Catholic rights
Swidler, Leonard
Human rights & Ctrtholic rights John Paul II visits the United States just as we are marking the bicentennial of the Constitution with its Biti of Rights....
...Therefore, ARCC asks: 11...
...that these councils be representatively elected...
...By their baptism, Catholics are entitled to be educated in their faith: "AH Catholics have the right to follow their informed consciences in all matters'' {ARCCCharter...
...2. That each diocese appoint a broadly representative Committee for Adult Catholic Education, charged with assembling talented educators and scholars to develop a comprehensive plan for adult Catholic education, its implementation, and ongoing monitoring...
...But this concern is also an American contribution to the universal church...
...Structures that could support these rights do exist, but they afe inadequately developed and, for millions of Catholics, they do not exist in actuality...
...Therefore, ARCC asks: 1. That each diocese, national conference, and the Vatican stress excellence in preaching...
...According to the 1971 bishops' synod, justice includes...
...Christians, subject to error, must be open to critique and discernment, but this must be done with justice and love — outside and inside the church...
...Unfortunately, most Catholic adults are forced to look to a short Sunday homily as their only point of contact with teachings on peace and justice, family life, Scripture, spirituality...
...In the Catholic church there is a serious void in the area of general Catholic adult education...
...and that they have real decision-making power so that responsibility for the community and its mission will be truly shared...
...and that more thoroughly professional training programs be set op in every diocese...
...As Pope John Paul II prepares to visit, the organization proposes twelve points for discussion and action by Catholic leadership...
...8, That laity, priests, and bishops through every appropriate agency urge the Vatican to bring competent women as quickly as possible into the diaconate, presbyterate, and episcopacy...
...That every unit of the church adopt a prophetic stance on issues of social justice, especially concerning women...
...women — lay, religious, and clerical — to investigate the''' labor practices of the local church, to make appropriate recommendations, to oversee their implementation, and see to their future monitoring...
...undertaking "an examination of the modes of acting and of the possessions and lifestyle found within the church herself...
...That there be set up on both the national and international levels representatively elected synods of clergy and laity with real decision-making responsibility — along with the national bishops4 conferences, synod of bishops, and the papacy — as ongoing constitutive parts of the collegia...
...for instance, with regard to the setting up of councils at all levels," ARCC claims that Catholics have the right to a voice in decisions that affect them, the right to be dealt with fairly, and the right to timely redress of grievances...
...ARCC asks: 3. That in every parish and diocese the establishment of . pastoral councils (and not just finance councils) be made mandatory...
...The Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCO was founded in 1980...
...This might be handled by extending the scope of existing marriage tribunals, or by new administrative tribunals, both allowed by the 1983 Code of Canon Law...
...ARCC asks: 6, That every parish, diocese, national, and international organizational unit move immediately, within the present possibilities of canon law, to place competent women in positions of leadership iti numbers proportional to their membership...
...It follows, then, that "all employees of the church . have the right to decent working conditions and just wages*, they also have the right not to have their employment terminated without due process" {Charter...
...The resulting discrimination against women dearly contradicts Christian baptism, which equally initiates women and men intothe community of the followers of Jesus...
...LEONARD SWIDUBR Leonard Swidler is a founding member of the Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church...
...This includes readers, commentators, cantors, leaders of prayer, ministers of Baptism and Communion, and Mass servers...
...Mindful of the 1971 synod of bishiops' statement that "the members of the church should have some share in the drawing up of decisions...
...An informed conscience requires that broad educational opportunities be available throughout one's life...
...Christian women "and men must live the Gospel in the world, which may mean being a counter-sign to elements of contemporary culture...
...9. That every organizational unit eliminate all sexist language in its documents:' 'AH Catholics have the right to expect that church documents and materials will avoid sexist language and that symbols and imagery of God will not be exclusively masculine" {Charter...
...It is especially important that those engaged in ministry take full advantage of opportunities for continued growth: "Catholics have the right to expect all officeholders to be property trained and to confine their education throughout their term of office" {Charter...
...According to the respected book commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America, The Code of Canon law: A Text and Commentary i Paulist Press, 1985: "The revised Code, unlike the 1917 Code, does not prohibit females from serving Mass...
...7. That competent women be appointed to all liturgical offices, within the present possibilities of canon law, in numbers propoitional to their membership...
...4. That every diocese have a tribunal to redress griev( Continued on following page) 11 September 1987: 485 (Continued from previous page) aitces of all types according to due process (following the Canon Law Society of America...
...that the ranks of preachers be expanded to include all competently prepared persons...
...governance of the universal church, Hie most pervasive example of divisive dualism in the Catholic church, and in society at large, is that between women and men...
...Hence, when attempting to live out the Gospel of Jesus it is vital 12...
...there is a lack of comprehensive programs and limited access to the program-fragments that do exist...
...That every diocese set up a commission of men and...
...This puts an impassible burden on the homily and homilist...
...That Christians have the full support of the Christian community, the church...
...Human rights & Ctrtholic rights John Paul II visits the United States just as we are marking the bicentennial of the Constitution with its Biti of Rights...
...According to ARCC's 1983 Charter of the Rights of Catholics in the Church, "the rights of Catholics in the church derive both from our basic humanity as persons and from our baptism as Christians...
...The burden is compounded when the pulpit is closed to knowledgeable people who happen to be non-ordained and/or, God forbid, happen to be women...
...An American church which did not take rights seriously could hardly be called "incufturated...
...For centuries, Americans have thought in terms of rights — and should be proud of it...
Vol. 114 • September 1987 • No. 15
