In a letter dated Sept. 20, the group called on Pope Francis to reduce clericalism and centralization in the Church and to give lay people a meaningful voice in Vatican decision-making. Initiated by Catholic Church Reform, an international dissident group that advocates change in such areas as priestly celibacy, divorce, birth control and female ordination, the letter had the support of four million Catholics worldwide, according to the organizers.
That number was impossible to verify. The Sept. 25 announcement in Toronto was attended by about 10 supporters.
Similar news conferences were held in Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Australia and, five days later, in Ireland.
The letter has already been sent to the Pope and his eight cardinal advisors. The letter’s goal was to have these issues on the agenda during the advisory meeting to be held in Vatican City from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3.
“This letter, I think, is a challenge to the Church at large,” said Hansen. “We want to have a participation in the selecting and tenure of the bishops. We also want to have put in place the principle of subsidiarity in pastoral and diocesan council’s national conference of bishops. We also want the inclusion of qualified lay men and women serving in leadership positions in the Curia.”
Hansen, along with Catholic Network for Woman’s Equality’s national co-ordinator Mary Ellen Chown and Ted Schmidt, former Catholic high school teacher, spoke about their desire to have parishioners involved in Church decision making. Chown claimed there was “dysfunction” in the Church that is caused by “a culture of clericalism that sets celibate ordained male priests and bishops apart from the people and often times above the people.”
“It is a systemic factor that prevents the Church from being what it can be, a diverse yet united community of people called in baptism to proclaim the good news of Jesus,” said Chown.
As noted in the letter, the hope would be that doing this would lead to greater justice, dialogue, inclusion and participation within the entire Church.
Chown said the group rejects what she called “the sexist exclusion of women from full participation at all levels of the Church.”
“If we are calling for a Church of justice and elevation of suffering in poverty we have to have a Church that walks the talk in terms of equality for women. It is also unacceptable to deny our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters access to full participation in every aspect of Church life and ministry,” she said.
While critical of the Church, the group praised Pope Francis for making strides in what they feel is the right direction.
It was unknown if the Pope and the eight cardinals had received the letter.