Dear 

Reminder: Council of the Baptized meeting next Tuesday, February 10, 7:00 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 South Snelling. Catherine Michaud, C.S.J. will present 

Evolution of Consciousness: Fad, Fiction, or Urgent New Reality.   This talk will briefly review the historical, scientific, philosophical, and spiritual foundations of consciousness evolution, then reflect on its plausibility as the world view for the new millennium. Is conscious evolution the ethical necessity for the planet's survival that its proponents insist? If it is the urgent new reality, is it the way forward that the Church should embrace and exemplify?   Everyone is welcome.

Love/Sex Campaign: Cooperating with the Archdiocese

Pope Francis wants input from the laity on issues of family life for the Synod on the Family to take place in October 2015. The Vatican sent its agenda for the Synod, called a "Lineamenta," with survey questions attached to the bishops of the world. See below for the link to the survey questions.

We of CCCR/Council of the Baptized have lots of input to give on these questions central to family life-contraception, cohabitation, divorce and remarriage, and same-sex partnerships. What is the best way to be heard?

In the CCCR/Council of the Baptized meeting with Archbishop John C. Nienstedt on January 20, Bob Beutel, Mary Beth Stein, and Paula Ruddy asked about the Archdiocesan program for getting input and whether we could collaborate in it. The Archbishop suggested we talk with Jean Stolpestad, director of the Office of Marriage, Family & Life. After a very friendly meeting with Jean, we learned the way we can collaborate is to get on board with the Archdiocesan program for taking the survey and giving feedback at Listening Sessions.

Beware! The survey is unsatisfactory in several ways. Don't be daunted. To make the best of it, we are suggesting that we choose some questions and write what we want to tell Pope Francis in the essay space allowed.

Above all, please let the Archdiocese hear from us.

Here is the request from the Archdiocesan website:   

Catholics can offer input by the March 10 deadline four ways:

1. Take an online survey  to respond to questions in the Lineamenta.  Survey questions end with references to the sections of the Lineamenta. 

2. Offer responses to questions on pages 27-36 of the Lineamenta via email to [email protected].

3. Mail responses to questions on pages 27-36 of the Lineamenta to:

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

c/o Jean Stolpestad

226 Summit Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55102

4. Attend a listening session about questions in the Lineamenta:

St Patrick, Oak Grove - Monday, February 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

19921 Nightingale St NW, Cedar, MN 55011, (763) 753-2011

St Patrick, Inver Grove Heights - Monday February 9, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

3535 72nd St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076, (651)-455-6624

Holy Name of Jesus, Medina - Thursday, February 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

155 County Road 24 * Wayzata, MN 55391 *(763)-473-7901

St John the Baptist, New Brighton - Monday, February 23, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

835 2nd Ave NW New Brighton, MN 55112,(651)-633-8333

Monsignor Hayden Center, St. Paul - Tuesday, March 3, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Because the March 10 survey deadline is so restrictive, CCCR/Council of the Baptized will be gathering information throughout the year to give to Pope Francis, the bishop delegates, and our own Archdiocesan leadership. 

A Task for You

Start a book group in your parish on the issues of family life that will be addressed at the Synod.  Your faith formation director may help you. You can use the CCCR/Council of the Baptized position paper entitled "Toward a Healthy Christian Theology of Sexuality" available on the Council of the Baptized website.  Click here to access the position paper.  We have some discussion questions available for your use. Contact us at [email protected] for more information. People from St Frances Cabrini and Holy Name parishes have begun book groups using the position paper. 

Dave Schultz from the St. Frances Cabrini Education Committee notes that over one hundred parishioners are part of fourteen book study groups discussing Toward a Healthy Christian Theology of Sexuality.  "There is so much enthusiasm to be able to talk about a theology of sexuality," he observes.   "This is Cabrini's Third Annual One Read Book Discussion, but this book has produced by far our most passionate and provocative dialogue.  I would encourage other communities to discuss this topic for the future of our Church and human relationship with God."

 BULLETIN BOARD

How do you articulate the mission of the Church?

"The mission of the church is to follow Christ in proclaiming the good news, to be the place where truth is told, where the unseeing have their eyes opened to reality, and where oppression and injustice are overcome and a reign of peace and justice is established among humans and with the earth.  The church's mission is to be a community of liberation, a redemptive community where one has a taste of what the world would be like if all forms of evil were overcome.  This mission can never be complete and final within the finite conditions of history, but the church must be a place where humanity is moving in the direction of redeemed and redemptive living.  Above all, the church should not be a place where new evils are constructed, perpetuated, and justified!" Rosemary Radford Ruether

Let us know what you think.

In joyful hope,

CCCR and Council of the Baptized Lay Network Organizing Team