Leave of absence
Please save yourself the postage for future newsletters. We are taking a leave of absence from the Catholic Church. We are tired of fighting a system that clearly will not be reformed in our lifetime. For now, we will be joining some other Christian church (possibly Lutheran) where more enlightened leadership prevails. This is a tough decision because the Catholic tradition in our families dates back as far as we can trace our roots. We have been very active in Marriage Encounter and other church-related organizations. But the fight is distracting us from our own spiritual growth and from the ecumenical work we can do to share God's message of love with those around us. We will return when the Holy Spirit has enlightened the bishop of Rome and his cronies.
Gene and Nancy Gardner, Christiansburg, Va. via Internet

She's back!
This comes from a founding member of CTA Nebraska who resigned from CTA when threatened with excommunication by the bishop of Lincoln, Neb. last May.

Please change my inactive membership to an active membership. Women are now scheduled to read in my home parish. Well, five women are reading. About one each month. But we are reading. At the pastor's "discretion" women are kept from reading more often. He has refused to distinguish between "discretion" and "discrimination" in keeping women from the lectern. I guess I am weary of researching, sending papal pronouncements, and citing Vatican II documents. I can foresee no change as long as we have our current pastor. Our dreadful liturgies continue without complaint from anyone but me. I can see no reason to continue my inactive membership. I join my friends in CTA's exclusive club and on the bishop's list.
Rosalind K. Carr, Lincoln, Neb.

That all may be one
I called your office and they said we didn't have to be Roman Catholic to join, so here's my membership application. I have been a fan for some time. We thank God for those of you struggling for change from within. Our mission is to minister to those have been excommunicated or who have been marginalized, discouraged, turned off, or alienated. We have taken the program of CTA and just done it. We pray for the day (under a future Pope, I'm sure) when we again can all be one. Let me know how I can help you in your cause.
Bishop Robert M. Bowman, United Catholic Church, Melbourne Beach, Fla.

Seeking a community
Recently you sent me a directory of Call To Action. Thank you! I'm wondering...l'm a retired man, free to live anywhere I choose. I'd really like to live in a religion-oriented residential community. Are you aware of any such communities? Catholic or ecumenical?
Tony Leahy, Oceanside, Calif.

Ed. note: There is an Intentional Communities Website which lists 700 communities, not all faith-based. It's at http://www.psc.lsa.umich.edu/~elph/guestbooks/reachbook.html