2006-10-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Do Not Stifle the Spirit! A Call To Preserve Vibrant Parishes in a Time of Fewer Priests.

The U.S. Catholic Church is facing the most massive parish closing and restructuring process in our history. Dioceses all over the U.S. are trying to sort out how to staff parishes in a time of fewer priests. Too many bishops appear to be considering, a “shrink to fit” policy of reducing numbers of parishes to fit numbers of priests, even in the case of parishes that are financially viable and alive with important outreach ministries.

Sadly, such drastic policies will not work. Dismal priest shortage projections show that many dioceses will be forced to restructure again in five or ten years.

According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, 75% of the 18,000 active diocesan priests in the U.S. are over 55 years old, but we are only ordaining about 350 new diocesan priests each year. In 20 years, presuming ordinations remain constant, we could have as few as 11,500 active diocesan priests for our 19,000 parishes. At the same time, numbers of deacons and paid lay ministers have increased significantly to 14,000 and 30,000 respectively. Currently “parish life coordinators are pastoring 600 U.S. parishes. Sixty percent are women.

For the past sixteen years, my organization, FutureChurch has been raising awareness of the consequences of failing to effectively address the priest shortage. On behalf of FutureChurch, and of our project partners, Call To Action, I was present the International Synod on the Eucharist last October. Even though four of twelve synod discussion groups submitted proposals to study the possibility of married priests, the synod’s final report reaffirmed mandatory celibacy in the Latin rite .

We hoped our leaders would act before it is too late. Instead, some bishops are not only closing or merging viable parishes, but they are appropriating assets from the closed parishes for their dioceses rather than transferring the money to the receiving parish that welcomes newly orphaned parishioners.

A July, 2006 letter from the Vatican’s Congregation on the Clergy instructed our bishops to stop this practice, noting that it was “ not uncommon” for U.S. dioceses to erroneously invoke canon 123, which allows closed parishes’ assets to go to the dioceses, many of which are cash-strapped because of the clergy sex abuse crisis.

Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos wrote: “In most cases ‘suppressions’ are in reality an ‘amalgamation’ or ‘merger’ and as such the goods and liabilities should go to the enlarged parish community and not to the diocese.” (For full text visit http://www.futurechurch.org/sopc/canon125.htm)

To help correct this situation and especially to make the point that there is no need to close parishes when we have an abundance of deacons and lay ministers, a national coalition of Catholic groups and lay leaders have endorsed and are circulating a statement listing eight “best practices” for keeping parishes open in the midst of a steadily worsening U.S. priest shortage.

The statement, “Do Not Stifle the Spirit!” (Thess 5:19) cites the positive example of eight U.S. dioceses that “chose creative solutions [permitted by canon law], such as entrusting the pastoral care of several parishes to one priest, to a team of priests, or to competent lay ecclesial ministers, deacons and religious.”

The statement also calls for “creative and constructive conversations with priests, parishioners, pastoral ministers and all ecclesial leaders about how to keep our parishes vibrant and fruitful.”

FutureChurch, a national coalition of parish centered Catholics based in Cleveland Ohio, is spearheading the initiative, which has been endorsed by five other Catholic organizations as well as nationally known theologians and lay leaders concerned about the future of U.S. parish life. More endorsements are expected.

The statement is available for online endorsement at http://www.futurechurch.org/sopc/donotstiflethespirit.htm

FutureChurch has also sent the statement to tens of thousands of U.S. Catholics asking them to endorse it and to encourage their priests, pastoral ministers and diocesan leaders to discuss the best practices identified. The statement was also sent to all U.S. Bishops, requesting their perspectives, and asking them to welcome Catholics who want to talk about these important issues.

The Do Not Stifle the Spirit! statement is part of FutureChurch’s new Save Our Parish Community effort designed to provide educational and organizing resources to Catholics discerning an appropriate response to diocesan decisions to close or merge their vibrant, solvent, and apostolically effective parish. (http://www.futurechurch.org/sopc/index.htm)

It also educates about effective diocesan processes already in use (http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/vibrantparishli) that invite parishioner involvement in deciding the future of their parish.

Since the culture of conversation is all about discussing critical issues in the church, I welcome the perspectives of all who visit this blog.

Christine Schenk csj

2006-09-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Culture of Conversation
www.cultureofconversation.org

In December of 2002, a diverse group of committed Catholics issued a statement challenging the culture of silence that currently dominates the Roman Catholic Church. The statement, entitled "Ephphatha: Be Opened," addressed Vatican II's vision of a church that was marked by conversation, consultation, and collaboration -- qualities that have yet to take root in our church. The Ephphatha
Statement spoke to how a culture of silence prevails in all corners of the Church and urged that such silence must end. It said, in part:

"The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) sought to renew the Church so that it might proclaim the gospel more effectively in the contemporary world. A sign of and a means to that renewal were to be the active participation of every member of the Church, each according to her/his own gifts and competencies, in the Church's life and work. Embracing the vision of Blessed John XXIII, the Council laid the foundations for a Church marked by conversation, consultation, and collaboration. The Council summoned every member of the People of God to new responsibilities in accord with their God-given dignity, talents and baptismal call. No longer were they to be silent subjects but active partners in every aspect of the Church's life.

"This part of the renewal has not taken root. Procedures and structures for meaningful conversation, consultation, and collaboration were never sufficiently developed. Terrible as it is, the sexual abuse crisis is not the only consequence of silence in our Church. When leaders make decisions without consulting those affected, they do not necessarily make bad decisions, but neither can we be confident that they are the best ones. Even a good decision will lack the support and credibility that consultation provides. Issues that affect the Church's mission and credibility, such as the availability of the Eucharist, qualifications for ordained ministry, financial accountability, and sexuality have not been open for discussion. Only official procedures and teachings are acceptable. Other views are dismissed or even repressed. There is a growing fear of speaking out. A culture of silence too often prevails.

"This silence must end. Our life together must mirror our belief that the Holy Spirit 'distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts the Spirit makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks or offices advantageous for the renewal and upbuilding of the Church...' (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 12)."

The Culture of Conversation is stimulating respectful conversations among a broad spectrum of Catholics. We want to encourage Catholics to engage each other in conversations when confronted with silencing about contemporary challenges that face the Church. We intend to foster open and mutual communication and collaborative decision-making. We work to support an atmosphere of trust, hope and openness to one another and to the Holy Spirit.

In support of this vision, we created this blog. We intend it to be a forum in which issues can be raised and discussed in a spirit of civility and mutual respect. We hope it will be a tool that assists people in engaging in these much-needed conversations.

This blog is hosted by the Culture of Conversation Steering Commitee. We are leaders—women, men, lay, religious, clergy—of diverse Catholic organizations who are committed to transforming the culture of silence that prevails in our Church.

We hope you will be a partner in that vision. Join the conversation. Welcome.