If you are a young person, or have a friend, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or relative, we invite you to join or have them

Join an online gathering of young people around the world Saturday, November 3rd, 2018

Pope Francis called a Synod on Youth which has been going on in Rome with young representatives from every part of the world present and speaking to the Pope and bishops about their needs, their wants, and their hopes for some renewal of the Roman Catholic Church. It will end tomorrow and a report will be shared with the world. Given the resistance of some hierarchical members to change, the report is expected to be watered down but will still reflect some of the positions proposed by young people. This critical discussion cannot end with the closing of the Synod.

We are inviting all young people from around the world to join this online young Catholic International post-synodal listening and conversation session - a special opportunity to be part of this movement of young people stepping up to re-found, reestablish, and renew the Church that Jesus intended when he said: "Thou are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church."

Whether you are an active Catholic, a former Catholic, this-Church-no-longer-meets-my-needs Catholic, or wishing-to-find-a-community-of-like-minded people-my-age Catholic, this is a special opportunity to:

1. to let your voices be heard regarding your concerns and your hopes for the Roman Catholic Church;

2. to hear from attendees at the Synod on Youth called by Pope Francis that is just being completed in Rome;

3. to discuss next steps in supporting the renewal of the Church to address issues facing young people in today's world;

4. to join or start a young person's Small Christian Community locally or online.

Be a missioner. Bring a friend. You are welcomed to join with us next week on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Click on this link https://zoom.us/j/2429500175 at the time listed below based on your region of the world.

This event will originate at the University of Loyola in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA and is being coordinated by Alloys Nyakundi, a young graduate student from Kenya. He has been working with AMECEA (Association Member Episcopal Conference of Eastern Africa) and has been helping young people to form Young People Small Christian Communities which gives them an avenue to meet weekly, share there challenges, listen to one another, and connect their life experiences to the Scriptures.

You can find more information and material on their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/875453985953421/ and global website http://smallchristiancommunities.org.

Our Church is in crisis. Pope Francis called this Synod on Youth because he clearly believes that young people are the future of the Church and can help, more than all the bishops and cardinals, to steer the Church in the direction needed in this 21st century. More importantly, young people are facing many new challenges today that simply didn't exist in previous generations. Returning to small faith communities, as was done in the early Church, can be the hope and strength of the Church in today's world.

Save this date. Join with us and bring a friend.

Rene Reid
CCRI, director

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Contact: Marianne Duddy-Burke, +1 617=669-7810, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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We Are Church International (WAC) and European Network Church on the Move (EN) strongly oppose the canonization of Pope Paul VI, and the recent trend to quickly canonize many who serve as Popes. The rush to canonize Popes soon after their death which began late in the twentieth century contrasts strongly with prior Catholic tradition, which wisely allowed the passage of decades or even centuries to reveal both the personal character and impact of the papacy of each individual who served in that position. It also seems to be creating an idolatry of the papacy, again in violation of Catholic tradition and values. Many of our colleagues from other Christian denominations note that the trend also frustrates efforts to increase ecumenical collegiality. This concern must be taken seriously.

Considering these concerns, WAC and EN call for a reexamination of the entire process of canonization. We believe that the process must be conducted with transparency, that Popes should not be considered for sainthood until at least 100 years following their deaths, and that every member of the Church should have the opportunity to voice their support for or concerns about any candidate for sainthood.

On the specific case of Pope Paul VI, WAC and EN believe that his early work advocating for peace, increasing globalization, expanding interfaith collaboration, making liturgy more engaging of the laity, and raising up the voices of members of the church in Latin America must be balanced with the centralization of Vatican power, the damage done to the church by his promulgation of Humanae Vitae, and his insistence on obedience to ecclesial authority. It will take more time, we believe, for the church to understand whether his papacy advanced the Gospel agenda in our church and our world. In addition, the church must be able to consider archival records and testimonials that address his personal characteristics and determine if he truly embodies the qualities that deserve to be honored by the bestowal of sainthood.

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We Are Church International (WAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.

The European Network Church on the Move (EN) is a spontaneous convergence of organizations – associations, communities, informal groups and networks – of European Christians who are in majority Catholic, sharing

(1) the vision of a Church prophetic, ecumenical, liberating, supporting, loving, which neither excludes nor discriminates and which follows on the steps of Jesus the liberator

and

(2) the will to work, respecting cultural and religious diversity, for peace, justice, freedom, human rights and democracy, including in the Catholic Church (Cf Declaration of rights and freedoms in the Catholic Church, European Network 1994)

Recent statements from Vatican officials, including Pope Francis, that women and lay people should be more fully represented in Church structure are undercut by the announcement of who will have voting authority at the upcoming Synod on Youth, say leaders of We Are Church International, a group in the forefront of global church reform. The list of those with the right to vote includes cardinals, bishops, ordained Vatican officials, priests, and even a few brothers. Women and the young adult lay representatives who are the focus of the Synod are described as “collaborators” and “observers,” and they are specifically banned from voting.

“Once again, the Vatican is demonstrating its total unwillingness to share power and authority with those of us who make up the vast majority of the Catholic church,” said Colm Holmes of Dublin, Ireland, Chair of We Are Church International. “It is a shame that those with the real expertise on the experience, gifts, hopes, and needs of young people are sidelined as observers as decisions that will shape their futures are made. And, of course, women, whom Pope Francis has repeatedly said should have more authority in the church, are excluded from the vote, as well. How long can this institution continue being so deaf to the cries for equality that are coming from every part of the church?”

To all concerned about the future of the Roman Catholic Church:

Conversations are going on in all parts of the world about the most recent reports of clergy sexual abuse of children that have been covered up by Bishops under the pretext of "protecting the image and reputation of the Church." The truth is they are only protecting themselves and their clerical status.

We can be silent no longer. It is past time for the baptized Faithful, who are the Church, to take action. We invite you to join with us on our Facebook page and share your views on how we the People of God can move responsibly forward to be the Church as intended by Jesus.

Pope Francis has outlined his vision for a church that is "synodal" at every level, with everyone listening to one another, learning from one another and taking responsibility for proclaiming the Gospel. We at CCRI feel that all of us in the reform movement have spent far too many years trying to communicate with the hierarchy and convince them of the necessity of reform and restructuring within the Church. But are convinced beyond any doubt that our trying to change them is fruitless. Consequently, our strategy is no longer to put our energy into "reforming" the institutional church which seems beyond repair but rather to focus on "re-founding" the Church in the spirit of the early Christians. The Vatican is not the Church. By virtue of our baptism, we are the Church and we believe that we have the responsibility to enrich the future leadership and management of our church. But how? What IS within our power to do is to join or start small faith communities by whatever name they are called in various parts of the world: Intentional Eucharistic Communities (IECs), Base Christian Communities (CEBs), or Small Christian Communities (SCCs). Scroll to the end of this newsletter to learn what you personally can do.