There are important updates and dates in this issue that offer you a variety of ways to take action for the health and wholeness of our local church. An easy way to start is to invite people you know to register in the Lay Network. There are over 1550 Lay Network members, from all parishes and all deaneries, but do the math - that's no where near the number of folks who love their church and want it to thrive in this archdiocese.  We want to keep growing to be ready to work with the new leadership, so encourage your friends and family to register at www.cccrmn.org. 

CCCR and others have written to Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda, the temporary administrator in this archdiocese, asking for an open and broad consultation process in selecting the new archbishop for St. Paul and Minneapolis. CCCR sent the first request to Archbishop Hebda on June 21, shortly after he was named administrator of the archdiocese. He acknowledged receipt of the letter to Marilyn Wegscheider of the Council of the Baptized when she introduced herself to him at the July 12 welcome Mass at the Cathedral. Archbishop Hebda, however, has not responded to CCCR.  We sent a follow-up request on July 14. Archbishop Hebda is also hearing from others, such as St. Frances Cabrini's Fr. Michael Tegeder's open letter to Archbishop Hebda in his July 12 bulletin. Please let Archbishop Hebda hear from you too.

  

Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda

226 Summit Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55102

  

CCCR has written to Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò to offer assistance and asking his support of an open process with broad consultation. Your correspondence to the papal nuncio is also extremely important in this process. You can contact him at:

  

 

  

Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò

Papal Nuncio to the U.S.

3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20008-3687

[email protected] 

 

As we hold the victims of clergy sexual abuse in our prayers and ask for their healing, let us also remember, in the spirit of Christ, to include Archbishop Nienstedt and Bishop Piché and the clergy sex-abusers, all of whom are God's people and can benefit from our prayers. 

Join us for a Conversation with Catholic High School Students Members of the LGBTQ+Catholic Student Coalition will talk about their efforts to create safe space in Catholic high schools and why they remain Catholic. There will be a panel presentation covering questions like What's the attraction youth have for the Catholic Faith; what is most challenging to their remaining active Catholics? What changes would they like to see in Catholic practices and attitudes? How will the next generation shape the Catholic church? It will be followed by table discussions for attendees and the student coalition members.

 

Saturday, July 25, 9:30am - noon

St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 1500 SE Franklin, Mpls

Event is free but donations will be accepted.

 

RSVP to [email protected] 651-278-6630 to help us estimate materials needed for the event.

 

Co-sponsored by Call to Action MN, Coalition for Catholic Church Reform, Dignity/Twin Cities & the Justice Office of the Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates.

The Council of the Baptized will sponsor an event just prior to the pre-Synod of the Family (in Rome this October). Using our recent position paper, " Toward a Healthy Christian Theology of Sexuality," as a springboard, Massimo Faggioli, a University of St. Thomas theologian specializing in Church history since Vatican II, and Barbara Frey, a law professor and Director of the Global Human Rights program at the University of Minnesota, will address the sexual issues that Pope Frances has asked lay people all over the world to discuss in light of Christian conscience, human rights, and lived experience.  We plan to send a summary of these discussions to the American bishops attending the Synod on the Family.

The 2015-2016 strategic focus of CCCR and the Council of the Baptized is two-pronged: empowering the laity to claim a meaningful role in Church and evolving our relationship with the Archdiocese.

 

The Intentional Eucharistic Communities National Gathering 2015 involved approximately 280 participants from across the country. CDs of the keynote speakers and many of the breakout sessions will be made available for purchase at a minimal cost. Contact Mary Sutherland at [email protected] for information about buying CDs.

 

At the July meeting of the CCCR Board, Ed Walsh presented a document entitled "Gilead Project: Restoring Broken Relationships," which details a plan to repurpose the use of the building at 226 Summit for multiple programs and organizations engaged in various aspects of the sexual abuse issue.  This document provides a broad outline of the concept and challenges, as well as some of the funding needs that exist and will be explored.  Contact Ed at [email protected] for additional information.