The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement denouncing as “harmful to one’s moral and spiritual life” a 2008 book by two theologians at Creighton University, a Roman Catholic institution. The book, The Sexual Person: Toward a Renewed Catholic Anthropology, by Todd A. Salzman and Michael G. Lawler, was published by Georgetown University Press, and the press website features much praise for the work.

It really is time to protest the patent ignorance of our bishops.

(1) I encourage all readers of Another Voice to buy and promote this excellent book.

(2) I also encourage people to send letters of support:

Professor Todd Salzman

Creighton University • 2500 California Plaza • Omaha NE • 68178

“Todd Salzman and Michael Lawler’s new book…is among the most important works in Catholic sexual ethics to emerge in the last two decades…Their book will be noticed because of its controversial positions on contraception, same-sex relationships, cohabitation and artificial means of reproduction. However, its contribution is its clear articulation of a person-centered natural-law ethic that offers Catholics an authentic way to think about sex in relation to their faith.”—National Catholic Reporter

Some are demanding that Pope Benedict and other bishops resign immediately.

That may be a good idea in fact, but…

What we need AT EVERY LEVEL in the church is a new leadership style.

The openness for new wisdom, emerging in the here-and-now Roman Catholic Church, is so absent from our church leadership because the official  leadership model is based on individual authoritarian leaders — cut off from all genuine dialogue. 

Genuine dialogue happens when the authoritarian leader dares to lose grip on his (or her) ideas and allows new ideas and wisdom to emerge within an open and non-judgmental conversation.

Life-giving leadership is about enabling people, groups and organizations to create their own future, to acknowledge the need for change, and to collaborate in the processes of questioning, theorizing and changing. 

This is what we mean by theology: faith, in every age and culture, seeking understanding.

Leadership, based just on the individual perspective of the person in charge, blocks the co-creative process of dialogue and ignores the wisdom that is present in every person engaged in conversation in the community of faith.

 

Yes I do think the pope and other bishops guilty of sexual abuse cover-ups should resign.

And resign at once: pack their bags and move out.

BUT….we will not begin to solve the church’s problems until we shift from an authoritarian leadership model to a dialogical communitarian model….and this at all levels of the church: all the way from the young tyrant parish council president to the old tyrant bishop in Rome.

John Greenleaf is on R&R for a bit of research, writing and travel……

Back shortly after Labor Day!

******

 The US Senate did not pass climate-change legislation.

We who work for climate change in the church can learn from that failure.

+++

Climate-change legislation did not get through the US Senate. We can thank those politicians who surrendered to apathy and sold their souls to conformist thought and the lies and scapegoating of big energy self-protective rhetoric.

Those celebrating the defeat of climate-change legislation point to the failed “scare tactics” of doomsday alarmists and global-warming heretics.

The big energy companies, particularly coal and oil industries, can now celebrate, with summer drinks and barbecues, the wisdom of environmental inaction. And they can compliment themselves on the success of their disinformation campaigns and anti-environmental organizations. (But it will be a temporary success……..)

Reform-minded Catholics can learn from the short-term failures of the climate-change people.

(1) Apathy about church reform  and renewal is a constant problem.

(2) Courage needs the support and stimulation of courageous friends and colleagues.

(3) Spreading false information and scapegoating are techniques used by all self-protective and threatened organizations.

(4) There is no virtue in ignorance; and the truth always comes out: often with a big bang.

(5) I can understand– as I hear from friends and associates —  that Catholics are getting tired of hearing about abuse in the church. A lot of very bad news has come our way. More will come for sure. It is tiring and depressing…..but  it has to come out.

(6) Honesty and tranparency must replace institutional avoidance, cover-ups and secrecy.

But there is also a time for stepping back and reflecting about the days and work ahead.

The Pope has gone to Castel Gandolfo for a bit of R&R. The Curia will not swing back into action again until mid-September. Chanceries are growing quiet.

We too should take advantage of the remaining days of summer to reflect and re-energize ourselves for the struggles that lie ahead.

