CTA honors memory of John Paul II, calls for a new direction

CTA News goes to press April 6, two days before the funeral of Pope John Paul II. CTA's national press statement over the weekend paid tribute to the pontiff for “uncompromising calls for justice and peace” that frequently included denunciations of U.S. military power, most recently in the invasion of Iraq, and challenges to the U.S. and other wealthy nations to relieve the suffering of the world's poor. “But within the Church his reign was characterized by Vatican domination of Church government,” the statement said, an authoritarian approach which stifled “energy and creativity.” CTA called for an equally strong successor who, unlike John Paul, will “fulfill the progressive mandate of Vatican II.” CTA's comments were quoted on CNN worldwide, and in dozens of newspapers from the Seattle Times to the Miami Herald. CTA spokesperson, Linda Pieczynski, was interviewed by the international BBC on both radio and television.

Another CTA press statement in midweek addressed more directly the qualities needed in the next pope. He must be “a leader who listens to all the people of the Church” and turns to the laity for wisdom on “matters left undone by the previous pope, especially on issues of human sexuality.” He must take action on the priest shortage, and admit the necessity of lifting the mandatory celibacy rule. (Take a survey on what's important in a new pope by clicking here.)

He must also be “a healer who will reach out to victims of sexual abuse.” John Paul II was widely perceived to have underestimated the gravity of the abuse, especially in New England when he honored the disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston with a Vatican appointment.
Diagnosing the clergy sex abuse crisis, the National Review Board recommended that there be lay involvement in the selection of bishops. CTA urged election of a pope who will follow that advice.

Despite the previous pope’s ban on discussing women’s ordination, CTA reasserted that “integrating women fully into all church ministries is an issue of justice and equality for all members of the Church that will not go away. Women will be closely monitoring the next pope on the issue.”

An Associated Press poll April 1-3 found 60 percent of American Catholics want the next pope to allow married priests and women priests.

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