishop! soon! DeaconChat

Deacon Chat: Resources forstarting a conversation aboutwomen deacons

On May 12, 2016 Pope Francis --responding to a question posed bymembers of the International Union ofSuperiors General (UISG) -- said that hewould establish a commission to studythe question of ordaining womendeacons in the Roman Catholic Church.That commission was formallyannounced in August and began itswork in November of 2016.

As the commission undertakes its work,it is important that Catholics -- lay andordained -- undergo their own study anddiscernment of the history and presentpossibility of ordaining women to thediaconate. Unfortunately too manyCatholics -- clergy included -- are under-educated on this topic. Our goal is tobring the ordained and the laitytogether in conversation to continueto learn and discern together.

We are asking you to engage a localmember of the clergy (your parishpriest, deacon, or your local bishop) ina conversation about women deacons.

Learn more and download the

resources

Pope Francis appointssecretary of newcongregation on family, laityand life

The new number two at the all-important Dicastery for Family, Laity,and Life is a young Brazilian priest notonly in sync with the ideas and outlookof Pope Francis, but who has a longhistory of friendship and collaborationwith the pontiff.

Father Alexandre Awi Mello, nationaldirector for the Schönstatt movement inBrazil, has a resumé that any head-hunter would naturally seize on for therole: His experience in youth ministry,years of pastoral work with families,expertise in spiritual direction, andtheological naus make him just the manfor implementing Amoris Laetitia andreaping the fruits of next year’s synodon youth and vocation discernment.

Awi even has a new book on the lattertopic - El Arte De Ayudar (‘The Art ofHelping’) - just out in Spanish.

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Newly restored areas of theCatacombs of Domitillaunveiled

If you have ever traveled withFutureChurch on a pilgrimage to Rome,you know that the Catacombs ofDomitillia is a place where evidence ofwomen's leadership and ministry in theearly church can be found.

The Pontifical Commission for SacredArcheology, which is responsible for theRoman catacombs, has unveiled thelatest restorations of the Catacombsof Domitilla south-east of the EternalCity.

According to the GermanArchaeological Institute, which helped

with the restorations, these are thelargest catacombs in Rome. They wereunveiled on May 29th.

The underground cemetery contains26,250 tombs and 228 funeral rooms(cubicoli) with 12km of galleries on fourlevels.

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Deafening silence on Muellerconfirms key insights aboutFrancis papacy

German Cardinal Gerhard Müller,Prefect of the Vatican's Congregationfor the Doctrine of the Faith, recentlyhad controversial things to say bothabout 'Amoris Laetitia,' the pope'sdocument on the family, and on femaledeacons. The fact few have reactedconfirms a key insight about PopeFrancis, which is that his network ofinformal advisers is far more importantthan organizational charts.

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Stemming the out-migration ofyoung Catholics

The old truism that young Catholicsleave the church for a period of timeand then return when they have childrenis no longer true.

Kerry Robinson has been dealing withthat reality for most of her career. Asthe founding director of the LeadershipRound Table, she understood that theChurch's inability to create a pathwayfor young Catholic leaders was aserious failure -- a failure that hadsolutions.

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I can't get the InstitutionalChurch out of my system

Tom Smith writes about his struggles toremain Catholic when he believes there

is so much the Institution gets wrong.

It used to be more intense, but thestruggle is still there. Even now, it issometimes a battle worthy of warimages, but most often it is a quiet, coldconflict that simmers in my soul. I doubtif I will ever get it completely resolved. Imay need a couple more lifetimes tobe reconciled with it, or, at least, a finelytuned purgatory.

The institutional part of the CatholicChurch that once powerfully attractedme now haunts and hurts me. I can'tquite get it out of my system. And thisconflict messes with my spiritual life.

When I was a young man, I became apriest after 12 years of training in twogreenhouse seminaries.

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Seeing myself in the BlackMadonna

Evelyn White talks about loss and faithin the discovery of the Black Madonna.

