Reformers Carry “The Voices of the People” to the Synod

Contact: 

Kate McElwee

kmcelwee@womensordination.org

(c) 607.725.1364

Deborah Rose-Milavec

(w) 216.228.0869 (x 4)    (c ) 513.673.1401

debrose@futurechurch.org

For Immediate Release   (U.S.A.) Several members from organizations comprising the coalition of Catholic Organizations for Renewal will be heading to Rome for the Extraordinary Synod on the family from October 5 – October 19, 2014.  Among them will be Kate McElwee of Women’s Ordination Conference, Deborah Rose-Milavec from FutureChurch, Janet Hauter of American Catholic Council, Jeannine Gramick from the National Coalition of American Nuns and Francis DeBernardo from New Ways Ministry.

In November and December 2013, fifteen U.S. Catholic reform organizations sent out a survey in preparation for the Synod on the Family.  16,582 participants responded.

“I plan to carry with me and share with as many officials as possible the ‘Voices of the People’ report,” said Rose-Milavec.  “In it are the experiences, faith, sufferings and hope of thousands of Catholics across the U.S.”

Dr. Peter J. Fagan from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine analyzed the survey responses and produced the final report.  He noted that although the survey was long and tedious to complete, the extraordinary response by the 16,582 faithful was a “testimony to the depth of care and concern they had for the future of the church and the transmission of the Gospel.  Their voices deserve to be listened to.”

“The people of God must be heard at this synod, not out of charity, but because they are baptized.  Vatican II and Canon Law attest to their duty ‘to manifest their views on matters which concern the good of the Church (C 212.3),’” said Kate McElwee.  “We initiated this survey because without the lived experiences of women and the voices of Catholic families in the room, the institution will be stuck.”

The results of the survey were similar to other sociological data, but the number of respondents who self-identified as weekly Mass-goers was 52 percent, a surprisingly high number given the overall average is 24 percent according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.  Demographically, 83 percent were laypeople and 11 percent vowed religious or ordained.  On the important issues of contraception, sacraments for divorced and remarried Catholics and same sex relationships:

• 1 percent said the teachings of Humanae Vitae were completely accepted.  76 percent supported alternatives.
• 75 percent of divorced and remarried couples felt they could approach the sacraments regardless of church recognition of their union.
• 73 percent said marriage equality was extremely or very important.

“Right now it looks like there are very few participants at the Synod who will be representing the voices of many Catholics who already feel excluded from the Church,” said Rose-Milavec.  “It is our work to do all we can to make sure those voices are heard and that the circles are widened to include those who represent the sensus fidelium on issues  where our lived experiences cannot be expressed adequately by male celibates.”

“In ways not seen in the Catholic Church recently, the Synod represents a rare opportunity for leadership not only to listen to the voices of the people, but to enact meaningful changes that embrace all Catholic families,” said McElwee.  “It cannot be more of the same. Things must change. Let us not cower to those who wish to maintain the status quo, but be bold and faithful in living the Gospel call of love and justice.”

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Organizational sponsors of the survey project include American Catholic Council, Call To Action, CORPUS, DignityUSA, Federation of  Christian Ministries/Roman Catholic Faith Community Council, FutureChurch, New Ways Ministry, RAPPORT, Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Conference, Voice of the Faithful, and Women’s Ordination Conference; and Catholic Church Reform International, Fortunate Families, and Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER). For more information on the Synod on the Family Survey visit: www.mycatholicfamily.org