John Greenleaf is doing that as well: going offline until after Labor Day.

In the next few weeks I will be working on a book and doing research and travel in Eastern Europe. I am intrigued by the resurgence of a triumphalist Church after years of Communist oppression. And I want to listen to young people.

ANOTHER VOICE will be back in September: with a voice that is clear and stronger than  ever!

A very sincere thank you to all who have taken time to read and share their thoughts.

John W. Greenleaf

US Roman Catholics

Perhaps more American Catholic than Roman Catholic

So what are the current facts about Roman Catholics in the United States of America?

++++++

How many American Catholics these days?

American Catholics now make up about 23% of the US population. (The USCCB’s Kennedy Directory says we now make up 22%). Although we remain the largest single denomination, our numbers are decreasing. There is a very significant drop in Catholic membership throughout New England.

18% of American Catholics are in the 18 to 29 age group, 41% in the 30 to 49 age group, 24 % the 50 to 64 group and 16% are 65+.

Weekly church attendance:

33% of us attend church at least once a week. The US national average for weekly religious service attendance is now 24%. The only religious group with a higher weekly attendance rate is the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints: 44%.

Racial and ethnic composition:

American Catholics are: 65% white, 2% black, 2% Asian and 29% Hispanic

Literal Interpretation of Scripture among Catholics

American Catholics are not biblical fundamentalists. While 23% say the Bible contains the Word of God and is literally true word for word,  39% say the Bible offers the Word of God, but is not literally true word for word; and 27% of say the Bible is simply a religious book and is not the Word of God.

Interpretation of Religious Teachings Among Catholics

American Catholics are not rigidly doctrinaire. Some see this as a sign of US secularization. Others see it is a sign of religious maturity. In any event, 77% of American Catholics agree that there is more than one true way to interpret official Catholic Church teachings, and 79% believe that many religions can lead to eternal life

When we look at American Catholics and ethical issues, we see quite a mix.

Despite the Catholic Church’s strong opposition to abortion, a slim majority (51%) of Catholics believe that abortion should be legal in most or all cases, while 44% oppose abortion in most or all cases. This breakdown is nearly identical to the views of the public as a whole. However, white Catholics who attend church at least once a week (60%) and Latino Catholics (53%) are more likely than Catholics as a whole to oppose legalized abortion in most or all circumstances.

Catholics are slightly more supportive of gay marriage than is the public as a whole and when asked about homosexuality, 58% said homosexuality should be accepted by society. When it comes to the use of torture against suspected terrorists, however, 25% of the US population says it can never be justified and 20% of Roman Catholics. On the issue of the death penalty, a majority of Catholics express views that are in tension with the Catholic Church’s teachings against capital punishment. In the August 2007 Pew survey, six-in-ten Catholics expressed support for the death penalty, while only about one-third (35%) opposed it

Political party engagement

Some US bishops will not like this, but 33% of US Catholics are Democrats with another 16% leaning that way. And 23% are Republican with another 10% leaning that way. 10% are independents.

How Change in the Church Really Happens

Historically more from the Bottom Up and in Four Stages

(In fact, just like our own 1776 American Revolution!)

Change in the Church (well I am a church historian) follows a four-stage process. Depending on time and place, the stages can overlap until the change reactions reach critical mass.

(1)   The critical prophets:

The critical prophet, and the critical prophets, are those people who see the need for reform and have the courage to speak out. They are the courageous concerned Catholics. They are usually condemned by the institutional leaders and called “dissidents,” “trouble-makers,” or simply “heretics.” Institutional leaders really try to crucify them.

(2)   Networks of the courageous concerned:

When the courageous concerned prophets survive (usually a sign that they are speaking the needed truth), networks of like-minded people start connecting and expanding. Through networking the courageous concerned share common concerns, common dreams and support one another.  Networking is absolutely essential for effective change. Institutional leaders cannot destroy networks; and when they try, they simply energize people and promote further networking.

