No action, is not an option now – a case for inclusion

You may be aware that ICRN comprises representatives of National Council of Priests groups from 18 countries across the world together with representatives from five reform groups. It was established in 2013 to support the reforms that Pope Francis is urging our Church to achieve. It most recently met in June this year at Bratislava.

Discerning prayerfully and respectfully with priests and members of renewal groups has been one of my most cherished experiences and many others would acclaim it similarly. We all grew in understanding of each other and of how the constraints of Canon law divide and create dissonance between the ordained and the faithful.  

The experience of the Limerick and Chicago meetings also opened my eyes to the pressures on dedicated and committed priests who have given up so much. I imagine and appreciate that for all of you in Australia, the pressures to keep going must seem overwhelming at times, particularly with the pain and shame of the Royal Commission findings, our bishops responses to them, and the doubling up of parishes, a great load, we could share that load together.

As the convener of the Australian Catholic Coalition for Church Renewal (ACCCR) for the last five years, it was clear to me that all the renewal groups while often critical of our bishops leadership, wanted to work together with our priests particularly at this critical time in our Church. 

Bishop Vincent Long urges us, not to cling to the old Church with its clerical culture and speaks about transitioning from a dying Church to imagining and developing radically new ways to bring the gospel message to the world. I was absolutely with Sr. Clare Condon when she spoke of any change being a change of heart as well as structure. 

The renewal movement (11 groups) is ready to start to build and reshape the new and wants to look at how to work in partnership with our priests at the parish level as well as at all levels of governance, decision-making and development of sound doctrine.

We yearn for our Church to be an accountable, transparent and an inclusive Church. 

Organisational research tells us that the culture and function of an organisation are formed and sustained by its structure. At the national meeting of ACCCR in Canberra, hosted by Concerned Catholics in March this year, Fr John Woods pointed to the close nexus between what the Church believes, how it is governed and the way Canon Law is used to give structure to that. 

It follows then that if our Church is to address the clerical culture which Pope Francis calls a cancer in our midst, our structures and Canon Law have to be reviewed and changed to reshape our church. 

Our present Church is not a discipleship of equals as the gospel message suggests we do not have full inclusion of women. There can be no justice in a church that does not treat all its members as equal. 

Our present Canon law blocks the faithful, our bishops and priests, many of whom would agree with some changes to Canon Law, from fulfilling Pope Francis’ desire for open dialogue between the faithful and the ordained and full inclusion of women at all levels. 

Our Catholic theology is a theology of equality and our practice of faith must reflect this. 

As you would all be aware our bishops are proposing the Plenary Council as the reform process that will alter our clerical culture. Many in our archdiocese are not confident that the Plenary Council will achieve this. As renewal groups we are supportive of our bishops process but we would be remiss not to monitor progress. We, the faithful are the Church, and have equal responsibility and there are more of us. So while supporting the Plenary Council our two pronged strategy is to be ready to act if necessary.

Our faith must be offered with grace and generosity, as a precious gift, not with hectoring and authoritarian overtones. We know this won’t happen overnight but unless we articulate a vision and start to lead, it won’t happen at all. 

At the University of Divinity’s ‘Health and Integrity in Church and Ministry Conference’ in Melbourne a few weeks ago, some courageous survivors spoke powerfully about their need for a healing and an inclusive church to sustain them in their future lives. It’s the least we can do. 

As a first step we must pull together and urge the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference to respond to the Royal Commission recommendations meaningfully. They have to do something to demonstrate that they have heard and are changing now not in two years time! 

They could immediately appoint a suitably qualified woman to co-chair the Plenary Council to balance the existing situation; establish Diocesan Pastoral Councils in every diocese based on gender balance and governance principles of accountability, transparency and inclusivity and reinstate the third rite of reconciliation 

No action, is not an option now! 

So much could change, I dream of an inclusive Church where the faithful, leading with the ordained as equals, listening to and respecting each other, shape an inclusive and relevant new Church; where there is inclusion of women in all levels of decision-making including all Vatican dicastries; where representative decision-making is deliberative not just consultative; there is optional celibacy and a priesthood inclusive of all the faithful, women, men and LGBTI people, married and single. I dream of liturgies of forgiveness with general absolution, the recognition of divorced and remarrieds’ right to our nourishing sacraments, a review of Humanae Vitae and acknowledgement and understanding of the unity and intimacy of a healthy sexuality.

This would be the attractive Church Pope Francis points to. Sound doctrine would be such an influence for good in our world. The status of women in developing countries would rise, and violence and poverty experienced by women and children would begin to decrease. 

We look forward to building a partnership with the NCP with the grace of the Holy Spirit to reshape the new.[/s2If]