For there, at the top of a stairway,poised upon an ornate gold throne,sat La Moreneta, the Black Madonnaand Child. Venerated for centuries, thedark-hued, wooden icon draws scoresof pilgrims from around the world whobelieve that the figure holds divine,healing properties.

Dumbstruck before the Black Madonna,I experienced anew the aching loss ofmy father and Lupe. At the same time, Iwas struck by the serenity that exudedfrom the statue and felt a peaceful calmwash over me.

Having come of age during the 1960s“Black is Beautiful” political era, I hadgrown up seeing myself reflected inimages of celebrated African-Americanwomen like the activist Angela Davis,the poet Gwendolyn Brooks and the

singer Nina Simone. I had been afirsthand witness to black pride andblack achievement, usually againstdaunting odds.

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If police charge CardinalGeorge Pell...

As Victoria Police deliberate whether ornot to lay charges against CardinalGeorge Pell, they are also weighing upwhether to prosecute a potential worldleader. This bold notion is not purplemedia prose. It is simply stating thefacts.

Cardinal Pell strenuously denies theallegations made against him.

The Ballarat-born 75-year-old ispotentially the pope in waiting. All ittakes is for Pope Francis to diesuddenly, and one of the 120-oddCardinals will be the next pope. It couldbe Cardinal Pell.

Cardinal Pell is the head of the Vaticansecretariat for the economy. Effectivelyhe is the third in charge of the 1.2 billion-member Catholic Church. The Cardinalhas diplomatic immunity as a Vaticanofficial, and Australia has no extraditiontreaty.

In the modern era, laying serious orcriminal charges against a Cardinal-Archbishop has not been done in freeand democratic nations where immunitycould apply.

It has been done under communistregimes, but not the free world. There isalso the matter of Archbishop Wilson ofAdelaide who was charged underSection 316 of the NSW Crimes Act.But Archbishop Wilson is not a Cardinal.

There are two shocking prior casesinvolving Americans really worthrecalling. They concern CardinalArchbishop Bernard Law of Boston,and Vatican banker Archbishop PaulMarcinkus.

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Will Pope Francis's reformslast?

Pope Francis’ Church is the completeopposite of a clerical Church. It is aChurch at the service of the Gospel,and not a Church preoccupied solelywith its institutional survival.

Pope Francis’ Church is not a Romanchurch. He is working to limit theinfluence of Curia cardinals by callingon grassroots bishops, e.g. the famousC9 cardinals group, to advise him, andby placing greater weight on the notionof synodality.

Knowledgeable Vatican commentatorsalso note quietly that very fewdocuments are now being published bythe Roman dicasteries. Take, forexample, the activity of the PontificalCouncil for the Family.

This body previously issued multiplestatements on every conceivable topicwith the sole objective of reminding thefaithful of prohibitions and warnings.

Even the formidable Congregation forthe Doctrine of the Faith seems to be inhibernation. In Pope Francis’ view, it isprimarily the national bishopsconferences or continental bishopsconferences that should be takingpastoral initiatives.

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Why I wrote about the CatholicChurch and the LGBTCommunity

James Martin, S.J. was disturbed. Notonly by the horror and violence of theshooting of 49 LGBTQI people inOrlando, but by the lack of response byso many bishops to the reality of thatcrime. What was missing in the outcryof most bishops to the horror of thosemurders was an acknowledgement of

who the victims were and why theywere murdered -- a critical indicator ofjust how this too many in leadership inour church treat our LGBTQI sisters andbrothers.

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Francis shakes up churchwith cardinal appointments

Throughout his papacy, Pope Francishas been appointing cardinals from far-flung parts of the world—choosing menwho appear to be toiling away atpastoral work with little or no interest inbecoming “princes of the church.”

Next month, during their council, orconsistory, Francis will formally inductfive more of them into the exclusiveclub, meaning that he will haveappointed close to half of those who willelect his successor.

