Archdiocese of St. Paul: ‘reform’ Group Not Associated with Catholic Church
The group, the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR) is planning to hold a “synod” at an undisclosed location within the archdiocese on September 18, 2010.
Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis John Nienstedt.
PrintThe group, the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR) is planning to hold a “synod” at an undisclosed location within the archdiocese on September 18, 2010. The theme will be “Claiming Our Place at the Table.”
On its website, the group explains its “Understanding of Church [sic]” as a “communion of communities” based upon “acceptance.” It professes support for the “fundamental equality of all members,” participation and collaboration, a “dialogical spirit” and a “Prophetic/prophetic sign.”
The website announces a “major fundraiser” for the “synod,” held in Lake Elmo, Minnesota on Thursday, with Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois. The announcement says he will share his perspective on “the social injustices within Roman Catholicism” and will offer a vision of the “emerging church.”
Last year Fr. Bourgeois was excommunicated for publicly dissenting from Catholic teaching by advocating the "ordination" of women.
He has described the “exclusion of women from the priesthood” as an injustice comparable to the injustice he has opposed in the School of the Americas, a controversial U.S. training program for Latin American military leaders. He has also compared Catholic teaching on women’s ordination to the segregation of African-Americans in his home state of Louisiana.
CNA contacted the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and spoke with spokeswoman Betsey Guest, who confirmed that Fr. Bourgeois had been excommunicated automatically after he did not recant his statements regarding the ordination of women.
A Thursday statement from the Archdiocese of St. Paul says that the CCCR “synod” is not being conducted under the auspices of the archdiocese, the Catholic Church, or any entity or organization associated with either.
“Moreover, the Archdiocese wishes to lovingly caution those members of the faithful participating in the ‘work/study groups’ and intending to attend the synod of the potential that the issues on which CCCR will seek reform are magisterial teachings of the Church, and are therefore to be believed by divine and catholic faith,” the statement continued.
The archdiocese reminded the Catholic faithful that contrary doctrines ought to be shunned, while the faith and morals proposed “definitively” by the Magisterium of the Church should be embraced, safeguarded and expounded
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I agree. It is a shame at what Fr. Roy is trying to do. As a great Medieval Catholic bishop once said, You are married to the church when you are a priest and therefore the church is the bride of christ and that is why only men must be priests. If you look at it, its not a conflict within the church, but only with other churches. Yes,we must pray for him though.
Oh why do those who want to create God in their own image demand the Catholic Church to reform or move with the times? What times? The Holy Father has written exhaustively about the moral decay eating the Western world and we need to pray for Fr.Roy and those of his ilk who want God to follow them into their decadence. It is like demanding of the sun to rise from the west and set to the east. Sorry to you all, God is unchengable and His Church will remain faithful to Him till the end of time
Hmmm...I bet they were keeping it secret because they figured we might show up, eat all of their food and leave.
But all joking aside...I find splinter groups who bemoan the "social injustices" of the Catholic Church to be funny in and of themselves. I mean, the Catholic Church pratically coined the term "social justice". Hospitals? Colleges? Welfare to the elderly, sick, homeless and widowed? You don't really find much about the Catholic Church's involvement in the mainstream literature about the Civil Rights movement in America, but the fact is, She was there. Were there not priests hiding Jews during the Holocaust? What about the Catholic Churches being singled out in Arizona for leaving drums and containers of water out in the desert for illegal immigrants? Don't we have missionaries all over the world in 3rd & 4th world countries (LDCs)?
Fr. Roy suffers not from "evil" but a desire to be liked. We all do. He may have compromised this belief in order to relate to those who dissent. Like Pilate, he wanted to appease the majority instead of have the courage to say "No." Did not Pilate ask of Jesus, "What is Truth?" Fr. Roy must be prayed for by all of us.
As a note, I recall how someone commented on a similar article that our Pope is too narrow-minded in tradition and dogma, and that the Catholic Church ought to broaden itself to the modern world by embracing gay marriage, gay clergy, women clergy and the whole sh-bang. In lieu of that poster and such rhetoric, I must admit, I appreciate that our Pope, Church, and dogma is so narrow, for the Bible warned us, "Broad and padded is the path to damnation, but narrow and rough is the road to salvation."
