Maureen, the organiser, and the Movement for Married Clergy ask you to support the petition to the Bishops of England & Wales.
Go to the Petition Website
Maureen has also sent a version which can be printed and signed by friends. PDF Version
Also visit the Catholics for Ministry website which carries news of a similar petition in Australia.
The UK petition says:
"We, the undersigned Catholics, wish to express our support for our bishops who are preparing the Catholic Church in England and Wales for new forms of ministry and leadership."
"We request the Catholic Bishop Conference to place the following items on the agenda for their next plenary meeting."
"We ask that the bishops:
- 1.Acknowledge that there is a major crisis in ministry within the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
- 2.Acknowledge that there is no doctrinal or theological barrier to the ordination of married men. Our Church has already ordained married former Anglical priests.
- 3. Take practical steps towards ordaining suitably qualified married men
- 4. Encourage a wide-ranging discussion of the role of women in ministry and in the authority structures of the church, including the question of women's ordination.
- 5. Establish appropriate scriptural, theological and pastora ltraining programs [campus, distance and on-line]to prepare suitable women and men for ministry. These candidates should have the recommendation of their parishes and communities, and should participate in mentored pastoral work.
- 6.Invite priests who have left the ministry to return to , subject to negotiation with the local bishop active priesthood. "
