Letter to Pope John Paul II From the International We Are Church Movement

 

Delivered at the Bronze Doors of the Vatican - October 11, 1997

 

Dear Brother Pope,

 

Today, on the 35th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, representatives of the International We Are Church Movement from 16 countries have gathered in Rome, as we wrote to you in a letter several months ago.

 

We would have liked a personal conversation and prayer together with you. We had hoped, as part of the People of God walking through history, that you would favor open and collegial dialogue within the Church as the Council described it, and that you would have been disposed to it. 

 

The whole Roman Catholic Church more and more feels an urgent need for dialogue. As for ourselves, despite our limitations, we are motivated primarily by a desire to be loyal to the Gospel of Jesus in order to proclaim it to people in the present age.

 

Since, unfortunately, you do not share a desire for personal conversation and common prayer with us, we representatives of these 16 countries send you collegial greetings in this written form.

 

A first glance at our Church could tranquilize us. In our time, its actions worldwide are noteworthy in religious/social matters. It has a commitment to human rights and the spiritual wellbeing of humankind. Its large number of members and its cultural monuments could fill us with satisfaction.

 

But at second glance, our church causes us deep concern and sorrow. This is because esteem for the Church is declining among the people to a worrisome degree. Thus, the Church's ability to provide moral strength, leadership and guidance is also declining. This is because the Church does not, in several respects, live up to its own foundations as expressed in the Gospel:

 

* The attitude of Jesus, who considered his disciples and followers "no longer servants but friends," (John 15:15) and his mission as one of service not of reigning (Mark 10:43), is contradicted by structures hostile to dialogue. In this age, the Church typically exercises ministry by excluding the People of God from decision-making roles - for instance, in the selection of bishops.

 

* The liberating behavior of Jesus toward women, and our brightly burning heritage that there "is no longer male nor female, but all are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28), is contradicted by the exclusion of women from all ordained church ministries and the accompanying discrimination against persons exclusively for reasons of gender.

 

* Jesus solicitous gathering of persons into a living community is contradicted, and pastoral ministry in many communities is endangered, because they have no permanent priest. This is solely because the Church restricts itself to the biblically unfounded policy of ordaining only unmarried males to the priesthood. Many persons, including married men and women, are unable to live out their vocation to the priesthood.

 

* God's unrestricted declaration of love for the entire human person in all his/her spiritual, psychological and bodily dimensions (cf. Gen. 1:31), is contradicted by negative attitudes toward sexuality still found in the Church's traditional moral teaching, although this is changing slowly. In the matter of artificial contraception, for example, many of the faithful face unbearable consequences, even after deep and responsible deliberation in their consciences.

 

* And finally, Jesus gave special care and attention to the marginalized and excluded in society, including sinners and those suffering from the law. This is contradicted by a strict interpretation and implementation of the Code of Canon Law that seems to be lacking in mercy, and seldom allows the experience of God's forgiving and reconciling love. This applies, for example, to the practice of excluding divorced and remarried people from receiving the sacraments.

It was from our burning concern over this loss of credibility by the Church that the "Kirchenvolks-Begehren" [Petition drives, Declarations, Referendum, etc.] resulted. In that document, we called for:

 

* Building a Church of brothers and sisters, including the participation of the People of God in deliberations and decisions,

 

* Equal rights for women and their admission to all ordained ministries,

 

* Optional celibacy for priests,

 

* A positive attitude toward sexuality and respect for responsible decisions of conscience, even when they disagree with the Magisterium,

 

* A message of joy rather than condemnation, especially for persons in difficult life situations.

 

The Movement of the "Kirchenvolks-Begehren" wants to remind the Church of its central mission: to follow the example of Jesus and enable people to experience God's kindness and love for humankind.

 

Millions of persons worldwide have expressed this worried outcry of the People of God through their signatures on the Kirchenvolks-Begehren, and through other actions, dialogues, celebrations and prayers. They feel a great affinity with synods and diocesan forums that have dealt with the same issues. There are also more and more bishops who are expressing similar concerns and pleading for structural change in the church. All of us, moved by a great love the Church and a fundamental loyalty to ecclesial ministry, call upon you and all the persons charged with responsibility in our Church, to speak openly about the subjects we discussed and to implement the first steps toward reform.

In many countries, the signatures are not as numerous as those in Central Europe. The Kirchenvolks-Begehren was adapted to the different situations characteristic of different countries.

 

But in all those countries, and in all those that will follow, a similar and urgent desire for change - especially on the part of those who are suffering from Church structures - is leading to calls for a new direction in our Church. The results of surveys done in Germany, Spain, Ireland, the U.S.A., Italy, Poland and the Philippines by Rev. Andrew Greeley (University of Chicago) and Prof. Michael Hout (University of California at Berkeley) confirm our analysis. We are including these results and making them public.

 

Today, we are commemorating the 35th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. This has confirmed Catholics in their sense of adulthood, founded in their baptism and confirmation. Attempts to stop thought and discussion, through repression or simply dragging out procedures [in the hope that people will tire out and leave], will not silence them or hinder them from assuming responsibility for the Church. The Church would benefit if it accepted this sense of adulthood as an opportunity for constructive collaboration in building the future of our Church. Only a Church struggling for inner strength and credibility will respond to its mission to serve people and the world.

 

In Tertio Millennio Adveniente, you write, among other things, that: "The confession of yesterday's failures is an act of sincerity and courage that helps us strengthen our faith and makes us attentive and ready to cope with the temptations and difficulties of today." (#33) Those words have encouraged us on our journey. It seems to us that, after having proclaimed so clearly the need for continuous reform in our Church, the doors should not be closed to those Catholics who call for a mature dialogue in the Church today. This will help prevent repetition of yesterday's errors.

 

Moved by this faith and hope, we greet you cordially on behalf of the International We Are Church Movement and the millions of persons who join in the concerns that we have discussed with you.

 

With sisterly and brotherly greetings,

 

Luigi de Paoli

Maureen Fiedler 

Thomas Plankensteiner 

Elfriede Harth

International Planning Committee: International We Are Church Movement