DECLARATION WITH RESPECT TO THE VISIT OF THE POPE TO THE "WORLD CATHOLIC YOUTH DAY" IN MADRID (AUGUST 2011)

Only a few months after his visits to Santiago de Compostela & Barcelona, Mr Ratzinger - Benedict XVI for Catholics - bent on his idea to "reconquer" a country which he sees is moving away from his moral and religious proposals, is coming back to Madrid.

From a secularist and democratic point of view, there can be no objection for a meeting of a spiritual pastor with his followers.  It is evident, however, that in spite of the calculated ambiguity of the event, the "World Youth Day" of this august in Madrid has the objective of congregating thousands of young Catholics around the Pope's teaching.  This act, whatever its size, can only be seen as having a private character since the beliefs and declarations are private.

However, what is contrary to a democratic State which declares itself as non-confessional is to mix the affairs of the state with religious matters, the general interests with private interests, the institutions which represent all the citizens with events which only concern some, in this case, those who share certain religious convictions.

by Vittorio Bellavite of “Noi Siamo Chiesa” Italy

[French]

Rome, July 2011

Back in 1976, in Detroit, a great Congress of the American Catholic Church took place. Its leader was Cardinal Dearden, bishop of the city and President of the U.S. bishops Conference. At this meeting 1300 were delegates with 1000 observers. It was called "Call to Action" and there were great plans for the renewal of the Church, noting that many statements of the Vatican 2 Council were in line with the rights and obligations of United States (which celebrated its two-hundredth anniversary in the same year). Now the big projects have stalled; the progressive bishops were replaced by others more in line with the thinking of the Magisterium; the shortage of clergy and pedophilia scandal [and many others], have changed the landscape of American Catholicism.

Driven by the difficulties of formal structures, growth of grassroots organizations independent of the hierarchy took place, being explicitly linked to Vatican II Council, similar to organizations that we have in Europe. On the feast of Pentecost in Detroit (10-12 June), these organisations formed the American Catholic Council (ACC) with explicit reference to the original meeting 35 years ago, not only in content but also in the same city, at the same convention center and a similar number of participants (about 1800), from all over the USA.

Address to the First National Council of the American Catholic Council (ACC), Detroit, June 10-12, 2011

by Christian Weisner

I would like to thank you very much for the opportunity to address you here in Detroit at this very important and inspiring American Catholic Council. I’m doing this on behalf of the “International Movement We are Church” and on behalf of the “European Network Church on the Move”. And I bring you the personal greetings of professor Hans Kueng who supports us very much. 

Very dear Bishop Bill Morris,

The International Movement We Are Church would like to express its complete solidarity with you regarding the recent position taken by the Vatican in forcing you to resign.

We are aware that this matter has been protracted for a number of years with your endeavours to resolve this tense relationship with the Vatican. We see this action as a move to simply overide your good conscience and resolve the matter to their own benefit.

We believe these actions of the Vatican are inconsistent with the Gospel and they do not conform to the wishes of the majority of those in your diocese.  We understand that the Australian Conference of Bishops have been supportive of you as well as the Council of Priests - all those who know you personally and the calibre of leadership you have shown.

We stand with you, in the peace of God.

Pedro Freitas
IMWAC Coordinator

We invite you to sign this petition in support of Bishop Morris, and to share it with your friends.