“declaring a pox on clericalism” and how we can end it —
Finally there appears an issue that our divided church can agree on. Catholics of all stripes—conservatives and liberals and in-betweens—are declaring a pox on clericalism. From Pope Francis to the back pew widow, from seminary rectors to lay ecclesial ministers, we agree that clericalism is crippling the pastoral mission of the church.”
“At the same time it is strengthening the secularists’ claim that Catholic clergy are nothing more than papal agents bent on enforcing rigid moral controls that smother our human instinct for pleasure and freedom. So let’s end clericalism in the church.”
By Father Donald Cozzens, U.S. Catholic — Click here to read the rest of this column.
Voice of the Faithful ® 
#1 by Magy Stelling on November 5, 2015 - 1:14 PM
Change is slowing happening. At our Healing Journey service, Bishop George Leo Thomas, Diocese of Helena, Mt., delivered this homily: http://concernedcatholicsmt.org/diocese-of-helena-mt-healing-service-homily-of-bishop-leo-thomas/ Bishop Thomas inherited this quagmire when he took officein 2004. Over the years as Bishop he has attended many “listening .gatherings” and made a great effort to listen to any survivor who wish to see him privately. He saw as his responsibility that the survivor left his office knowing that he/she was heard, believed, valued, and respected. He let the voice of survivors guide him in deterniming how he would guide our diocese through the court action of mediation. Hopefully many will read his homily in the above link and take heed.
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