Critics have pointed out that the collegeis unrepresentative of a rapidlyglobalizing church. The group thatelected the first Latin American pope in2013 was 52 percent European (andeven they are overwhelmingly Italian),even though less than a quarter ofCatholics came from the continent.

This is a criticism that the pope shares.On May 21, when he announced thenew group that includes, for the firsttime, bishops from Laos, Mali, ElSalvador and Sweden, he noted thatthey “come from different parts of theworld, showing the catholicity of thechurch.”

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The Catholic Imagination, Thenand Now

I recently spoke, alongside mycolleague Dominic Preziosi, atFordham University’s Lincoln CenterCampus at a conference on “The

Future of the Catholic Imagination.”

Joining us on thepanel was America Editor Matt Malone,and that magazine’s Executive EditorKerry Weber;former Commonweal editor and long-time contributor Margaret O'BrienSteinfels was the moderator. Thanks toAngela O’Donnell, associate director ofFordham’s Curran Center for AmericanCatholic Studies, for inviting us toparticipate.

The conference was, at least in part, anextended response to the poet DanaGioia’s 2013 essay in FirstThings about what he characterized asthe crisis of the contemporary Catholicwriter and the relative absence of aCatholic literary presence in the largersecular culture. Gioia looked back tothe immediate post-World War II yearsas the high-water mark for the visibilityand influence of Catholic writers inAmerica. Near the end of Gioia’s essayhe wrote: “The necessary work ofwriters matters very little unless it isrecognized and supported by acommunity of critics, educators,journalists, and readers.”

I certainly agree.

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Cardinal Mueller reaffirms"No" on women deacons

Will Cardinal Mueller, Prefect for theCongregation of the Doctrine of theFaith, win the day when it comes towomen deacons and communion fordivorced and remarried Catholics?While it is clear that he holds the line forthose Catholics who considerthemselves traditionalists, it seemsclear that Pope Francis is workingaround his authority. John Allen, likeother Vaticanistas, makes the case thatPope Francis's silence on Mueller'slatest EWTN comments is proof that hisinfluence continues to wane.

C. Mueller's EWTN interview

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FutureChurch resources

Want to learn about modern womenwitnesses of mercy? Or the history ofearly Christian women leaders? Wantto know more about the priest shortageand what you can do to open the doorsto married priests, women deacons,and lay leadership? Want to purchaseour cards featuring St. MaryMagdalene, Apostle to the Apostles? Visit our store to view all our excitingresources.

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Join FutureChurch inGreece and follow in thefootsteps of ourforemothers in faith

Listen to Sr. Chris and RussShare a Preview of thePilgrimage

From October 5 - 14, 2017 joinFutureChurch as we explore thearchaeological sites of early Christianwomen. Learn about the ancient Greekgoddesses Athena, Artemis and Gaiato women of the New Testament andfinally present day nuns in Greekmonasteries. This pilgrimage will focuson the influence of women on thespirituality and history of Christianity. Sr.Christine Schenk will serve aseducational director and Russ Petrus,FutureChurch program director willserve as spiritual director.

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Celebrate the Feast of St. MaryMagdalene!

Go and Tell My Sisters andBrothers: A Celebration ofWomen Preachers

Join thousands of Catholics across theU.S. and worldwide as we celebrate theFeast of St. Mary Magdalene.

This year, FutureChurch will liftup women preachers from Scriptureand history -- from Mary of Nazarethand Mary of Magdala to Catherine ofSiena and Thea Bowman. Together wewill honor and learn from theirwitnesses and ask them to pray with usas we work to lift up women’s voices inChurch and society today.

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FutureChurch offers secondretreat for Catholic womendiscerning a call to thediaconate

FutureChurch will host a second retreatfor women who are discerning a call tothe diaconate September 8-10 in SanFrancisco, CA. This second retreat willalso include a special workshop on onecomponent of diaconal ministry: theMinistry of the Word -- particularlyLiturgical Preaching. Sign up today!

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Catholic Women Deacons

Are you called or are youdiscerning a call to thepermanent diaconate? Shareyour story.

