IN THIS ISSUE The Future “Practicing” Catholic by Russ Petrus .............................................p. 5 Catholic Women Preach ..................p. 10 Remarks to LCWR by Jamie L. Manson ..........................p. 13 Pitfalls of Complementarity in the Catholic Church ..................................p. 20 Association of U.S. Catholic Priests Annual Assembly ...............................p. 23 Voices of Faith Welcomes Censured Sr. Simone Campbell into the Heart of Focus the Vatican ..........................................p. 25 XX NO.1 2017 / VOL. SUMMER/FALL Mary of Magdala Celebrations Lift Up the Role of Catholics Begin New Women in the Preaching Ministry of the Church Conversations about Women Deacons with Women have been called to interpret and proclaim the word DeaconChat of God in every age. Three organizations— Mary of Magdala is rightfully understood to be the “apostle to the FutureChurch, the Association apostles,” the first to proclaim the of U.S. Catholic Priests, Good News of Jesus’ Resurrection and and Voice of the Faithful— a prominent early Christian woman leader whose prophetic proclamations launched a new initiative in helped foster the Jesus movement (2 Kings, 2 Chronicles). In the Gospels May 2017 to foster education and later Christian communities as there is Mary of Nazareth and her and conversation on women they emerged in all their diversity. In Magnificat (Luke); Anna, a prophet who short, Mary of Magdala preached the “spoke about the child [Jesus] to all” deacons. Good News. In fact, just last year after Jesus’ presentation in the temple DeaconChat (www. Pope Francis elevated the liturgical (Luke 2:37); and the Samaritan celebration of Mary of Magdala from woman of John’s gospel whose fellow catholicwomendeacons.org/ a “memorial” to a “feast,” citing this Samaritans “believed in Jesus on the support/deaconchat) brings woman’s unique role as Apostolorum strength of her testimony” (John 4). Catholics—both lay and Apostola. And of course there are the numerous women named by Paul as leaders ordained—into dialogue. Mary of Magdala, however, is not and partners in spreading the gospel. alone. While certainly unique, she On May 12, 2016, Pope Francis, Throughout history, countless women is only one woman in a long line of responding to a question posed by have proclaimed the Good News: women who came before and after members of the International Union Catherine of Siena, Hildegard of to preach and proclaim God’s word. of Superiors General (UISG), said Bingen, Rose of Viterbo, The Beguines, In the Hebrew Scriptures, there’s that he would establish a commission and Thea Bowman to name just a few. Support FutureChurch Miriam, prophet and leader among the to study the question of ordaining when you make a Israelites (Exodus); Deborah, a judge Undoubtedly, women have been women deacons in the Roman preaching the good news of God since Catholic Church. That commission purchase on Amazon (a pre-monarchical leader of Israel) and prophet (Judges); and Huldah, a the beginning. Yet Catholics rarely was formally announced in August seventh century BCE prophet on hear the stories of these women. It is and began its work in November of whom high priests and royals relied even less likely that they’re invited to 2016. continued on page 7 continued on page 7 SUMMER/FALL 2017 | ONE From the Director’s Desk Focus on FutureChurch What breaks your heart? What gives you hope? EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Deborah Rose-Milavec EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: Sr. Diana Culbertson, OP My guess is that most of you reading this have experienced the heartbreak of being BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR: Jocelyn Collen part of the Catholic community. VICE-CHAIR: Mary Lou Hartman TREASURER: Todd Ray Our hearts break when we witness our SECRETARY: Marie Graf sisters and brothers being shunned and FINANCE CHAIR: Todd Ray shamed when they seek to be part of our parish communities. Think PROGRAM CHAIR: TBD of Bishop Thomas Paprocki’s harmful decree excluding our LGBT PERSONNEL CHAIR: E. Thomas Dowd STRATEGIC ISSUES CHAIR: Rita L. Houlihan sisters and brothers from Catholic funerals. AT LARGE Our hearts break when we learn that another child has been sexually Lisa Barczyk • Rev. Gerry Bechard • Br. Tom Carroll, OFM abused by a priest, or worse, there has been another cover-up by • Rev. James Daprille • E. Thomas Dowd • Barbara Guerin • Jane Collen • Sr. Andrea Koverman, SC bishops. Think of the charges against Cardinal George Pell. • Shanon Sterringer Our hearts break when parishes are closed and churches are sold, especially EX OFFICIO in struggling neighborhoods where, instead of the parish building community, Deborah Rose-Milavec, Executive Director the closing of a parish can contribute to the decay of the community. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITA Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ Our hearts break when the gifts and the talents of another woman THANKS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR are lost because there is no room for her in ordained ministry or NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES governance. Think of a woman you know who has struggled to fulfill CATHOLIC WOMEN PREACH her vocational call in an institution that is still mired in patriarchy. Go to catholicwomenpreach.org to find advisory board members Our hearts are broken. And that is our entry point for healing the pain we see in the eyes of our sisters and brothers. EMERGING MODELS OF PARISH/COMMUNITY LIFE Fr. Gerry Bechard, Detroit, MI • Fr. Jim Sheil, Avon, OH Then there is the joy of witnessing our sisters and brothers heal one • Fr. Ray Cole, AUSCP • Phil Marcin, Akron, OH • Linda another and call for greater justice within the Church. Marcin, Akron, OH • Rosanne Santos, Hanover, NH • MaryLou Hartman, Hartford, CT Hundreds of Catholics took part in a FutureChurch action and sent • Christine Schenk, CSJ, Cleveland, OH messages to Bishop Paprocki urging him to rescind his harmful RE-IMAGINING MARY OF NAZARETH decree. Catholics reform organizations condemned his action. And Mary Christine Athans , BVM • Diana Culbertson,OP • Judith Davis • Penelope Duckworth • Astrid Lobo Women Church Convergence sent a message to the Catholics who Gajiwala • Natalia Imperatori-Lee • Allisyn G. Kateusz were targeted by his action, sending a message of love and healing. • Therese Kortubush • Jeanette Rodriguez • • Mary F. Thurlkill Catholics have spent decades advocating for new standards for taking WOMEN IN CHURCH LEADERSHIP action against priests and bishops who abuse children or cover up Marianne Bernard, Clarkston, MI • Tom Blanks, when abuse has occurred. Some, like Marie Collins, have refused to Hercules, CA • Jocelyn Collen, Brighton, MA be silent in the face of obstruction, even at the highest levels. • Patricia Gomez,Tewksbury, MA • Rita L. Houlihan, New York, NY • Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, Mumbai, India Catholics in New York and beyond are taking their responsibilities • Elizabeth McGahan, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada seriously as they work to keep their parish communities open. Some, • Virginia Saldanha, Mumbai, India • Robin Senior, like those in Denver, are creatively calling attention to the poor Syosset, NY pastoral leadership and management skills of bishops who close FOCUS is a semiannual publication of FutureChurch, a national organization of parish vibrant parish communities. centered Catholics working for full participation of all Catholics from the United States and around the world are downloading Catholics in the life of the Church. The newsletter features information and commentary related to the DeaconChat, a new initiative by FutureChurch, Voice of the Faithful, mission of FutureChurch and reports on Church reform and the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests that provides resources issues not prominently covered elsewhere. for starting new conversations about women deacons between No advertisements are accepted, though letters to the editor are always welcome. FutureChurch is a 501(c)3 Catholics and their priests and bishops. Hundreds of Catholics have not-for-profit organization. Parts of this publication may already downloaded the resources and are starting a new dialogue. be reprinted after obtaining written permission from Further, Catholics are also asking their cardinals to support newly FutureChurch. ©FutureChurch 2017 appointed Cardinal Anders Aborelius’ suggestion that Pope Francis 17305 Madison Avenue Lakewood OH 44107 create a new College of Women to advise him on how to open more 216-228-0869 email: [email protected] doors for women’s leadership and ministry. continued on page 3 Visit our website www.futurechurch.org TWO | SUMMER/FALL 2017 From the Director’s Desk continued from page 2 Tens of thousands of Catholics work of Magdala—the apostle we just that belongs to our God and that She every day to bring the justice, peace, celebrated—there are women and men has placed deeply in our hearts. and mercy of the Gospel to the who are leading us, inspiring us, and DEBORAH ROSE-MILAVEC world and to the institutional Church challenging us to take up our role in the Executive Director wherever it is lacking. Like St. Mary great project of justice, peace, and love From the Program Director It’s been another busy and downloaded the materials and begun the conversation! You productive year for FutureChurch can join them by going to http://catholicwomendeacons.org/ and our members! We’ve support/deaconchat and downloading your own packet today. accomplished so much together All of this is on top of the day-to-day work we do together of since I wrote to all of you last promoting optional celibacy, lifting up women leaders in the summer. early and today’s Church, working for justice in the Church, On All Saints Day last year, we and helping to save our parish communities! launched a ground-breaking But, there’s still more to come! I’m excited to tell you a little website, Catholic Women Preach, bit about two new projects that we have been working on that which provides video and text of women preaching for each will come to fruition in the next few months.