(3)   Councils and assemblies of the courageous concerned:

Sharing concerns and dreams is not enough. Delegates and representatives of reform organizations (like, for instance, ARCC: The Association for the Rights of Catholics in the church, COR: Catholic Organizations for Renewal and VOTF: Voice of the Faithful) must gather in well-organized assemblies (like, for instance, the American Catholic Council planned for Pentecost 2011 in Detroit). In assemblies of the concerned, concrete strategies and structures for Church reform are planned and set in motion.

(4)   Implementation of institutional reform strategies and structures:

This is the critical stage: Reform is in motion and it can take two possible directions.

          A.     Institutional leaders acknowledge the need; and they collaborate on strategies and structures for reform.  The institution experiences rebirth and recaptures the spirit of the founder. Or………

          B.     Institutional leaders dig-in their heels and reject the rationale for reform and reject the strategies and structures for institutional Church reform. When this happens, the prophets and courageous concerned — for better or for worse — launch their own institution.

++++++

One thing is very certain these days:

the institution is unwell and needs reform and renewal.

Brother in Christ, we need to work together. But I really cannot emphasize enough how seriously lost at sea the church seems to be.

(Letter sent by email on July 19th 2010.)

Cardinal William J. Levada

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Vatican City State

EMAIL:  cdf@cfaith.va

URL:      http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/index.htm

Dear Cardinal Levada, Brother in Christ:

Although you and I have met face to face on a couple occasions, I would not say we really know each other. We do however have some important things in common.

We are both old men, with fewer years ahead of us than behind. Time for us is important if we are still to accomplish a few important things. We are both Roman Catholic men, both historical theologians (both defended our doctoral dissertations magna cum laude). We are both Americans; and we greatly value, I trust, the American virtues of equality, freedom of expression and transparency. And I have no doubts that we both share a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, to the Gospel and to the Church.

All of the above, of course, is by way of introduction. Now to my letter: This, as you may suspect, is about the latest instruction from your Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The sexual abuse and rape of children and teenagers by Roman Catholic priests is indeed a grave offense. Jesus was very clear as well: “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

Frankly, Cardinal Levada, many actively-engaged Roman Catholics are deeply disappointed and distressed  by this latest instruction. This most recent Vatican response to sexual abuse in the global Church is a total and complete disaster. To be blunt about it, it is outrageous. Not just a major public relations failure but a colossal leadership failure. The Vatican – and very particularly your office – has lost just about all credibility, thanks to a widely-publicized document that equates ordained men raping children with women being ordained.

Why is the Church so afraid of women in ordained ministry? Why are Church leaders still so ignorant — yes ignorant —  about the ministerial history of women in the Church? This latest instruction from your Congregation that condemns women’s ordination as a “grave crime”  is not just an unfortunate development. It is a sign of institutional ignorance and stupidity. Somehow you and your Congregation have to repair the damage done by this foolish statement.

I am pleased that the Church wants to speed up its disciplining of criminal priests. What I miss in the latest instruction, however, is any disciplining of criminal bishops. You know, as well as I, there are bishops, right now, guilty of their own sex crimes; but also more than a few bishops who have covered-up for and allowed – and still allow – abusive priests to remain sexual predators on young people. These bishops must be brought to trial; and some of them, quite frankly, belong behind bars. One very famous American Cardinal, who many observers believe should indeed be brought to trial in the United States, is now gloriously installed in Rome as Archpriest of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Cardinal Levada, as one old concerned Catholic, to another, the church has a lot of repair work to do. The institutional church’s credibility is at an all-time low. Seriously — at an-all time low. Many of us, for whom the Church was once a ray of light and source of hope, are very capable and very willing to help reform and rebuild the Church. We want to collaborate not compete.

Brother in Christ, we need to work together. But I really cannot emphasize enough how seriously lost at sea the church seems to be. Lost at sea with neither a map nor a compass.

Respectfully,

John Greenleaf

EMAIL:  jwgreenleaf@gmail.com

URL:      http://anothervoice-greenleaf.org/