News From National

Fallout From Cloyne Report Continues
On Monday, July 25, the Vatican made the rare move of recalling the papal nuncio (ambassador) to Ireland amid the fallout over the Cloyne Report and the Irish prime minister’s speech in parliament deriding the Vatican. The Cloyne Report detailed allegations of clergy sexual abuse in the Cloyne archdiocese as late as 2009. Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny denounced the “dysfunction, disconnection, elitism and the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day.”

Voice of the Faithful Ireland leader Bryan Maguire was interviewed this past Sunday, July 24, on the Irish public radio network, RTE, show “This Week.” Host Colm O'Mongain talked with Maguire and Francis Rocca, Vatican correspondent for Religion News Service, on their reaction to Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny's recent speech in the Irish parliament about the Cloyne Report. If you would like to listen to the interview, click here.

Vatican recalls ambassador to Ireland over abuse report
http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/
20110726/NEWS0107/107260416/

Prime Minister Enda Kenny accused the hierarchy of attempting to hinder a probe into allegations of child sex-abuse by priests. By Andrew Davis, Bloomberg
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-25/vatican-recalls-irish-ambassador-amid-allegations-on-sex-abuse-reporting.html

VOTF’s Child Protection and Survivor Support Group has a forum where you can comment on issues such as this http://voices.votf.org/cpss/victimsurvivors-forum/

Best Reading Raffle Ever

OK. It's our only reading raffler ever.
Two winners will each receive three great books! -- Autographed by the authors!
All for the price of a donation before Aug. 31, 2011.
To enter the raffle online, just click here. $25 donation gets 5 chances; $50 donation, 15 chances; $75 donation, 30 chances; $100 donation, 50 chances! Donations you make online, and donations you make by mail to VOTF, P.O. Box 423, Newton, MA 02464, that are postmarked by Aug. 31, 2011, will enter you in the raffle.
The two winners will be selected at random after we allow sufficient time for us to receive all snail mail entries.
Here are the 3 great autographed reads, suitable for yourself or as gifts:
The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See
by Richard Rohr, OFM, Founding Director, Center of Action and Comtemplation
Special bonus audio CD presentation by Fr. Rohr included!
Quest for the Living God: Mapping Frontiers in the Theology of God
by Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Fordham University
Faithful Revolution: How Voice of the Faithful Is Changing the Church
by Tricia C. Bruce, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Maryville College
For more information, see this page: http://votf.org/page/best-reading-raffle-ever/17806

Pope Paul VI opened the second session of Vatican II on September 29, 1963. One stated goal was to bring together all Christians in unity. Pope Paul called the process of reestablishing Christian unity the council’s “spiritual drama.”

More than 150 Priests Support Father Roy Bourgeois
More than 150 Catholic priests have signed a letter in support of Father Roy Bourgeois, a priest who is facing excommunication for his participation in a ceremony to ordain women.

The following New York Times article discusses support for Father Bourgeois, as well as the outcry among priests in Austria following the forced resignation of the bishop of Toowoomba after he went public with his support for women’s ordination.

The letter  was organized by Call to Action, a Chicago-based group that has long advocated change in the church.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/world/
23priest.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp

Site Seeing

Book Review

The Boston Globe ran a review of NO CLOSURE: Catholic Practice and Boston’s Parish Shutdowns by John C. Seitz. http://articles.boston.com/2011-07-26/ae/29817287_1_parish-closings-vigils-protesters

Letters to the Editor

As an old (83) and retired Franciscan Priest, I keep remembering St. Francis’ urge to get back to ‘living the Gospel.” If we read the Letter to the Hebrews, for Christians Jesus is the only priest needed. And if, according to Vatican 2, the Bishop is “The Priest” of the Diocese, and then appoints and trains others to take his place in the governance and in the administration of the Sacraments and to preside at the Liturgy, why could he not designate the Worshipping  Community as a Corporate Person to be his delegate, as St. Paul did? Then when we read the New Testament, we might recognize our selves. Each Community has the people with the  “Gifts” and calling to carry out all of the functions we have come to associate with the “Priest.” With continued training they could be approved to continue those functions as long as they kept up their training and desired to continue. It would make no difference whether such persons were married or not married, or whether male or female. The Community itself  would encourage people to  fill  the various roles and then they would be approved by the Bishop and be enrolled in ongoing training.

We really have no “priest shortage” so much as a Theology and idea shortage.

L. Sprietsma, OFM
Tucson, AZ

Why bother asking the Bishops to consider optional celibacy? Demand it. It’s about time to stop the practice of mandatory celibacy, as it leads to loneliness, acting out, alcoholism, abuse of children, and narcissistic behaviors. I am not in favor of doing away with the practice entirely, but few are called to it. You already have a married clergy (visit Rentapriest.com). Keep up the good work. 

J. Mollish
Maryland

I note with interest VOTF urging the U.S. Bishops to ask for the authority to ordain married Catholic men just as they have the authority to ordain married Episcopal, Anglican and Lutheran clergy. (A married Lutheran clergyman was recently ordained for a Northern California Catholic  Diocese).

When will VOTF similarly urge the U.S. Bishops to seek authority to ordain women? Or, will the women, as usual, have to do it themselves? With or without the hierarchy’s consent or blessing?

I personally doubt there can be serious change in the Church until the “management” recognizes the absolute, full equality of all human creation, not just the 50% they now accept.

Thank you. 

M. Magee
Carlsbad, CA

Questions, Comments?

Please send them to Siobhan Carroll, Vineyard Editor at Vineyard@votf.org. Unless otherwise indicated, I will assume comments can be published as Letters to the Editor.