The People Speak Out

Local voices connecting globally

This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.  (Pope Francis)

Canon Law 212 calls upon the laity to speak up:

2 - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

It has been years since I have been a practicing Catholic. The sexual abuse scandal rocked me off my feet. I belatedly realize that my youngest brother, who is now dead, was probably sexually abused as he served as an altar boy. Then when the bishops were verbally abusive to the nuns, that really upset me. I feel they are the only ones actually living out Christ’s message. Years ago, I reconciled my use of contraception as an act of conscience granted to me through Vatican II. I was upset at the church’s promotion of the Republican party and all it stood for, instead of minding its own business and working to help the poor and the needy. I have felt that the male church power system is obsessed with sex (abuse, contraception, abortion, homosexuality) and they should concentrate more of their energy in helping their parish families. The Catholic church would benefit from women being allowed to take their rightful place in position of power. I think celibacy has been a scourge on the Catholic Church, and married priests would be a benefit to married couples who need models. Guess I’ve hit all the hot-button issues, haven’t I?

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