Call to Action
Call to Action (CTA) is an American progressive organization that advocates a variety of changes in the Catholic Church. Call To Action's goals are to change church disciplines and teachings in such areas as mandatory celibacy for priests, the male-only priesthood, the selection process for bishops and popes, and opposition to artificial contraception.[1]
The organisation has from its beginning inspired considerable controversy within the Catholic Church in the United States. Cardinal
History
In 1971, Pope Paul VI wrote that the laity of the Catholic Church should "take up as their own proper task the renewal of the temporal order". He further wrote that, "it is to all Christians that we address a fresh and insistent call to action."[2] In anticipation of the American bi-centennial, the bishops of the United States held a "Call to Action Conference" in Detroit, Michigan in 1976.
At the conclusion of the three-day conference, the 1,340 delegates voted that the Catholic Church should "reevaluate its positions on issues like celibacy for priests, the male-only clergy, homosexuality, birth control, and the involvement of every level of the church in important decisions," though they never explicitly proposed changing the Church's position on these issues.[3]
Russell Shaw describes the conference as "a raucous, controversial, non-representative dud."[4] Many bishops were unhappy with the results.[4]
As a result, the Call to Action organization that was born out of the Detroit conference was run by laity. Based in Chicago, it takes its name from the original conference. A conference of over 400 people was held in October 1978, and Chicago Call To Action was launched as a local organization.
Controversies
Ideological aspects
Call To Action's goals include 1) women's ordination, 2) an end to mandatory
This paragraph may be confusing or unclear to readers. (January 2015) |
In “Catholic Social Activism – Real or Rad/Chic?”, Father Andrew Greeley saw the old social- justice action in labor schools, worker priests, and community organizing that “mastered the politics of coalition building with the system.” [citation needed] On the other hand, the “new” Catholic action came out of the Berrigan brothers' experience during the Vietnam war and the peace movement, and was thus involved in confrontation and protest. Call to Action, it would seem represents that "new", tradition."[5]
This approach, however, is opposed by many Catholic groups.[6] "Call to Holiness", held its first conference in 1996 to oppose a conference organized by Call to Action.[7]
Reactions from the Catholic hierarchy and theologians
Catholic church leaders have also criticized Call to Action, primarily because they believe that the moral and juridical positions of the organization run counter to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Some, however, have given public support. At the 1995 Call to Action conference, for example, the former Bishop of Évreux now
In recent years,
Excommunications in Lincoln, Nebraska
Bishop
See also
- Voice of the Faithful
- FutureChurch
- "A Call To Action: Women, Religion, Violence, And Power", book advocates greater empowerment of women and equality
References
- ^ a b c Hansen, S.L. (December 8, 2006). "Vatican affirms excommunication of Call to Action members in Lincoln". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 2006-12-12. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
- ^ Pope Paul VI. ''Octogesima Adveniens, §48
- ^ a b "Shaw, Russell. "The Nadir of American Catholicism", Catholic Answers Magazine, Vol.22, no. 1". Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ^ Andrew Greeley, "Catholic Social Activism: Real or Rad/Chic?" The National Catholic Reporter February 7, 1975.
- ^ c.f. George A. Kelly, The Battle for the American Church (Doubleday, 1979), and Joseph Bottum, "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano", First Things, October 2006, pp. 30-31
- ^ "Call To Holiness". calltoholiness.com. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Reuters.French Against Vatican Sacking of "Red Cleric" Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine 17 January 1995
- ^ "Loyal Dissent". georgetown.edu. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "Chittister: One of a kind at Call to Action gathering". ncronline.org. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Arizona Daily Star, Jan. 30, 2007, online at [1] Archived February 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Statement issued by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz (published in Southern Nebraska Register, March 22, 1996
- ^ Associated Press, "Vatican Upholds Neb. Excommunications", at [2].[dead link]
- ^ "Vatican confirms excommunication for US dissident group", Catholic World News, December 7, 2006
- ^ "History", Call to Action
External links
- Call to Action official website
- Call to Action records, DePaul University Special Collections and Archives