Common Ground goes local

The Catholic Common Ground Initiative (CCGI) founded by the late Cardinal Bernardin now has video-assisted resources for parishes to start their own CCGI dialogues on the neuralgic issues that divide Catholics. The Vatican II Center in Allen, Tex., already known to CTAers for its "Vatican II in Plain English" workshops and materials, now has a product line called "Voices of the Catholic Common Ground:" a $29.95 3-session interactive video with leader's guide on forming a CCGI group, a $1.99 participant workbook, and a $9.95 introductory 20-minute video about CCGI, with footage of Bernardin and other founding CCGI speakers. Vatican II Center staff introduced the materials and found interest among regional CTA leaders meeting in Chicago March 8. The hope is that the materials, developed in partnership with CCGI staff at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City, will provide the method, spirituality and principles of dialogue. The local groups can then pour in their own issues, add their own people with polarized viewpoints, and stir.

Vatican II Center, P.O. Box 7000
Allen TX 75013-1305.
Call 800 822-6701. Website: RCLWeb.com

National Common Ground too polite

At the national level, CCGI may not be faring so well. CTA's Bob McClory covered their conference March 6-8 near Milwaukee for the National Catholic Reporter, and later told CTA News he felt the leaders still haven't brought together those who really disagree on the mission and role of the church. The topic was church authority in U.S. culture, but McClory found the participants unwilling to address sensitive areas. "Despite the presence of Jesuit Fr. Avery Dulles and Michael Novak, both staunch conservatives, a spirit of unrelieved gentility animated the meeting," Bob said. "It is difficult to imagine how the issues that divide Catholics will ever be solved if the concerned persons discussing them are so centrist and so polite that they are unable to engage in real debate."

Leaven rises in Denver

The excellent bi-monthly progressive Catholic newsletter in the Denver archdiocese is still in business. Struggling financially, Leaven asked its 382 subscribers for help. $7,000 came in from just 145 donors. Editors are John Kane and Kathy Coffey. Subscriptions are $15 from 8790 W. 35th Ave., Wheat Ridge CO 80033. Leaven is a staunch ally of Rocky Mountain CTA. It also promotes "Mile High Conversations," a conference organized by Dick Ling as a progressive alternative to the archconservative diocesan Mile High event. Ling's 1998 event will be Oct. 2-3 at a Denver hotel. Charles Curran and Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz are speakers.

Hearings for happy heretic?

Australian Fr. Paul Collins, MSC, under investigation by Cardinal Ratzinger's doctrinal commission for alleged errors in his book, "Papal Power," told CTA News, "I have asked my local provincial of the MSCs (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart) to join me in putting up a plan to the Bishops' Committee on Doctrine and Morals to examine the book with me in a public hearing to which the media and public can come. That will frighten the horses -- and model participative Church!" A nationally known religious broadcaster on Australian television, the genial priest is getting steady media attention as "the happy heretic." Collins will be a speaker at the CTA conference Oct. 30- Nov. 1 in Milwaukee.

"Bridging the Gap"

That was the title of the landmark theological debate about homosexuality and Catholicism sponsored last Dec. 6 by New Ways Ministry at Georgetown University, despite attempts by Washington's Cardinal James Hickey to get the event cancelled. The four-hour presidential -style debate featured a spectrum of theological views: a magisterial position from James Hanigan, a revisionist one from Richard McCormick, SJ, and a egalitarian approach from John McNeill. Hard questions came from a panel of professional journalists. The result? Mercy Sister Camille D'Arienzo, the moderator, said "My guess is that the outcome won't be as much in the speaking as in the listening."
Listen yourself, by ordering the 4-hour, 2-cassette audio recording for $24.95 postpaid. Call New Ways Ministry at 301 277-5674.

Ann O'Hara Graff honored

The Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) has established an Ann O'Hara Graff Memorial Award to recognize theologians who bring together academic insight and lived experience. Theologian Graff, who died two years ago at age 45, was an early CTA insider in Chicago, bringing practical theological insights as a board member, speaker, on the women's issue committee and in the pages of CTA publications. Graff was instrumental in developing the Women's Seminar of CTSA.