IN THIS ISSUE From Defamation to Feast Day by Russ Petrus ........................................ p. 3 AUSCP and FutureChurch by Fr. Bob Bonnot ....................................... p. 8 Gender Justice in the Church by Ann Burns ....................................... p. 11 Commission on Women Deacons Offers a New Opportunity by Luke Hansen SJ ................................ p. 16 What the Mary Project Means to Me by Judith Davis, Ph.D ..................... p. 22 Focus NO.1 XIX 2016 / VOL. SUMMER/FALL From the Director’s Desk Pesky Women, Troublemakers, and Dreamers Special Edition! He [Jesus] said, “In a certain city there SIGNPOSTS FOR REFORM: was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city REMEMBERING BEGINNINGS, there was a widow who kept coming CELEBRATING MILESTONES to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he AND EQUIPPING OURSELVES refused; but later he said to himself, FOR THE FUTURE ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this In this special edition we widow keeps bothering me, I will grant highlight 2016 milestones her justice, so that she may not wear in the Catholic Church— me out by continually coming.’” (Lk 18:2-5) comfortable and disrupting systems advances made after that no longer bring life. decades of education When I think of all that is being and advocacy by accomplished in terms of gender On May 12, 2016, in response to justice in the Catholic Church these questions from the “pesky” women of FutureChurch supporters. days, I think of the many “pesky” the International Union of Superiors The elevation of the Catholics who cared enough to be General (UISG), Pope Francis agreed a “bother”. In the interminably to set up a commission to study the memorial of St. Mary of slow grind toward systemic change restoration of women deacons. And in Magdala to a feast day in the institutional Church, those short order by any Vatican standard, and the creation of a with authority sometimes fit Luke’s on August 2nd he announced that commission by Pope Francis the commission would be composed description of the judge perfectly. to look at the question of There are people who care little for of six women and six men, including anything other than preserving their world renowned expert, Phyllis Zagano. women deacons inspired corner on power. Yet, Luke reminds Good news for Catholics who are us to look back at our roots us that even those vested with eager to see women deacons restored, and recall those nascent Zagano is another “pesky” woman authority—especially those who close efforts by FutureChurch themselves off, will not have the last whose appointment is a sign that word. Those who are vulnerable, Francis is willing to listen, learn and members to recover lost without institutional power—the explore the possibilities beyond the stories, heal old wounds “pesky” widows—will come calling— previous conclusions of a small group and advocate for change causing trouble, wearing down the of high level naysayers within the Vatican. in the Church we love. continued on page 2 SUMMER 2016 | ONE From the Director’s Desk continued from page 1 Focus on FutureChurch EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Deborah Rose-Milavec EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: Sr. Diana Culbertson, OP BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR: Marie Graf VICE-CHAIR: Mary Lou Hartman TREASURER: Todd Ray Sr. Carmen Sammut SECRETARY: Jocelyn Collen and Pope Francis— FINANCE CHAIR: Todd Ray CNS photo PROGRAM CHAIR: Sr. Diana Culbertson, OP Catholics received more good news on June 3, 2016, when PERSONNEL CHAIR: E. Thomas Dowd the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a new decree MEDIA CHAIR: Mary Lou Hartman STRATEGIC ISSUES CHAIR: Rita L. Houlihan at the behest of Pope Francis, raising the celebration of AT LARGE St. Mary Magdalene from a memorial to a feast day. That Lisa Barczyk • Fr. Gerry Bechard decree established her as an equal among her peers – the Sr. Diana Culbertson, OP apostles. The news was another sign that the patriarchal E. Thomas Dowd • Rita Houlihan • Natalia Imperatori Lee norms that have governed our Church no longer suffice as a Andrea Koverman, S.C.• Phil Marcin way forward. Elated Catholics around the world celebrated EX OFFICIO with a renewed sense of hope that true equality in the Deborah Rose-Milavec Catholic Church is achievable. EMERITA Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ Pope Francis deserves credit for his decision to create a THANKS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR commission to study women deacons and for his efforts NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES to officially reboot the Church’s understanding of Mary of CATHOLIC WOMEN PREACH Magdala, but honestly, he is reaping the wisdom, witness Go to catholicwomenpreach.org to find advisory board and work of many Catholic women and men who, long members before his election were surfacing a new consciousness OPTIONAL CELIBACY for women’s equality. They untangled the true history