December 30, 2018

Clerical Sex Abuse Conference called by Pope Francis with heads of Bishops Conferences

We have been in communication with Fr. Hans Zollner, a Jesuit priest, a German theologian and psychologist, and one of the leading experts on sexual abuse working in the Catholic Church. He is one of the planners for the February summit called by Pope Francis with heads of all the Bishops' Conferences worldwide to address the issue of the Sex Abuse Crisis. Fr. Zollner has invited us to provide input to the organizing committee. This is our opportunity to have direct involvement in this critical gathering. We have drafted the letter below and would appreciate your support by sending this letter on to your bishop and local media.

Recognizing the bishops' inability to credibly evaluate their own performance, Cardinal Blase Cupich and others representing the hierarchy of the Church are urging fellow bishops to accept leadership from lay people to make this evaluation credible. Catholic Church Reform Int'l (CCRI) believes the summit called for 21-24 February 2019 in Rome by Pope Francis with the heads of all the bishops conferences represents an opportunity which should not be missed: not only to assure that universal safeguards will be put in place, but also to provide for an ongoing role for lay leadership in the Church.

https://parracatholic.org/address-to-the-concerned-catholics/

It is time for the People of God to take our rightful place in the Church

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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