News from National

A Message from VOTF President, Mark Mullaney
It was good enough for Jesus's disciples, and good enough for 1,000 years of the early Catholic Church. So why can't we have women deacons today?

That's the central question posed in the paper "Women Deacons: How Long Will It Take to Open This Door?" written by Carolyn Johnson for VOTF's 10th Year Conference.

I don't know how long it may take, but I do know that Voice of the Faithful sees equality for women in the Church as one of the critical reforms we need -- and women deacons as a major focus for accelerated work after the conference.

It's a key reform. How can a Church that seeks social justice ignore its own discrimination against women? 

How can we, who would not allow discrimination against our wives, daughters, and granddaughters in workplaces or in schools, sit back and pretend that discrimination is acceptable where we pray?

If bishops could ordain women to the diaconate by a “laying on of hands” for 11 centuries (and they did), if women deacons were good enough for Biblical times (and they were), then why are the hierarchs of today’s Church still “studying” the question?

I think if it was good enough for the first disciples it should be good enough for us.

You can help us bring much needed light and attention to this issue, and help educate other Catholics by:

• Sharing our paper on women deacons with others.

• Raising the question with friends and family -- perhaps together you could share one of our Reading Resources.

• Supporting our Women's Roles Initiatives with your prayers.

Add your voice to others: ask the Church Why Not?, and push forward the changes in which you believe.

Some bishops also see the need for restoring women deacons.

Here’s a link to an article about Bishop Emil A. Wcela's in America magazine; scroll to the bottom of the article for a link to the podcast.

And Even More Kudos about the 10th Anniversary Conference...

“Please do extend to all who planned the 10th Anniversary Conference my congratulations and appreciation for an excellent event. It reinvigorated me for the big job of bringing change to our beloved Church. Those of us who attended from NYC will share with our group next Tuesday the highlights of the conference.”

“I don't think I have ever attended a conference where all of the questions asked were very good and helped draw out even more important information from the speakers. This shows the strength and wisdom of the VOTF members. “

“Everyone I talked to said they felt that the Conference was a huge success. There was no detail that was too small to be attended to. I can’t imagine the hours of dedicated love and service that went into the behind-the-scenes planning and organization, and on-the-scene service and care that went into coordinating this significant event. Thanks to each and every one of you for your commitment to VOTF and to this event.”

Vatican II:The Verdict(s) 50 Years Later
     The first session of the Second Vatican Council began 50 years ago last week, on Oct. 11, 1962. Vatican II was the largest Church council convened in its 2,000-year history and only the second to take place in St. Peter's Basilica. What happened there is still being debated. News media coverage of the anniversary has been extensive. Voice of the Faithful has compiled a representative sample of news stories commenting on the council that you may read by clicking here.

VOTF also has made this Vatican II news webpage available through its Blog, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Help support these social media educational efforts today through your generous contribution. You'll also be supporting VOTF's website, as well as our other educational efforts, such as our biweekly email newsletter In the Vineyard and biannual postal newsletter Voice Matters.

Lamentation Wall

At VOTF’s 10th Year Conference, a Lamentation Wall was put into place and attendees were invited to approach the Lamentation Wall some time during the conference and express in their own way the cries of their heart over the wounds that continue to fester within us all at the actions or inactions of our Church.

Following are some of the Lamentations:

Thanks be to God for those responsible for the film Mea Culpa.

So sorry I didn't warn that boy.

Lament the indifference of the laity.

I lament the pride of the bishops who cared more for the reputation of the institutionalized Church than the body and soul of our children.

I lament that I may not have the legacy of the Church to hand down to my grandchildren.

Lamentation: that Eucharist will be less available to all of us.

Bishop Selection
On January 16, 2012, his 75th birthday, Cardinal Francis George submitted a letter of resignation as Archbishop of Chicago to Pope Benedict. The Pope will appoint his successor in the near future guided by recommendations the Apostolic Nuncio will submit to the Congregation for Bishops. His recommendations will be based on information gathered principally from the bishops of the Chicago Province, from some priests of the archdiocese and, at his discretion, from select lay men and women consulted individually and confidentially.

In 2010, Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) requested Pope Benedict to “require the formal participation of lay men and women in the Episcopal recommendation processes ... preliminary to your appointment of new bishops.” To read more about this process http://votf.org/bishop/

Janet Hauter, a VOTF member and active member of the Bishop Selection initative was recently interviewed on Outside the Loop Radio, listen to the interview here http://www.outsidetheloopradio.com/
2012/10/04/otl-episode-312-the-future-of-the-catholic-church/

Voice of the Faithful FOCUS,
September 21, 2012

Highlighting issues we face working together
                        to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

TOP STORIES

The Voice of the Faithful Marks Ten Years
Retired Bishop John McCarthy of Austin, Texas, comments on Voice of the Faithful’s 10th Year Conference.

Vatican II: A Half-Century Later, A Mixed Legacy
At Rome's Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, 50 years ago this week (Oct. 11), the newly elected pontiff stunned the world by calling the first Catholic Church Council in nearly a century — the Second Vatican Council, or what's known as Vatican II.

Chilean Bishop Accused of Sexually Abusing a Minor Quits
The Vatican has accepted the resignation of a Chilean bishop accused of sexually abusing a minor. Bishop Marco Antonio Ordenes Fernandez acknowledged “an imprudent act” in an interview with a local newspaper, but denied that his accuser was a minor at the time.

Catholic Theologian Preaches Revolution to End Church’s ‘Authoritarian’ Rule
One of the world's most prominent Catholic theologians has called for a revolution from below to unseat the pope and force radical reform at the Vatican. Hans Küng is appealing to priests and churchgoers to confront the Catholic hierarchy, which he says is corrupt, lacking credibility and apathetic to the real concerns of the church's members.

Milwaukee Archdiocese, Victims Fail to Reach Bankruptcy Settlement
The court-ordered mediation between the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and victims of sexual abuse has failed, sending the parties back to U.S. Bankruptcy Court to resume what one court official has called a scorched earth legal battle.

Archdiocese of Vienna to Undergo Radical Parish Reform
The Vienna archdiocese, which is one of the largest in Europe and extends from the Czech frontier down to the southern Alps, will undergo radical parish reforms, reducing its 660 parishes to 150 in the next 10 years.

Scandal-Hit Cardinal Brady to Go as New Cardinal Lined Up
The Vatican is set to make Cardinal Sean Brady pay the price of the recent scandals surrounding him by announcing his successor within two months.

FutureChurch  Calls for a Return to the Tradition of a Married and Celibate Priesthood
In late October hundreds of faithful Catholics will honor their parish priests and at the same time pray for a return to the tradition of a married priesthood in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church.  An estimated 60 celebrations will be held in cities all over the US and five other countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands.
Celebrations are scheduled in parishes and private homes on or around October 28, Priesthood Sunday. 
To read more http://www.futurechurch.org/press/
CatholicsWorldwideCallForAReturnToTraditionOfMarried
AndCelibatePriesthood.htm

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.