For Immediate Release
March 13, 2013
Will Pope Francis “Rebuild our Church”?
Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR) joins with the Roman Catholic Church around the world in welcoming Francis I as the next Pope.
Now in its 21st year, COR is a leadership forum of US national organizations to further reform and renewal in the Roman Catholic Church, to build an inclusive church, and to bring about a world of justice and peace. Though representing a variety of constituencies, we are united in our commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our love of the Church.
It is our conviction that much needs to change, if the Church is to be a vehicle for carrying the Gospel into the future.We pray that Pope Francis I will begin the much-needed task of initiating measures that will enable the Gospel to flourish in today’s world.
As this papal ministry begins, we respectfully highlight some of the issues that cry out from the People of God:
• The need to put accountability measures in place regarding sexual abuse and cover-up
• Establishing collaboration and respect at all levels of our Church
• Ensuring involvement of lay people in Church governance and ministry
• Incorporating women at all levels of ministry and decision-making, including ordination
• Opening ministry to people in relationships and marriages
• Developing a sensible Church teaching on human sexuality, and respecting individual conscience in matters of sexuality and reproduction
• Restoring a focus on social justice concerns, such as poverty, war, the environment and basic human rights
We pray that this will be a moment of true renewal throughout our Church. And, as COR, we dedicate ourselves and pray for a return to the early Christian community’s “discipleship of equals” rather than continuing a medieval, monarchical structure, so out of touch with its people. May Pope Francis I be blessed in serving the needs of the People of God and find inspiration from his namesake, Francis of Assisi, to “rebuild the church.”
Participating Groups:
American Catholic Council (Sheila Peiffer)
Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (Joseph Boyle)
Call To Action (Nicole Sotelo)
Catholics for Choice (Jon O’Brien)
Catholics Speak Out (Dolly Pomerleau)
CORPUS (Anthony Padovano)
DignityUSA (Marianne Duddy-Burke)
Federation of Christian Ministries/RCFCC (Tom Cusack)
FutureChurch (Sr. Chris Schenk)
Pax Christi-Maine (William Slavick)
RAPPORT (Gloria Ulterino)
Roman Catholic Womenpriests (Barbara Zeman)
Southeastern PA Women’s Ordination Conference (ReginaBannan)
Women’s Ordination Conference (Erin Hanna)
