Volume 25, Number 2    September 2003

 

An interview with Sheila and Dan Daley
Taking the pulse of Call To Action: What does the future hold?

In a candid Q & A with outgoing CTA board member Bob McClory, Dan and Sheila Daley, the co-founders and co-directors of National Call to Action, talk about their more than 25 years in church reform, why they're still in it, and the future of the movement.

Q: What do you consider the two major achievements of CTA?

Sheila: First, I think it's the support it's given. CTA has provided a community of support to leaders like Charles Curran, Bill Callahan, Joan Chittister and Jeannine Gramick who are speaking the truth about the church and theology. And it's provided support to thousands of people out in the parishes trying to hold on to the Vatican II vision. Second, CTA provides an infrastructure for the whole church reform movement ­ through our regional chapters (40 currently) all over the country, through our bringing together other reform groups like Women's Ordination Conference, Dignity, Corpus for regular discussion and planning, through our international connection with reform groups in Europe, Asia and Latin America, through our relationship with peace and justice organizations like Pax Christi, Network and others who attend our yearly conferences.

Q: Why have you stayed with it this long? Don't you get tired?

Dan: Before CTA I had experience in community organizations and found it exciting. Here I treasure the opportunity to work in an explicitly spiritual, faith-based organization where the aim is more wholistic: justice in the church and in society. Engaging with people I find inspirational ­ and it's fun too.

Sheila: Not always fun. But the church is a very important, influential institution; it's important work to make it a better, safer place for people.

Q: National polls consistently show the majority of Catholics agree with CTA positions on birth control, shared decision making, a married priesthood and just about everything else. Why aren't there more members?

Dan: We are in contact with a lot of people, especially church employees in key roles who do not connect with us visibly because they're afraid our positions will goof up their agenda. But they are with us, they are affirming, they are in contact with folks in the pews, and they fly under the radar of the institution.

Q: But membership is still so white, old and gray. Where are the young, the racial minorities?

Sheila: It's a fact that Catholics in their mid-50s and older have a strong sense of identity with the church. They see it as their church; they don't walk away. Younger Catholics see themselves with many choices beside the church, maybe another denomination or a certain kind of spirituality. Still, we have made great strides in gaining younger members (about 15 percent currently) through our Next Generation Outreach program. And this year we're seriously addressing racism in society, the church and our own organization (read the story here).

Q: Why not merge with Voice of the Faithful? It's grown so fast and it's pro reform.

Dan: We're supportive of VOTF. But it has chosen not to speak out on anything inconsistent with church teaching, so our roles are different. Of course, a lot of VOTF people are also CTA members.

Sheila: VOTF is drawing a lot of energy from the sex abuse scandal, but at the same time it's tapping into a lot of Catholics in the pews that we can't get to because we've been marginalized.

Q: Marginalized? By whom?

Sheila: We're regularly attacked by right-wing organizations like Human Life International and in the pages of The Wanderer newspaper. These people are always contacting bishops and writing to Rome about how evil we are. Priests and bishops who only know the accusations are therefore reluctant to identify with us.

Dan: Actually, some bishops are quietly supportive, and about five are members of CTA. Some have said they'll be more open in their support after they retire.

Q: As you see it, is the church going to change?

Dan: The church has already changed! We are the church; our positions are majority positions. A few years ago when Bishop Bruskewitz excommunicated CTA members in Lincoln, Neb., no other bishop publicly agreed with him. And our membership grew by 25 percent that year.

Q: Let me rephrase the question. Is the church in the Vatican going to change in your lifetimes?

Sheila: It depends on how long we live and how long Pope John Paul lives. We see our task as keeping the gospel alive in society and in the churches. That is fundamental and it's happening outside as well as inside the church. If there is no conversion of the institution, then Rome will be responsible for a major diminishment of Catholic Church membership.

Q: What would it take for Call To Action to close its doors for good?

Dan: If the church was reformed, if it had participation at all levels, if it was dedicated to peace and justice in the world and in the institution, if the climate of suspicion and secrecy was gone, it would be a new day.

Sheila: We should close if we were no longer carrying the gospel message and no longer assisting the laity in claiming their rightful place. But as long as we're an effective presence for these things we should continue. And I believe we are still effective.

Dan: (the last word) I agree.

 

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