Priest shortage hits home

I have listened to innumerable "sermons" on the priest shortage and how it is my responsibility as a Catholic woman to produce a male priest. We are told that our parish will soon be without a priest because we haven't produced enough priests. The other reason we aren't getting a priest is because we haven't built a new rectory -- which shows the archbishop just how important we think a priest is. He wants to build a $200,000 home in a small rural community where there may be one other house that would have that value. He doesn't seem to understand the scandal of that, or the inability of the people of this community to pay for it. How about a resource packet to look at some alternatives and to be able to talk facts and other experiences?

Mary Jac Rauh, Okeene, Okla.

We sent her the CTA/FutureChurch "Future of Priestly Ministry (FOPM)" Dialogue packet. Interested in working on the priest shortage issue in your area? Contact FOPM at 216 228-0869. euch2005@futurechurch.org


Less dogma, more love

My 15 year old son points out the encrustations of a medieval-created church, theology and world view and asks me why he should believe this bull----. I cry and ache inside when, unable to lie to him, I ask him to be patient. But inside I know that the real answer is I agree with him. I really want to show him a church that thinks less about dogma and more about love. I'm conditionally supporting you guys because any organization of Catholics whose members can be excommunicated merely for being a member must be doing something right.

Jim Nohelty, Silver Spring, Md.


A clergyless Church?

Did Jesus ever invent or even imagine the topheavy structure we have today? There is little evidence that any of the Twelve ever presided at the eucharist or performed official sacraments. Couldn't a clergyless church be created? Why worry that a shortage of ordained priests is a crisis? To ordain women into the present oppressive structure would be to crucify them. Many of the newly ordained emerge from the seminaries with more rigidity than Ratzinger. And there are already multiple males in place exercising authoritarianism in our chanceries, parishes and the Vatican. However, I am fully aware of some men who are thoroughly pastoral and take a back seat so that the people may exercise their priesthood and creativity. There are so many prophetic and pastoral women and men who could organize the flocks with strong leadership and enough structure to hold us together.

Rose Tillemans, 75 years old
Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Minneapolis


Dominicans back CTA

Your program is committed to the same values that we espouse in our Mission and Vision Statements. We are committed to hearing and proclaiming God's word, promoting the dignity of persons, and participating in the mission of the church through our call to teach, to heal, to serve and to transform oppressive structures. We offer this donation in support of your goals and ideals.

Joan Scanlon, OP, President,
Dominican Sisters, St. Catharine, Ky.


Ready to fight CTA

There are thousands of priests out there in TRADITIONAL seminaries such at the Fraternity of Saint Peter, Saint Pius V, Saint Pius X, and so on that are fighting you every step of the way. I myself will be entering in later on to take on the heretical quasi-Catholic movement that is CTA. Be prepared for a good fight. Pax.

JJV (e-mail)


Crossing the line

I would love to come to the conference this fall with my kids. I have recently returned to the Catholic church after 3 years at a Lutheran church; my husband and kids will probably return this summer. We can only survive church with support such as CTA and our peace and justice friends, because our county Catholic experience is b-o-r-i-n-g. I had planned to return to Ft. Benning, Ga. this November to protest the SOA (I crossed the line with the 601 last year) but this CTA conference sounds like such a valuable experience, so much I could learn and share with my communities here at home. We are planning on introducing a resolution in our state legislature to close SOA like New Jersey did.

Debi Covert-Bowlds, Ferndale, Wash.


Why I joined

Glad to see the emphasis on social justice. This is why I have decided to join CTA.

Maryanne Markiewicz, Cleveland, Ohio


Too sad to evangelize

I am sick of parishes that are not inclusive, that are nationalistic, supporters of war and embargos. I'm a total alien, a New Dealer, a radical civil rights supporter. There is no supportive message for me from the pulpit, no attack on sexism, racism, patriarchalism -- only on dissenters. The constant message is anti-abortion and evangelization. How can one evangelize with the overwhelming sadness at the present state of the church? I can't even evangelize myself. I continue in the church to receive the Eucharist. If they think I'm a cafeteria Catholic, so be it. My goal is to follow Jesus, to support the poor and peace and justice, to conserve my energies so that I may care for my adopted, medically fragile child. I await Vatican III and a new John XXIII.

Mary Muench, Center Moriches, N.Y.