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The
Nature of Authority in Local Faith Communities
Moderator Michael Marnik provided a brief introduction
on objectives of the panel and an introduction of each
of the participants. Fr. Bill Clark of the College
of the Holy Cross started off with an ecclesiological
discussion of the origin and nature of authority in
local faith communities and its relationship to the
universal church. Fr. Clark spoke about the local church
as the “event” of the universal church
(Rahner), and the idea of authority as a relationship that maintains communities. He also discussed how authority
in a local faith community flows from authenticity,
that is, the state of being in touch with the underlying
principles upon which the community is based.
Sharon Harrington, Margaret Roylance and Ronnie Mitchell
then told their stories about what happened in each
of their local faith communities in Massachusetts (St.
Albert the Great in South Weymouth, Our Lady Help of
Christians Parish in Newton and Bridgewater State Catholic
Community in Bridgewater, respectively) when they came
into conflict with their diocesan leadership and what
the outcome in each of the communities was. As part
of questions/discussion at the end of the panel, common
themes or lessons learned were addressed. The group
discussed elements that tie the three stories together
and those that distinguish them. The spiritual foundation
of the actions of the communities was an important
element, as were the forces which act to tear a community
apart when conflict with hierarchical authority occurs.
DISCIPLESHIP for Women in the Church of the 21st Century
A large crowd gathered to hear presenter Professor
Mary Doyle Roche of Holy Cross College (Worcester MA)
address the subject of women’s discipleship in
a global climate of devastating assault on women and
children. Doyle’s message reminded attendees
of the profound effects of injustice toward women anywhere.
Rich Moriarty (VA), NRC representative from Region
4, and Peggie Thorp (MA and Vineyard editor) spoke
about the resolution they are co-sponsoring with former
NRC representative Mary Collingwood (OH) on the subject
of women’s roles in the Church. Attendees responded
favorably to the presentation and many forwarded a
request to their NRC representatives to consider the
proposal. Questions from the audience noted concerns
about the reception of the Church among children and
young adults of the Church both in its faith and in
its practice.
The resolution (worded below) was considered the following
day by the NRC, which approved its distribution to
membership and officers for their consideration. The
vote was 16-8.
RESOLUTION Wording:
Whereas, our Church is the entire People of God; and
Whereas, the future of the Faith we are called to sustain
is dependent upon a supporting structure inclusive
of the voices and talents of all the People of God;
and
Whereas, we affirm the VOTF mission statement (to provide
a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through
which the Faithful can actively participate in the
governance and guidance of the Catholic Church) and
third goal (to support structural change within the
Catholic Church); and
Whereas Voice of the Faithful at our founding identified
several factors that may have contributed to the sexual
abuse of children and an attendant cover-up, including
the absence of women across the spectrum of leadership
in our Church; and
Whereas, the deterrence of future abuses by the hierarchy
is dependent on addressing those contributing factors
identified by Voice of the Faithful at its founding;
and
Whereas Voice of the Faithful’s pursuit of justice
for survivors invites the pursuit of justice throughout
our Church; and
Whereas there is within our Church a structural fault
line in the marginalization of the lay voice in general
and women’s voices and gifts in particular;
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT:
Voice of the Faithful calls for Church-wide re-examination
and reform of the role of women in Church ministry
and in the governance of the Church.
SURVIVOR SUPPORT CANDLELIGHT WALK
Candlelight Walk of remembrance in support of survivors followed the Saturday evening liturgy at the Convention. Winding from the 5th floor of the Rhode Island Convention Center down to the river, attendees braved strong winds to keep their candles lit, and then paused for songs and prayers in support of the survivors before returning for a final forum about ways to support legislation to protect children.
BishopAccountability.org includes in “New and
Noteworthy” a “publicly filed petition
by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence” that “provides
a new and shocking admission regarding the diocese’s
total number of accused priests.” The documentation
indicates a number twice the total noted by the Providence
diocese in 2004. Read more.
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