What
We Said in Indianapolis
 The
eight Saturday afternoon breakout sessions produced the following
list of proposals. N.B. Some editing occurred during the
Sunday morning Sensus Fidelium – these have been identified
with brackets.
BISHOP
Accountability Breakouts:
A1.
When an Episcopal See falls vacant, how can the faithful,
both clergy and laity, participate effectively in the process
of filling the post?
Call
for the election of bishops through a discernment process
by the elected representatives of the laity, priests, deacons,
and religious.
A2.
How can the laity effectively communicate and participate
in deliberations with bishops at the diocesan and national
levels?
Institute
independent, freely elected lay councils at all governance
levels in the Church (e.g., parish, deanery/vicariate, diocese,
and national) with full right of inquiry and the right and
responsibility to communicate. Elections will be designed
and administered by independent lay election commissions.
Promote legislation that protects children and holds bishops
accountable for their failure to protect children.
A3.
How can bishops be held accountable for failing to carry
out their governance responsibilities? What can survivors
teach bishops?
Call for elected laity to become fully participative members
at all levels of diocesan and national decision-making (e.g.,
pastoral councils, diocesan finance councils, USCCB).
FINANCIAL
Accountability Breakouts:
B1.
Whose money is it, anyway? What do we expect when we call
for full disclosure of parochial and diocesan finances?
Call for an independent, widely disseminated, understandable
annual CPA audit report for all church-related entities (e.g.,
parish, diocese, and church institutions) that would include
all income, expenses, assets [and liabilities] )including
the current fair market values of all real estate, indebtedness
and bequests.
B2/B3.
How can parishioners claim meaningful and effective participation
in their parish finance councils? What has worked? What
hasn’t?/ What is the scope of a meaningful voice for laity
in diocesan financial structures? Is it enough?
Call
for all parishes and dioceses to be fully transparent and
accountable regarding their finances through open, regular
meetings for consultation with the baptized, and periodic,
comprehensive reporting of income, expenditures, assets and
liabilities.
LAY
Accountability Breakouts:
C1.
How can we ensure that women’s gifts, and those of all
marginalized persons, effect a more truly “catholic” Church?
Initiate discussion within VOTF about issues affecting [women
and other] marginalized people by and within the Church.
C2.
How can the voice of the laity be heard in the parish,
the diocese, the nation and in Rome?
Create a mechanism for ongoing dialogue and collaborative
action among parishioners, parish priests, and bishops.
C3.
What spirituality practices might enrich our faith lives
in this new millennium?
Discern, develop, and implement personal and communal spiritual
practices that foster healing, reconciliation, and appreciation
of the inherent dignity of all humans. |
