The following article was written by freelance Brazilian journalist, Luis Miguel Modino Sister Roselei Bertoldo receives international recognition See also Catholic Church Reform International, a global network with more than a hundred groups, with supporters in 65...

Clerical Sex Abuse Scandal Despite the slowness of reforming our Church, some changes are beginning to take place. No doubt, the entire year has been overshadowed by the clergy sex abuse scandal. Tribunals are slowly being established in dioceses around the globe though only headed by laity in not-nearly-enough instances. We’re happy to see Francis lift the papal secrecy rule on this abuse. Follow Australia’s lead, New Zealand implemented own Royal Commission to investigate this matter. So far, 1400 victims have come forward to talk to the Commission. The members plan to have a temporary report out by the end of 2020 and the final by 2023. There is talk among the laity of this also leading to a Plenary Council for this country.

Live stream to hear  Sr. Joan Chittister and Mary McAleese in conversation On November 2, you can listen to Sister Joan Chittister OSB and Dr Mary McAleese, live in conversation at Dublin's Trinity College. You can live stream this event by clicking...

You are invited to become an active member of CCRI Whether you are a former Catholic no longer affiliated with the institutional Church, or appalled by the clerical sex abuse crisis, feeling excluded due to being divorced and remarried, a young adult who feels that your life issues are not being addressed by the church, wanting something more than just Sunday church, or someone who is seeking a more personal community, we hope that you join us in one or both of two ways that may enhance your own faith experience in today’s world.

Not since Vatican II has there been a groundswell of bishops willing to respond to the rumblings of the Spirit among the people. Relying on the bishops for initiative is like waiting for Godot. We need more initiative from the grass roots.

The American Catholic Council is organizing such an initiative to give voice to rumblings of the Spirit among the people, picking up on its 2011 conference in Detroit. The first step is to get really good at listening in small groups. Not dialogue as much as listening to one another. It isn’t a conference but a “working weekend” to learn listening skills well enough as a foundation to practice the art of “listening circles” and return home to put them into practice.

Resurrecting our Church (the Body of Christ today)

The Paschal Mystery is still alive today.

We have countless opportunities to bring new life where there is death. As we live through the death and resurrection of Jesus during this sacred season, let us look inwards to see what each of us can do to be true followers of Jesus and to give new life to our Church. We at CCRI have moved from exerting so much energy into “reforming” the institutional church. Rather, we are focused on “re-founding” our church in the spirit of the early Christians. In that first century after Jesus ascended into Heaven, there were small gatherings of Christians with an anointed leader. They were simply followers of Jesus meeting in catacombs and in Christian homes doing what Jesus asked: remembering him by replicating the last supper. In all likelihood, this gathering was not just 12 men but included women and children as well.

Colm Holmes with We Are Church Ireland commissioned this picture to be painted

Reactions to the Bishops Conference  

Now that the Bishops Conference on the protection of minors is over, here are the reactions that have come in so far.

Concrete changes are coming from women, not from the hierarchy

As the anti-abuse summit of the Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences ends in Rome, the consensus emerges that the most powerful voices belonged to the survivors gathered in Rome, and the few women whose voices were heard in and around the Vatican. 

But the question still remains: Will anything change?

                                                                                                                                     February 18, 2019 Join our Prayers for the Bishops Conference    As preparations are being made for the all-important Bishops...

December 30, 2018

Clerical Sex Abuse Conference called by Pope Francis with heads of Bishops Conferences

We have been in communication with Fr. Hans Zollner, a Jesuit priest, a German theologian and psychologist, and one of the leading experts on sexual abuse working in the Catholic Church. He is one of the planners for the February summit called by Pope Francis with heads of all the Bishops’ Conferences worldwide to address the issue of the Sex Abuse Crisis. Fr. Zollner has invited us to provide input to the organizing committee. This is our opportunity to have direct involvement in this critical gathering. We have drafted the letter below and would appreciate your support by sending this letter on to your bishop and local media.

If you are a young person, or have a friend, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or relative, we invite you to join or have them Join an online gathering of young people around the world Saturday, November 3rd, 2018 Pope Francis called a Synod on Youth which has been...