Priest Alliance Meeting, February 5, 2004

Meeting Summary

The following is a summary of the reports given by the six groups which formed at this meeting.

1. Overworked priests:  Had general discussion of problem and then specific question:  as cement dries on current diocesan plan, priests articulated they feel unable to fulfill the plan articulated for their parishes.  Group provided letter for large group consideration stating the priest alliance stands behind any priest who discerns he is unable to fulfill additional responsibilities.

2. Voiceless faithful group discerned nine areas that they may pursue.  They are

Women's Ordination/voices of women, Gays/dignity, all minority voices, pro-choice voices, no space in uniformity for those who don't conform, divorced, diocesan priests, laity, and planning process leaves out voices of Catholics in situations

Recommendations: The alliance gathers faithful laity who need a voice.

3. Morale of priests:

Second group spoke a lot about low morale because of relationship with the Archbishop.  But we as priests are not single minded.

Low morale was because of liturgical police.  Is hierarchy being as honest as priests are trying to be?  We know what shortage is about

a.  Emulate Nancy Reagan and just say no

b.  Survey priests not just cemeteries.

c.  Restructuring parishes.

4.   Rights of Priests:  Accusations - are they substantial.  One size doesn't fit all therefore we need due process.  There is a concern regarding lack of honesty. Need to have a canon lawyer retained or available for the accused as well as our purposes.  Come up with a process and structure to help accused priests.  How can you change label of being "guilty".

5. Vocations, read the #1 recommendation by the planning commission.  Need to have specific plan to deal with this understanding.

Secondly the alliance needs to call for a discussion on these many issues about vocations.  Promoting vocations is also an important issue.

6. Ecclesiology:

Clash of ecclesiology groups: Vatican II versus restorationists.  In this there can be a tendency to say no to Holy Spirit.  Bishops are more about managing than leadership.  Vocation issue showed up here too.  We have a longing to have planning commission give clear vision of ecclesiology to under-gird plan.

Group Summary:

Where do you have passion, vote for one:  (note, numbers below correspond to group numbers above)

1.         21

2.         0

3.         10

4.         4

5.         6

6.         11

General Comments:

• Still good we are here
• Lot of talk, how do we get action?
• Feel a yearning to vote for other 5 (above), they are good and connected
• We've started up a committee to look at priest's right
• 3 different groups spoke about talking to the planning commission right now

Joseph Hornacek spoke about John Jay report released on February 27th regarding numbers of abused children.  Will e-mailed information be enough or should we have a gathering of priests?  The groups responded that e-mailed information would be sufficient.

The group asked for a consensus and received it to release a letter regarding priests saying no to especially challenging parts of the diocesan plan as well as clarification regarding #1 of its goals.

30 copies of the constitution and by-laws were provided, more are available.  If people have feedback they are encouraged to give it to the interim convening board.  Members of the convening board are David Cooper, Bill Burkert, Brian Mason, Ken Mich, Alan Jurkus. Steve Amann, John Lukaszewicz, Joseph Hornacek, Michael Erwin, with Allan Sommer as an alternate.  This group was presented at the beginning of the meeting and was accepted for a one year term through a voice and applause affirmation.

Priest council members present stood (9 total).

Small Group:

Issue: Classing Ecclesiologies and "managing up", education and challenge to bishops

Divisions in presbyterate, i.e. priests providing liturgy reform

2:45-3:30, Group 8

Session Convener: Mike Crosby

Participants: Steve Stradinger, Ralph Gross, Mike Sturm, Dave Cooper, John Schreiter, Mel Breit, Tom Kelly, Mike McLernon, John Dietzen, Mike Crosby, Bill Burkert, Rck Abert S.J., Joe Frederick, Joe Juknialis, John Murphy, Steve Varghese SAC, Steve Avella, Russ Tikalsky, Alan Jurkus

Summary: Vatican II church vs restorationist  Church

Who is the "symbol" around whom community gathers

            Base Communities in SA - model works

            Church Parish in NA - Bishop/priest - clerical model - sacramental model, "How do we deliver to most people with what we've got?"

Sacraments - Incarnational or Magic

Book Club - of 7 everyone was doing it differently/ no one called into question

Who's out of step, us or Rome? Ecumenical Council teaching Rome today eroding Vatican II.

Support each other in Vat. II vision; Lack of openness to Holy Spirit, Larger voice to vision, concern about restorationism

Issue: who can be ordained - write an talk about this.  Write to planning commission, ask for ecclesiology.

Write to Wilton, these are the issues we want addressed!  Speak out - get press involved.  To whom do we write our letter . . .

Question of Divorce/ annulment.

How do we keep from loosing Eucharist?

All politics is local.  We come together because we don't like "other" thing we se - people leaving forming communities; leaving church . . .

Link with other associations of priests.

Specific next step - raise issue, involve press, don't attack bishops, get people to come together to talk.  Stand up to say - "We are the Church."