Shirley Osterhaus fired as campus minister, and silenced but the young adults she mentored are speaking out
Shirley Osterhaus, for 15 years the very popular director of campus ministry at the Shalom Center of Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash., was abruptly sacked Apr. 14 by Seattle Archbishop Alexander Brunett. Students tell CTA she was fired after a conservative first-year priest kept complaining about her liturgical “sins”, like using inclusive language and preaching at Mass. Despite the shortage of priests, a priest was put in her place. (John McCoy, who was archdiocesan public affairs officer under Archbishops Hunthausen and Murphy, says Brunett wants only priests leading parishes, and is removing lay parish leaders as a matter of policy, even though Seattle used to run a model program for training parish lay leadership.)
Students have organized a powerful protest movement, meeting each week, leafletting the Seattle cathedral, reaching out to Bellingham parishes, peppering the press with letters, repeatedly asking the archbishop to meet with them. CTA Western Washington and CTA National are part of the continuing protests. The voices of young adults, particularly women, testify to the vibrant faith community led by Shirley Osterhaus. Here are some examples:
She empowers others to live faith
From a letter to the archbishop from Janet Baker, a former student:
Shirley is one of the few Catholic leaders I’ve met who empowers others to live full and true the life that Jesus has taught us to live. I learned how to pray, sing, share, live the Catholic faith with pride from Shirley and the members of the Shalom Center. Meeting Shirley was a defining point in my life. I was able to make sense of the church and grow in passion for its great works.
After graduation, I chose to become a member of the Channel Program by becoming a youth minister at Assumption and Sacred Heart parishes in Bellingham. The time I spent as a youth minister was challenging and memorable. I chose to leave youth ministry for a few reasons, but the one that haunts me is the emotional abuse I suffered as a lay young woman minister in the church. The action taken against Shirley forces me to be silent no longer about the way I feel as a woman in the church as well as a lay minister. I was belittled, patronized, manipulated, often interrupted, and ignored. I watched similar treatment of my co-workers.
As a child, I can remember beaming with pride because I was Catholic. I belonged to a nice big family, something special. The longer I live, the more I understand the dysfunction of this family. I will not deny my family, but I must speak up about the injustice, hurt, and abuse. I have been given the message that women are second rate in my family and told my opinion is obut the young adults she mentored are speaking out no validity. I have a voice. We are many parts in this body and none can function without the other. How can we continue to crush the oppressed when we claim to be a church of justice?
No concrete reason has been given for Shirley’s termination. I feel the manner in which it was executed was heartless and an action taken in fear. I believe the archdiocese and the priests involved have unjustly ordered silence from Shirley and other lay ministers. Archbishop Brunett, listen to the voices of the people. I am a young adult who is ashamed of the choices you have made.
She serves “the People Church”
From a talk given by Noreen Bucknum, former student:
I have known Shirley for six years as a friend, mentor, and spiritual advisor. When I have been in need, Shirley was always one of the first to respond. Had I been treated in this way, Shirley’s voice would be calling for justice.
Shirley has been the kind of leader that every religious community should have. She has let the people shape the culture and direction of their own community. She often uses the phrase “the People Church,” to emphasize that we are the church, not the rituals or traditions or symbolism; those things are meaningless without a community gathered to celebrate. She provided us with opportunities for growth: Tijuana trips, women’s spirituality, Search retreats, connecting us with community organizations, involving people who weren’t Catholic. When young people come to her with questions of faith or spirituality, she doesn’t attempt to tell them the answers; she supports them as they explore their faith. When they come up with answers, she challenges them to ask more questions. My faith today is stronger for having questioned it with her guidance.
She has an undying commitment to service, justice, and simplicity. Her example has been a more powerful call to live the Gospel than any sermon I have heard.
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| Osterhaus (rear, second from right) with students at a women' spirituality workshop. |
When I graduated from high school, I had experienced neglect within the church, because of my age and my gender. The first time I met Shirley, I set out to test her by telling her exactly what I thought women’s place in the church should be. She smiled and listened without comment or judgment, as I had seen on the faces of most church representatives. She shook my hand and told me that she was very excited to have me in the community. For the first time I felt like I had a place in the Catholic Church. The Shalom Center was my spiritual home for four years. Shirley walked me through some things that were challenging on both an emotional and spiritual level. Even after I graduated and was 2,500 miles away, it was often Shirley whom I called when I was hurting. I feel that in terminating her position and handling the situation with such secrecy, Archbishop Brunett is telling me that Shirley was wrong when she told me that there was a place for me in the Church. I have contemplated leaving the Church, but I’ve no idea where to go. The Catholic Church is not the only church suffering from an over-inflated patriarchy. Shirley, who has always been a voice for the marginalized, is now unable to speak for herself. We must be her voice. I’d like to end by sharing her mantra, which she shared with me when I needed strength: The spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed.
