Reason to Celebrate? (continued)

The Catholic Church is a diverse group.  Most individuals seek to understand their place in the Church, even if they are not aware of it.  At a deeper level, they want to know God and the value of having a relationship with God.  However, this also means that such a relationship requires some responsibility on their part.  We, the Church, the people of God, are called to find out what duty we have and how we can open our eyes and continue to grow to remain full members of the Church.  Mid-Michigan Voice of the Faithful strives to do that. 

The recent closings of many area parishes are causing pain for many people here.  Are their stories being heard?  Who has listened to them?  Is there help for them in their grief and loss, and shaken foundations?  

In The New Yorker article, “Who Am I to Judge?”, by James Carroll, (2013, Dec. 23 &30), Anne Barrett Doyle (co-director of BishopAccountability.org) asks what the exploitation of children by priests has done to Catholic families? What of the broken trust between the people and the clergy?  How can  people work together to “heal the wounds” and to build stronger faith?  

According to the “Pew Research - Religious and Public Life Project” online (http://religions.pewforum.org): the “Religious Landscape Survey” states that “while nearly one-in-three Americans (31%) were raised in the Catholic faith, today fewer than one-in-four (24%) describe themselves as Catholic. These losses would have been even more pronounced were it not for the offsetting impact of immigration.”  This is a trend that many would like to see reversed. It will take the commitment of lay Catholics to make such a change and to restore the belief in Catholic Church.

Over the years, the idea of one’s “rights” in the Catholic Church have evolved.  The sexual abuse scandal showed that people have a voice when they choose to use it.  However, there is much work to be done to establish justice, inclusiveness, accountability and transparency in the leadership of the  church.  It is no longer safe to assume that this will occur without the care and participation of the laity. 

Father Joseph Daoust of Rome said, in another quote from James Carroll’s The New Yorker article, “Who Am I to Judge?”, “The way we practice our faith affects how we believe.  How we believe affects how we practice.  There’s a back and forth....”

The local Mid-Michigan Voice of the Faithful continues to work to fulfill their mission statement.  They offer an opportunity for all Catholics to enrich their faith and to become more involved in a meaningful way, within the framework of the Church.  This is the reason MM VOTF is relevant to those in the tri-city area.  Regardless of views on specific issues, this is an open and safe forum where Catholics may freely, respectfully and prayerfully discuss and learn about challenges that face our Church today.  Through understanding of the important issues and by working together, good changes can take place for the future of our Church.  This is a great  reason to celebrate!

-Written by Nancy K. Janoch, Nancy Rivet, Susan Dusseau, and Harry Grether       

[Mid- Michigan Voice of the Faithful meetings are on the fourth Thursday of the month at one of the area parishes, from 4-6 pm.  (March 27 - St. Brigid’s Parish Center, April  24 - Blessed Sacrament Parish Center.)  For more information: votfmid-michigan@charter.net]