Catholics seeking reform of their Church throughout the world have signed an Open Letter to Pope Leo. The letter wants an end to male autocracy in the Catholic Church. The letter seeks true Christian leadership that listens to all the People of God and rejects the exclusion of women from ministry and leadership. Christianity must engage the full diversity of the People of God.
Catholic reform groups from America, Europe and Asia welcome Pope Leo’s embrace of the importance of accountable and inclusive leadership in the Church as adopted by Pope Francis and the Church in the concept of synodality. Pope Leo has reinforced the role of the People of God stressed in both the vision of the Second Vatican Council and the commitments of the Synod on Synodality. The Church must now ‘walk the talk’.
The Letter refers to the worldwide scandal of clerical sexual abuse of children and the protection of paedophile priests by Church leaders. Secretive, autocratic decisions denied the very teachings of Jesus. Yet autocracy, clericalism, and gender discrimination continue to shape much of Church leadership.
The letter expresses concern that the introduction of synodal practices – rejection of autocracy through true listening and engagement of the faithful – will be in form only, that autocratic leaders will fail to adopt a truly Christian synodality, listening to and respecting the views of all the People of God. The Letter seeks assurances that true adoption of a synodal culture with synodal structures will be adopted by all dioceses world-wide.
The letter states: “An authentically synodal Church will move beyond autocratic leadership, engaging the full diversity of the People of God. It will be marked by genuine listening, co-responsibility, and the rejection of exclusion and marginalization.”
Rene Reid, convener of Catholic Church Reform International, commented:
“This Open Letter states real concerns of Catholics about grave failures in their Church’s governance. The Church of Jesus cannot depend on autocratic leadership. It must not exclude women from its leadership. That exclusion is neither synodal nor Christlike.
“The Church’s sexist and autocratic leadership reflects practices that were once common in the world.The Church has watched on as secular organisations have rejected sexism and autocracy as both unjust and bad practice, listening to the views of their stakeholders and valuing gender balance in decision making. The dependence on male autocracy in Church governance and ministry must be removed from canon law and culture. The Pope has the authority to drive this reform which truly reflects the spirit of Christ.”
The Open Letter asserts that male autocracy in the Catholic Church is subverting our Christian values and our mission to be a sign of God’s love and communion in the world.
Contact: Rene Reid, CCRI director
info@CatholicChurchReform.com