of Fr. Gerry Bechard, Detroit, MI • Rosanne Santos, women leaders like Mary of Magdala from the destructive Hanover, NH Fr. Jim Sheil, Avon, OH • Phil Marcin, Akron, OH images and tales that delegitimized their authority, Linda Marcin, Akron, OH reminded us of how many women feel called to be deacons, RE-IMAGINING MARY OF NAZARETH and prepared the ground for a life-sustaining future when Mary Christine Athans , BVM • Diana Culbertson,OP women can lead and govern as equals alongside their • Judith Davis • Penelope Duckworth • Astrid Lobo Gajiwala • Natalia Imperatori-Lee • Allisyn G. Kateusz brothers in the Church. • Therese Kortubush • Jeanette Rodriguez • Mary F. Thurlkill So, today, I, along with thousands of Catholics around the WOMEN IN CHURCH LEADERSHIP world, celebrate what Pope Francis has done to create a Marianne Bernard, Clarkston, MI • Tom Blanks, more incisive female presence in the Church. But more Hercules, CA • Jocelyn Collen, Boston, MA than that, I celebrate the vision and pioneering work of Patricia Gomez,Tewksbury, MA women like Sr. Chris Schenk, Phyllis Zagano, Marie Graf Rita L. Houlihan, New York, NY • Astrid Lobo Gajiwala, Mumbai, India • Elizabeth McGahan, and the earliest dreamers, prophets and laborers who St. John’s New Brunswick, Canada • Virginia Saldanha, cared enough to be a “bother” and who laid the foundation Mumbai, India • Robin Senior, Syosset, NY for these noteworthy developments. They dreamed new FOCUS is a semiannual publication dreams, healed old wounds and tenaciously carried forward of FutureChurch, a national organization of parish centered Catholics working for full participation of all the vision, even when it was lonely, so that the Church Catholics in the life of the Church. The newsletter might be whole, holy and more fully equipped to carry out features information and commentary related to the the work of the Gospel. mission of FutureChurch and reports on Church reform issues not prominently covered elsewhere. No advertisements are accepted, though letters to the editor are always welcome. FutureChurch is a 501(c)3 DEBORAH ROSE-MILAVEC not-for-profit organization. Parts of this publication may Executive Director be reprinted after obtaining written permission from FutureChurch. ©FutureChurch 2015 GRAPHIC DESIGN: Maryanne Hiti Design LLC Printed on Recycled Paper 17307 Madison Avenue Lakewood OH 44107 216- TWO | SUMMER 2016 228-0869 email: [email protected] Visit our website www.futurechurch.org From Defamation to Feast Day FutureChurch’s Campaign to Reclaim the True Mary of Magdala On June 10, proclaim his Resurrection, she was an important leader and 2016, the Vatican evangelist in the early Christian community. announced that The centuries-long effort to discredit Mary of Magdala Pope Francis began in 4th century when the Emperor Constantine made elevated the July Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire, prompting 22nd observance the Church to move away from the inclusive practices of of Mary of Magdala Jesus, St. Paul, and the earliest Christian communities from a memorial to and embrace the patriarchal norms of the Roman Empire. a liturgical feast. FutureChurch, which has initiated several As knowledge of Jesus’ many women disciples and projects to restore St. Mary of Magdala to her rightful place women leaders in the early Christian community began as the “Apostle to the Apostles” over the last 19 years, im- to fade from historical memory, Mary of Magdala’s history mediately released a statement joining Catholics around was combined with at least two other women (Mary of the world in applauding the change, which places Mary of Bethany and the anonymous woman of Luke 7:36-50) Magdala’s feast on par with those of the male apostles. resulting in what scholars today call the “composite “Twenty years ago FutureChurch first initiated our ongo- Mary.” Pope St. Gregory I first officially propagated this ing project to restore St. Mary of Magdala to her rightful fallacy during a homily he delivered in around 591: place as the ‘Apostle to the Apostles,” and leaders of the Church now recognize her for her role as the primary She whom Luke calls the sinful woman, whom John witness to the Resurrection and a key figure in our salvation calls Mary, we believe to be the Mary from whom seven history with equal standing to her male counterparts,” said devils were ejected according to Mark. What did these FutureChurch Executive Director, Deborah Rose-Milavec. (Read seven devils signify, if not all the vices? It is clear, that FutureChurch’s full statement at https://futurechurch.org/ the woman previously used the unguent to perfume her feast.) flesh in forbidden acts. What she therefore displayed more scandalously, she was now offering to God in a The decree announcing the change, which was issued by more praiseworthy manner. She had coveted with earthly the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline eyes, but now through penitence these are consumed of the Sacraments, calls the entire Church “to reflect in with tears.