History

 

"We Are Church" came into being in Austria in 1995 when a group of concerned Catholics initiated a process of discerning the wishes of the People of the Church. This was known as a "Kirchenvolks-Begehren" (meaning "a yearning for a Church of the people" in German) and was inspired by an Austrian political process.

 

This quickly spread, first to Germany, but by 1996 Catholics around the world were expressing similar concerns for the good of the Church. Those who brought what by now had become the We Are Church movement to their own countries were very much in harmony with the original Kirchenvolks-Begehren. However, many adapted the text to take account of local culture and needs.

In the UK, a coalition of Catholic groups working for a liberating Church - Jubilee People - circulated the We Are Church, a UK Roman Catholic Declaration. This happened between December 1996 and October 1997 and the prime aim was to stimulate consideration of and dialogue about the challenges facing the Church today. They wanted people to learn more about these challenges and then, after reflection and prayer, to discuss them in their families and local faith communities. Their call was for dialogue among the whole People of God that would reflect the Second Vatican Council imperative that the Church "examine the signs of the times and interpret them in the light of the Gospel."

 

It became obvious there was a great diversity of opinion. Some unfortunately made assumptions which were not in the text and thus found themselves biased against everything in the Declaration, while others felt it was not strident enough.

 

There were, however, many letters, phone calls and e-mails in favour of doing more than signing a document. People wanted to be involved in discussion and dialogue. They wanted to find out what being Church meant and participate in a living faith community. People wanted companionship on the Christian journey and encouragement to continue in the Catholic tradition.

 

Sadly the responses also showed how much fear there is in the Church. Many were afraid to express their solidarity with the Declaration out of fear their jobs might be in jeopardy or they might be marginalised in their parishes. They wanted to believe there was hope for the Church in the future but many did not feel able to join any of the organisations that made up Jubilee People.

With all these people in mind it was decided that We Are Church had to take on a life of its own in the UK. Called "We Are Church (UK)" it became an autonomous organisation in July 1997.

 

The remit of We Are Church (UK) was to network with individuals and groups in order to give hope to Catholics who had set great store by all that had been promised by the Bishops at the Second Vatican Council. It soon became pastoral as people shared stories and experiences with like-minded fellows.

We Are Church workers from the UK were present at the Second European Ecumenical Assembly in Graz, Austria (June 1997) as part of the European Network - Church on the Move team. The team offered a cafŽ where members of all the different Christian Churches could relax, chat, exchange ideas and get to know one another better. This added to the resolve to stay within the Roman Catholic Church and work for an institution that lived up to its promises.

Meanwhile the International Movement We Are Church, inaugurated in Rome in November 1996, was getting ready to offer the Pope the volume of concern that was expressed globally in the Kirchenvolks-Begehren and to ask him to begin the dialogue throughout the Church over these issues. We Are Church (UK) was represented at the Incontro del Popolo di Dio in Rome on 11 October 1997 - the 35th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

In 1998 We Are Church (UK) formally joined the European Network - Church on the Move and now collaborates with organisations addressing a wide variety of issues within the Church and in the area of Catholic social justice.

 

Also in 1998 the International Movement We Are Church was able to build on the initiative of a group of United States organisations to build a profile for the next Pope. Called "A Pope for the Time to Come; Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor" it gathered ideas from around the world on the qualities needed in the person who would lead a billion Catholics into the 21st century. As a positive contribution to the well-being and future of the Church a copy was sent to every Cardinal who would vote at the next Conclave. Some very positive responses were received.

 

But as 1999 dawned it became apparent that wide consultation was not going to take place. We Are Church throughout Europe became determined to offer the views of the grassroots of the Church.

 

Preparatory discussions took place on the Internet and in the October 120 delegates from 10 countries convened near Rome. From this Forum of European Catholics, attended by delegates from the UK, came the statement "Give Hope to Europe" which was offered to the Pope, the Bishops and the entire people of God.

 

There have always been close links with We Are Church-Ireland and we were pleased to be invited to their meeting in Galway in April 2000. Although politically divided into two, Ireland in the Catholic world is governed by one Bishops' Conference.

 

At about the same time, Catholics in Scotland became concerned at the way statements were made by the Hierarchy on their behalf without any consultation. Indeed many disagreed strongly with the stand that was being taken. We Are Church found many supporters there. The Co-ordinators of We Are Church-Ireland meet regularly with the UK Coordinating Team.

 

During 2001 We Are Church (UK) worked with international friends, especially We Are Church (Germany), to set up the Synod of the People of God and bring about its first assembly to shadow the Tenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which met to consider "The Bishop, Servant of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World". The voices of Catholics from around the world was heard and a message containing 24 points of concern and leadership needs was placed before the Bishops' Assembly.

 

In 2002 We Are Church (Spain) held an international gathering of the Spanish-speaking Church in Madrid and helped South American Catholics set up a call for another General Council of the Church.

 

We Are Church (UK) endorsed the statement made by the International Movement We Are Church at the time of the election of the new Pope.

In the Autumn of 2005 We Are Church (UK) was pleased to send representatives to "Renewing Catholicity": a day when Catholics gathered to recall the hope and inspiration of the National Pastoral Congress in 1980 and to discuss how its recommendations might be taken forward.