As Pope Francis' commission onwomen deacons continues their work,women around the world are already

discerning their own call to be adeacon. Share your story today andhelp make Catholic Women Deacons areality!

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FUTURECHURCH FALL EVENT

SAVE THE DATE!October 27, 2017

Sr. Sandra Schneiderspresents:

John's Gospel: Blueprint forthe Future of Parish Life

Catholic Women Preach

Each week throughout the year,Catholic Women Preach offers thewisdom and challenge presented bythe Gospel through the experience andfaith of women. Be inspired by theCatholic women who preach eachSunday and some holy days.

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Join us as we launch our newinitiative - Emerging Models ofParish and Community Life

2017 - 2018 SERIES

September 13, 2017Association of US Catholic PriestsPriestless Parishes

October 23, 2017Professor Ed HahnenbergEmerging Models for Ministry

October 27, 2017Sr. Sandra SchneidersJohn’s Gospel: Blueprint for the Futureof Parish Life

November 8, 2017

Fr. Robert D. DuchThe Lobinger Model for ParishLeadership and Ministry

January 17, 2018Jamie MansonReligious Life for the Next Generation

February 7, 2018Chris LowneyEveryone Leads: How to Revitalize theCatholic Church

Save the dates!

Learn what you can do to saveyour parish community

FutureChurch supports parishionerswho want to preserve their parishcommunity from being merged orclosed. In doing so we have, together,changed Vatican policy. ThisFutureChurch initiative is designed toprovide Catholics with tools to defendtheir parish homes has contributed to ahighly significant change in Vaticanpolicy. Since 2007, our Save OurParish Community project has guidedsuccessful parishioner appeals acrossthe U.S., and in Cleveland, Ohio.

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Make your voice heard toopen the door for marriedpriests

On a trip home from Tel Aviv, PopeFrancis stated, "Celibacy is not adogma of faith, it is a rule of life that Iappreciate a great deal and I believe itis a gift for the Church. The door isalways open given that it is not adogma of faith." Bishop Erwin Krautlerand Pope Francis discussed the priestshortage and future of the priesthood inBrazil urging the Bishop and all localbishops to be "courageous" and tomake concrete suggestions on thepossibilities available to assist in thiscrisis, including expanding the

priesthood to include married men.

Catholics in the United States call onour bishops to follow Pope Francis' callto be courageous in seeking solutionsto our growing priest shortage and topresent these solutions to Rome.

As you know well, over the past fortyyears, the Roman Catholic Church inthe United States and worldwide hasexperienced a steadily worseningpriest shortage. At first, the processwas so gradual that it was hardlynoticed. But now, the rapidity of thedecline is having a devastating impacton parish and sacramental life.

According to a 2008 Center for AppliedResearch in the Apostolate study, halfof the 19,302 active diocesan priestsplan to retire by 2019.

Following Pope Francis' model we urgethe U.S. Bishops to undertake a freshexamination of our early churchtradition of a married and celibatepriesthood, a diaconate served bywomen and men, and invite priests whohave married back to ministry. Pleaseencourage local bishops to open thisimportant dialogue at a diocesan levelparticularly in the areas most affectedby the priest shortage.

We also ask U.S. Bishops to open adiscussion of these issues at theirgeneral assemblies with a view topresenting concrete suggestions foropening ordination to Pope Francis.

We call on you, our bishops andbrothers in Christ, to encouragediscussion of the genuine reform sonecessary to the future of the Church.We urge you to take action now.

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Other Events of Interest

SACRED THREADS CENTERINVITES YOU TO AN EVENTWITH SISTER JOAN

CHITTISTER

The Role of thePublic Intellectual

Saturday, July 15, 2017

PLACE: Fontbonne AcademyThe Sisters of St. JosephConvocation Center930 Brook Road, Milton, MA

TIME: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM9:00 AM - On Site RegistrationCOST: $40 (Sacred Threads'Members receive a 10% discount)$25 Religious and Students

Register Here

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