The International Movement We Are Church (IMWAC, Catholic reform movement) sends their best regards to the sisters and brothers gathered in Kingston, from May 17 to 25 for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation "Glory to God and Peace on Earth".

We are aware that in our day, peace in the world is threatened by conflicts old and new, and that it is poor people who are affected most intensely by these conflicts.

Commitment to peace and justice is not limited to churches, but they have the particular task of proclaiming the Gospel of peace, and to live a life that is consistent with this message. No Church reform would make sense if, in the end, it did not impel the disciples of Jesus Christ to work for peace and more solidarity with all those working every day to make the gift of peace a reality.

We offer our prayers so that all of you gathered in Kingston are guided by the Holy Spirit, who offers the Christians and the Churches, today just as before, words of peace and salvation, which must be announced to the world.

Representatives of We Are Church from European and American groups attended the European Network Conference in Barcelona from 28 April to 1 May 2011.

A Memorandum originally signed by of 144 (now by 193) professors of theology from Germany, Austria and Switzerland on the urgent need to change the Catholic Church.

 [German] [Several translations here]

Give your support to the memorandum at this site.

1n 1970, a "Memorandum about Celibacy", suggesting some  was signed by nine theologians, including Joseph Ratznger and Karl Rahner. Here's the original, in German, and some translations.

[French] [German] [Italian]

Document in pdf format:

[English][French] [Italian][Norwegian][Portuguese] [Spanish] [Polish]

Pope John Paul II, whose beatification will be celebrated on 1 May 2011, was a pope of great contradiction. His tragedy lies in the discrepancy between his commitment to reform and dialogue in the world and his return to authoritarianism within the church.

It was his penchant for spiritual authoritarianism that contributed to the greatest tragedy of his tenure as pope: the sexual abuse of thousands of children globally. By holding church hierarchy paramount above the needs of the people, John Paul II perpetuated a toxic environment in which priests were permitted, often repeatedly, to sexually abuse children as long as the criminal behaviour was kept secret, preserving the public image of untarnished leadership.