Since April, 2004, Bishop Robert Vasa has required every lay minister in his Baker, Ore., diocese to sign his unique, 6,200 word "Affirmation of Personal Faith” assenting to church teaching on homosexuality, contraception, premarital sex, abortion, euthanasia, the Real Presence, Mary, hell, purgatory, and the authority of the church. Those who refuse are excluded from any ministry, from catechist to lector and communion minister. The draconian measure led some Catholics to organize an Oregon chapter of Call To Action. Coordinator is Linda Dove of Corvallis (ldove@CorvallisFUMC.org). As a pep rally to announce and promote the effort, in late January they brought in veteran CTA author Bob McClory for a speaking tour based on his book, “Faithful Dissenters: Stories of Men and Women Who Loved and Changed the Church.”
Teamed with CTA staffer Bob Heineman and regional organizer Lena Woltering of
the CTA national board, McClory began in the archdiocese of Portland, and met
with enthusiastic audiences at two parishes— 80 people at St. Clare, Portland,
and 60 at St. Mary, Corvallis. But on Jan. 23, the venue was a Presbyterian
church in Bend, Ore., home base of Bishop Vasa. A two page color feature in
the local newspaper the day before, headlined "Disagreement in the Church,”
publicized the event, reproduced the cover of McClory's book, ran photos of
McClory and Vasa side by side, and made it crystal clear: CTA Oregon has formed
in conscientious response to Bishop Vasa's loyalty oath. The article quoted
McClory saying that when church teachings are met with wide disagreement, people
should discuss them, not be “presented with documents and asked to sign.
It's so contrary to be so absolutist, when the history of the church is one
of gradual progress, always with dissent. The church has developed with people
disagreeing.”
The article also pictured and interviewed several local Catholics — some,
like Wilma Hens of CTA, who had resigned from ministry rather than sign the
oath, and others who applauded Vasa for defending orthodoxy.
Bishop hears McClory
Local CTAers set up chairs for a crowd of 50. Over 200 people showed up. The
fire marshall came by to make sure the exits and aisles were clear. A statement
from the police chief was read, appealing for calm. Unexpectedly, Bishop Vasa
himself and an entourage of 20 supporters arrived and took seats in the audience.
McClory gave his talk, most listeners applauded his message, and dissenting
comments and questions were handled with respect.
One week later in a lengthy diocesan newspaper column, Vasa criticized McClory's
book, his talk, and the entire CTA understanding of dissent. “The headline
in the local newspaper was rather mild,” he began. “Disagreement
in the Church. In other eras it would have been called apostasy and heresy.”
He closed with his distorted verdict on Call To Action: "I do not believe
that any person can support the tenets of Call To Action and still make a profession
of faith in the Catholic Church in good faith. I am certain others disagree.
I further do not believe that any parish employee or volunteer can simultaneously
serve the Church of the Diocese of Baker and belong to or affirm all of the
positions of Call To Action. Any group or individual advocating artificial contraception,
abortion under any circumstance, women priests, homosexual marriage, or Eucharist
as metaphor is a long way from Rome. They have returned to Avignon. St. Catherine
of Siena, pray for us."