God bless.
Unfortunately, many people do not understand the difference between discrimination and differentiation. Because of today's culture when something is denied to a segment of society, they automatically think discrimination. Differentiation does not imply inequality just that we are not all alike and not all called to be the same thing. The Body of Christ has different members and charisms, but we are all one body.
Another thing I fear for these souls who are obstinate against our Lord Jesus Christ.
I will pray for them that they have a conversion of heart and for Father Roy as well.
Bulbajer:
Women are not being discriminated against in the church.
The Church has explained itself, they do not have the AUTHORITY to ordain women at all.
It has nothing to do with male chauvanism.
Father John Corapi has stated that some have been wrong in their attitudes toward women but the simple fact is that the Church has no authority to ordain women.
Respectfully and Humbly what part of this statement doesnt Father Roy and these women understand.
The fact of the matter is that its rebellion.
Yes, I agree Father has done a wonderful job.
Its a simple fact that we do not have it from Christ that His Vicar and Bishops can rightly ordain women.
I accept this and not because I feel slighted. On the contrary Im well aware of the Church's difference in the world.
Father and these ladies are trying to change what we have no right to do because our Lord isnt here to instruct us of this.
This is the simple fact. These women cannot understand this. This forwhatever reason our Lord never instructed us of it.
No man or women has the right or authority to usurp at all at this time.
This simply is for His Lordship our Lord to decide when He comes back.
In the meantime we cannot go against this directive.
It has nothing to do with feminism has nothing to do with disrespect for women. We none of us simply man or women can ordain a woman.
We go against this authority and on Judgment day we may have to atone for this.
The Holy Father and the Bishops know this and I as a women do to and understand.
Its a matter of obeying our Lord Jesus Christ.
No he doesnt want power Father Roy wants to change something he and these women have no right to do period.
They have no authority whatsoever.
I stand with the Church Body and the Holy Father in this matter.
It doesnt take a genius to understand this if one knows our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Bless to all of our brothers and sisters all over the world.
If anyone gets the chance read John Boscos prophecy about the the Holy Fathers and their guidance of the church through dangerous waters.
Another thing I would be asking myself: How come this meeting is so secret?
Sounds like an attack on the Church to me.
Let us pray for Father Roy and his misquided ways.
He is being lead astray.
Satan is looking to devour another priest and along with others of the laity.
The Pope and the Magisterium have the last say on church morals and matters. Support His Holiness.
They cannot change their standing on what Christ gave us.
Let me give the best explaination I can:
Its like we are on a desert island and the Lord left us with His directives until He comes again. The Pope is His Vicar and He was left behind to teach and guide in the name of Christ not in the name of Father Roy.
Its like His story about the Servant He leaves in charge until He returns. Now His Holiness understands he is part of this parable until our Lord comes. We to are bound by this parable. Like the Parable of the Talents?
We cannot change what the Lord taught.
Sr. Catherine I think what they want to do is set up a "New" church that excepts everybody and disregards what our Lord taught.
Father Roy is in rebellion against our Lord and Pope Benedict XVI His intended Vicar.
I would listen to your Bishops and your priests.
This happened down in Australia recently.
I feel sorry for Father Roy. I hope that he has a conversion of heart.
Please pray for him and those misquided by this teaching.
Love in Christ
brothers and sisters.
Women are not being discriminated against in the church.
The Church has explained itself, they do not have the AUTHORITY to ordain women at all.
We must accept and obey this teaching. The rebellion being taught is of the world and has not place in the church.
Eddie Fong, I don't know whether he is right or not, but I don't think he wants power. Maryknoll is one of the most respected (by Catholics and non-Catholics alike) establishments of the Catholic Church. Anyone serving in it would have to be completely off to be oblivious to the needs of the poor worldwide, which is the focus of Maryknoll, so it's virtually impossible that a priest serving so long there could be dishonest and power-hungry. What's more, Fr. Roy's work against the former School of the Americas is laudable. Again, I don't know if he is right, but I do know that he is not lying about his feelings.
Such arrogance! Those who are organizing this synod think they know more than the Magesterium which is guided by the Holy Spirit. They are being seduced by the devil, and apparently did not learn any lessons from what happened to the Episcopal Church after it enacted such "reforms".