While my Bishop has no use for the Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic lay group formed in response to the sex abuse scandal and the sins of power that enabled them, it appears that the Holy Spirit might.
As Pope Benedict gathers in schismatics and kooks, he risks losing the rest of us. Right-wingnut Catholics hurl epithets at anyone protesting the Iraq war, those who are uninterested in a pet devotional practice or other, those against re-criminalizing abortion, those who reject free market idolatry, and even against those who stand rather than kneel when they worship--and let's not get started on Democrats! At least the progressives have the decency not to question the religious sensibilities of their well-meaning but terribly uncharitable opponents. Just who is placing these wounds in the Body of Christ?
Last year, our local VOTF chapter went from critical to rude to quite insulting; the Bishop moved from stern disapproval to banning their educational forum's speakers from Church property. Those in the Voice of the Faithful in Naples include some of our most educated area Catholics: they run book clubs, teach classes, subscribe to The Tablet/Commonweal/America/NCR etc., and many hold advanced degrees in theology. They enjoy discussing Church controversies. The speakers they invited last year mostly had problems with church hierarchy for holding 'heretical' (i.e. minority) views on contraception. As is usual in cases of persecution, when the bishop banned their event from meeting on church property, the organization became more militant. A prudent Bishop would have found something useful for them to do that would fulfill their calling; a wise Bishop would invite them to a meeting to air their concerns and suggest a better course of action. I love our Bishop, but he's such a 'cheesehead' sometimes...
From the Naples Daily News, letters to the editor, 29 January 2009:
Censorship and the church Editor, Daily News:
A recent Pew Research Center study found the Roman Catholic Church, as usual, ranked as one of the two leading religious denominations in the United States.
The surprise was the third-leading denomination. Shockingly, this denomination was comprised of Roman Catholics who left their church. The number of Catholics who have been alienated by the church was sufficient to exceed the next largest religious denomination.
One issue raised among local Catholics is why the “spiritual servant” of the diocese denies, without any consultation, guest speakers access to church property. In one instance, the reason for denial by the “servant leader” was, “I do not approve.” In this instance, it was not the speaker who was disapproved, but rather, it was the sponsoring organization’s honorary advisory board.
An astounding censorship incident occurred last year at St. William’s parish when a ladies group planned to meet and discuss the life and work of the nationally respected Sister Joan Chittister. They were informed that there would be no discussion of Sister Chittister on Catholic property. Censorship is a very dark symptom; it is a fear of losing control.
It is possible that, naive as it seems, imposing censorship is considered an action that might dam up the flow of alienated Catholics pouring out of the church doors? Or, more probable, is it a continuation of imposing clerical dictates at the expense of the lay parishioners?
Whatever the impetus, censorship can only exacerbate the exodus of Catholics and possibly elevate “the third denomination” to the second-highest denomination in numbers.
Peg Clark, Naples President, Voice of the Faithful of Southwest Florida
Which, naturally, prompted more screams of 'heretics' at VOTF, less attention by VOTF to their mission statement, and more arguments about peripheral issues:
(2/2/09) Letter: Choices and the church
Editor, Daily News:
Peg Clark’s letter on censorship in the Catholic Church again raises her group’s — the Voice of the Faithful — chronic beef with the teaching and governing authority of the Catholic Church. It’s sadly typical of those who persist in calling themselves Catholics while fundamentally disagreeing with church doctrine, taking a very American approach to church membership.
Because we’re so accustomed to voting for what we think best for the country while clamoring for our ever-expanding rights, we’re tempted to think the Catholic Church functions the same way.
But the church is not a democratic republic. The job of its successors to Christ’s apostles is to teach as he taught, not to take opinion polls on his teaching. They guide the church faithful in universal truth, led by the Holy Spirit, regardless of how unpopular.
The church has thrived for two millennia because, among other good reasons, it has not stuck a moist finger in the wind every time a voice of the faithful disagrees. And yes, that sometimes results in those voices going elsewhere.
St. Jerome said, “Heresy comes from a Greek word which means ‘choice,’ because every heretic chooses what seems to him preferable.”
Sister Joan Chittister, whose work Clark would have liked discussed at St. William’s parish, has spoken and written heretically for years in support of abortion and women priests — her choice, of course.
But no “spiritual servant” worth his salt has any choice when a dissenting voice would be presented as if it were speaking for the very church it dissents from.
Patricia Bucalo, Naples
Pity that her false impressions and poor understanding of church history went unanswered...The group will be showing the documentary "Deliver us from Evil" on Feb 22nd, will host noted author Dr. Paul Lakeland on Thursday, Feb 26th, and Dr. Leon Podles will discuss his book Sacrilege on Thursday, March 19th. The film will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Naples; the speakers will be heard through the kindness of Vanderbilt Presbyterian, who stepped in when the priest at St. Katharine's Greek Orthodox Church was forbidden to host them.
In the meantime, a friend and former member of the VOTF board recently put together a Catholic Lay Assembly that drew representatives from all over the state, and is working with Corpus, FutureChurch, Take Back our Church, ARCC, groups formed to support the (now excommunicated) female priests, and others to call an all-American Catholic Assembly in Detroit in 2011:
http://www.americancatholiccouncil.org/faqs.html
FAQ’s about the American Catholic Council
Who is behind this gathering?
Catholics, committed to the principles of Vatican II. As lay, religious, and ordained Catholics we ground ourselves in our common baptism giving us rights and responsibilities to continue the mission of Christ on earth. We are a partnership of individuals and representatives of organizations committed to the fullness of the Catholic Church. As Vatican II Catholics we are united under a new banner, the American Catholic Council, a not for profit corporation, with pending IRS 501(c)(3) status.
All of this is terribly interesting. I can hardly wait for Lent!
VOTF Strategic Plan Presentation
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