Posted on 01/19/2008 3:22:23 PM PST by NYer
For months the leaders of Call to Action have been collecting signatures on a petition to the US bishops' conference, demanding action against Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, who has refused to play along with the "audits" required by the Dallas Charter.
Pause here for a bit of background:
So what's the point? Payback, possibly.
Back in 1996, Bishop Bruskewitz announced the excommunication of Call to Action members in his diocese.
Is this picture coming into focus now? Good.
Anyway CTA went on a nationwide drive to collect signatures, and after several months the group had 1,000 names on the petition. That's one-- count 'em, one-- thousand Catholics, or roughly 0.0015% of the Catholics living in the US. Are you impressed? If so, consider that loyal Catholics in Lincoln, Nebraska collected 1,500 signatures within 2 days on a petition to support their bishop.
With this petition in hand, CTA leaders marched down to the US bishops' meeting in Washington, asking to speak to the folks in charge. But CTA leaders report that "we were promised that an official would meet with us but nobody came." To be sure, there was some consolation:
Nevertheless, we have been grateful for the media coverage …
Ah, yes; the media. What would CTA do without the coverage?
Maybe we'll soon find out, because CTA leaders have now written to Chicago's Cardinal George, the new president of the US bishops' conference, reiterating their demand for action against Bishop Bruskewitz. Carbon copies went to at least 7 reporters. (And probably more. Uncle Di has obtained a copy, and as you might suspect, he isn't the first entry in the CTA Rolodex.) The letter asks Cardinal George for a response by February 15.
And if the cardinal doesn't respond? The threat is implicit: The CTA will go to the media. Again. On the theory that if you advertise a Grand Opening enough times for the Edsel showroom, sooner or later the customers are bound to show up.
Good bishop! Prayers for him.
Diocese of Lincoln
Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz
P.O. Box 80328
Lincoln, NE 68501
If I had the money I'd send roses...
Diocese of Lincoln
Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz
P.O. Box 80328
Lincoln, NE 68501
If I had the money I'd send roses...
Say a prayer to St. Therese - she'll take care of it for you :-)
Speaking of MN, my pastor just returned from retreat. The guest speaker was Archbishop Flynn from Minneapolis-St. Paul. As it turns out, Archbishop Flynn is originally from Troy, NY where our parish is located. Father said his presentations were deeply spiritual and got him wondering how he ever escaped the Albany diocese :-).
Bears would use it for tp?
| A Call to Action | The most visible dissenting group which is a movement of laity and religious seeking to reform the "sinful structure" of the "patriarchal" Church. One could call them the "mother of all dissenting groups" - feminist pun intended. CTA is infamous since its 1994 conference coverage on the CBS news program 60 Minutes. CTA promotes dissent against Church teachings on a broad front, including women's ordination, homosexuality, creation spirituality, married priesthood, and liturgical reforms, while incorporating new age and Wiccan spirituality. Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated those that belong to this group in his Diocese. Many members belong to local groups called "small faith communities." Renew 2000 also promotes small faith communities. Membership draws heavily from former clergy, feminist nuns, and homosexuals. Members staff COR. CTA serves on the national task force for the We Are Church referendum. Get a more complete understanding of their position from their own information. For a list of their speakers at the 2004 conference, click here. |
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