History of Catholic Church Reform International through the media and press releases
Catholic Church Reform Int’l (CCRI) was founded in June 2013 shortly after the election of Pope Francis by Rene Reid and Robert Blair Kaiser. A teleconference was held in early September with over 60 reform-minded leaders on the call representing about ten different countries. There the members determined that, despite our many different causes, we shared one thing in common: our commitment that the People of God deserved to have a determinative voice in the governance of our Church. They wrote a letter on behalf of all of all the members to Pope Francis to this effect: https://catholicchurchreformintl.org/seeking-dialogue-with-the-pope-and-our-bishops/
In early September, 2013 a press release was held in multiple cities around the globe announcing this joint effort: https://catholicchurchreformintl.org/reform-groups/
By July 2014, CCRI organized an event in Rome to coincide with the Bishops Synod on the Family. The event was promoted in the National Catholic Reporter (NCR): https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/where-i-stand/invited-or-not-here-they-come.
In October 2014, the event occurred during a two-day event near the Pantheon. It was covered in several media sources:
National Catholic Reporter: Catholic Church Reform’s alternate gathering on the family highlights lay vocation | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org).
Boston Globe – Crux, October 3, 2014 https://cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/reformers-to-pope-francis-dont-wait-for-the-bishops
NCR, Josh McElewee, October 2, 2014 Reform group in Rome calls for family input at synod | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)
Where is the democracy at the synod on the family? | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)
Afterwards, the group gathered in St. Peter’s Square https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=415943227367104&set=a.415943194033774.
As CCRI raises our banner asking for Families to have a vote in Family Synods, we are surrounded by the gendarmes. The Vatican police took the passport of organizer, Rene Reid, which garnered the support of the other reformers gathered. After what seemed like an eternity of a couple of hours, they returned her passport and gave the group permission to hold up sign: “Families must have vote in Family Synod.”
October 24, 2014: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-asking-us-take-sides
A year later, in February 2015, CCRI was again in the media: Global church reform group backs US request for married priests dialogue | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)
February 27, 2015 https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/international-church-group-enters-synod-fray-alternative-survey
April 8, 2016: Press release: Amoris Laetitia gives hope at the grass roots for a more responsive Church – Catholic Church Reform International (catholicchurchreformintl.org)
August 17, 2017 Church reform groups support call for Year of the Laity | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)
June 4, 2023 Disappointed in how the US Conference of Bishops conducted their Region XVI Continental Synod, CCRI is taking action to have a member of this gathering chosen to participate in the General Assembly in Rome CCRI calls for a reform-minded Catholic representing U.S. Region XVI to be included in the Synod in Rome this October – Catholic Church Reform International (catholicchurchreformintl.org)