22 Catholic Organizations Call for a Justice-seeking Pope

On Monday, February 11th, Pope Benedict XVI surprised Catholics worldwide
by announcing his resignation. Member organizations of Catholic
Organizations for Renewal and Women-Church Convergence made the following
statement.

We join Catholics worldwide in praying for the health of Pope Benedict XVI
and value his courageous decision to step down from the papacy for the
betterment of the church. At this critical time of transition in church
history, we claim our responsibility as committed laity, religious, and
clergy in advocating for the selection of a justice-seeking pope, one with
a pastoral vision to heal, reform, and renew the Roman Catholic Church.
Throughout the coming weeks, we will encourage our supporters to contact
the eleven U.S. cardinals who will represent the United States during the
conclave to share our hopes for renewed leadership.

Our prayer is that the newly elected pope will:

. ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of sexual
abuse cases,

. value open dialogue, academic freedom, and due process,

. model financial transparency and accountability,

. work toward the Vatican II call to collegial leadership at every
level,

. consult the laity in the decisions that directly affect them,
including selection of their own bishops and the closing of their parishes
and schools,

. consider optional priestly celibacy and reopen the priesthood to
married men and resigned priests,

. incorporate women at all levels of ministry and decision making,
including ordination,

. consult with the Catholic people in developing a sensible church
teaching on human sexuality,

. respect the conscience of every person in regard to matters of
their sexuality and reproduction,

. and challenge environmental degradation, corporate greed, wars
and violent responses to societal problems, and denial of basic human
rights.

Signed by the following organizations:

A Critical Mass: Women Celebrating Eucharist

Carolyn Kellogg, ckellogg2000@yahoo.com> ckellogg2000@yahoo.com

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

(703) 505-0004, ( 941) 955-2313,
sofiabmm@aol.com> sofiabmm@aol.com

Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church

Patrick B. Edgar, President

(870)235-5209, President@arcc-catholic-rights.net>
President@arcc-catholic-rights.net

Call To Action

Jim FitzGerald, Executive Director

(773) 404-0004, jim@cta-usa.org> jim@cta-usa.org

Catholics for Choice

Jon O’Brien, President

(202) 986-6093

Chicago Women-Church

Darlene Noesen, chgowmnchu@sbcglobal.net> chgowmnchu@sbcglobal.net

CORPUS

Anthony Padovano

(973) 539-8732, tpadovan@optoline.net> tpadovan@optoline.net

DignityUSA

Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director

%20execdir@dignityusa.org> 617-669-7810,
execdir@dignityusa.org

Faithful of Southern Illinois (FOSIL)

Anne Harter, anneharter23@yahoo.com> anneharter23@yahoo.com

Federation of Christian Ministries’ Roman Catholic Faith Community Council
Thomas Cusack and Thomas Quinn
treasurer@fcmmail.org> treasurer@fcmmail.org,
president@fcmmail.org> president@fcmmail.org

National Coalition of American Nuns

Jeannine Gramick, SL

301-864-3604, gramick@juno.com> gramick@juno.com

New Ways Ministry

Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director

(240) 432-2489, director@NewWaysMinistry.org>
director@NewWaysMinistry.org

PAX Christi – Maine

Bill Slavick, billslavick@myfairpoint.net>
billslavick@myfairpoint.net

Quixote Center / Catholics Speak Out

Dolly Pomerleau, dollywood20722@hotmail.com>
dollywood20722@hotmail.com

San Francisco Bay Area Women-Church

Karen Schwarz, k.schwarz@comcast.net> k.schwarz@comcast.net

Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Conference

Regina Bannan

(215) 350-9877, reginab317@gmail.com> reginab317@gmail.com

Renewed and Priestly People – Ordination Reconsidered Today (RAPPORT)

Gloria Ulterino, Glorialbf@aol.com> Glorialbf@aol.com

Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA, Inc.

Suzanne Thiel, RCWP

( 503) 784-3330, suzthiel@yahoo.com>
suzthiel@yahoo.com

Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER)

Mary E. Hunt and Diann Neu

(301) 589-2509, mhunt@hers.com> mhunt@hers.com,
dneu@hers.com> dneu@hers.com

Women-Church Baltimore

Erma Durkin, ermduu@gmail.com> ermduu@gmail.com.

WomenEucharist Boulder
Sheila Dierks
(303) 449-4302, books@wovenword.com> books@wovenword.com

Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC)

Erin Saiz Hanna, Executive Director

(202) 675-1006, ehanna@womensordination.org>
ehanna@womensordination.org

1 March 2013