Catholic Church Reform International

Press Releases

Francis wants us to move away from that monarchical model

by | Feb 15, 2020 |

After extensive discussion about Querida Amazonia, the strategy team and advisors of Catholic Church Reform Int’l have moved from passionate disappointment in Pope Francis to a realization that it not his style to make a papal decree about such critical matters as married priesthood and the role of women. The church he is advocating is a synodal church, i.e. one that walks together. 

“I think the pope is looking for a deeper change,” said Fr. Joe Healey, our associate in Nigeria. “He wants us to move away from that monarchical model and engage the whole church in the process of discernment on issues like bringing back the female diaconate. You can’t achieve synodality if you continually look to the pope to make the tough calls.

Bishops Must Share Their Authority if the Sex Abuse Crisis is to be Resolved

by | Dec 6, 2018 |

Recognizing the bishops’ inability to credibly evaluate their own performance, Cardinal Blase Cupich and others representing the hierarchy of the Church are urging fellow bishops to accept leadership from lay people to make this evaluation credible. Catholic Church Reform Int’l (CCRI) believes the summit called for 21-24 February 2019 in Rome by Pope Francis with the heads of all the bishops conferences represents an opportunity which should not be missed: not only to assure that universal safeguards will be put in place, but also to provide for an ongoing role for lay leadership in the Church.

Advocates for Reform See Continuity in Comments of Pope Francis on Women’s Ordination

by | Nov 8, 2016 |

People in reform organizations from North America, India, Africa, Europe and Oceana have responded with care to what Pope Francis is saying about women’s ordination. Along with Pope Francis, reformers recognize that in the current teaching of the Church, the Magisterium is without authority to ordain women.  This teaching, as expressed by Pope John Paul II in his apostolic letter of 1994, is an impediment to full removal of gender discrimination from priestly ministry.  For many faithful conservatives, current teaching is part of the deposit of faith.  As reformers see it, Francis has a fiduciary responsibility for a worldwide Church, and this responsibility includes consideration of these members of the faithful as well as consideration of those who see gender discrimination in priestly ministry as contrary to the whole of Christ’s teaching. 

When asked if he saw the ordination of women as something that would “never, ever” happen, Francis said that John Paul’s apostolic letter “goes in that direction.” This is consistent with the obligation upon a fiduciary to preserve continuity over the course of a history which continues to respond to the Spirit of Christ.  Reformers see his words as still another in a long series of invitations for the “grassroots” to follow through on their heritage as full members of the People of God, serving as a channel for the Church to listen more closely to the voice of the Spirit.  Reformers note that the Biblical Commission appointed in 1976 by Pope Paul VI found nothing in the New Testament which prohibits the ordination of women, a conclusion which leaves the question of women’s ordination open for further reflection.

Amoris Laetitia gives hope at the grass roots for a more responsive Church

by | May 8, 2016 |

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rene Reid
775-825-9196 Rene.Reid@CatholicChurchReformIntl.org

Catholic Church Reform International (CCRI) is both hopeful and disappointed in what Pope Francis has said in his Apostolic Exhortation, but in the end finds encouragement for current efforts to promote more participation by the grass roots in the governance of the Church.

There are many signs of hope in the document, which (1) urges church leaders to move away from being rigid enforcers of doctrine to become nurturing pastors (##305-312); elevates transformative love and tenderness over “dry and lifeless doctrine” (#59) and recognizes that “a general law or rule … is not enough to discern and ensure full fidelity to God … as to matters of detail” (#304) (2) reaffirms that “every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration” (#250); (3) recognizes that “a negative judgment about an objective situation does not imply a judgment about … the culpability of the person involved (#302) and that “individual conscience needs to be better incorporated into the Church’s praxis in certain situations which do not objectively embody our understanding of marriage” (#303); exhorts the clergy to accompany people and dialogue with them, most especially with those who do not live the reality of an ideal marriage (#293); (4) acknowledges that we could draw from the experience of the broad oriental tradition of a married clergy (#202); and (5) reinforces the sanctity of personal conscience (#222) and the obligation of pastors “to encourage an ever greater trust in God’s grace” (#303) and “to form consciences, not to replace them” (#37).

Press Releases 2015

by | Oct 30, 2015 |

NCR article on CCRI, Feb. 27, 2015: International Church Group enters Synoy fray with "alternative survey" Press Release Feb 27, 2015: International Church Group enters synod fray with 'alternative' survey Press Release Feb. 26, 2015: Announcing CCRI Survey to replace...

Press Releases 2014

by | Dec 31, 2014 |

  COR Press release 09-30-14 COR sending the voices of the people to the Synod. Press Release 09-09-14 announcing CCRI's plan to hold Forum in Rome during Upcoming Synod on the Family Press Release 06-23-14 expressing CCRI's dismay at the just released Instrumentum...