From: votfregion2@yahoo.com
Reply-To: votfregion2@yahoo.com
To: [E-mail hidden]
Subject: VOTF Resolution
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 10:56:56 -0400


The Presentation of A Resolution on the Position of Women in the Catholic
Church, Proposed for Consideration to the Voice of the Faithful National
Representative Council

Introduction

Voice of the Faithful has a National Representative Council (NRC),
comprised of elected representatives of 14 regions. There are presently 26
members on the council. New York State is Region 2 and has three
representatives: Sheila Peiffer of Albany, Dan Bartley of Long Island and
Ed Wilson of Brooklyn. Under the current procedural rules of the NRC, any
member of VOTF can propose a resolution to the Council for discussion,
debate and an eventual vote, if it is presented by a representative. Once
a proposal has been put forward, it is the responsibility of
representatives to consult VOTF members in their regions about their views
of the issue.

Under this procedure, a proposal was put forward in late June 2006
proposing that Voice of the Faithful call for a Church-wide discussion on
advancing equal access for women for all positions of leadership and
ministry within the Catholic Church. The following document includes:

1. The formal text of the proposed resolution from its three sponsors,
Rich Moriarty (NRC Rep, Region 4), Peggie L. Thorp and Mary E. Collingwood
(NRC Rep, Region 6)
2. Excerpts posted in response to the proposal from various VOTF members
3. A clarification and defense of the proposal from its sponsors, in light
of the various objections raised

The purpose of this document is to combine the major points raised to date
in a readable form, so that VOTF members in Region 2 can consider the
issues and make comments. Since many of the email messages exchanged to
date are lengthy, an effort has been made here to include only the essence
of these communications, in order that as many VOTF members as possible
can find the time to review this summation of the debate.

Please send your comments on this issue to votfregion2@yahoo.com. As your
representatives to the Council, we (Sheila, Dan and Ed) are interested in
knowing what you think of this resolution. Although there is a lot here,
this is a much-discussed issue in the Church today, both in and out of
VOTF. Although all three of us currently have serious concerns about this
resolution, we will consider your views in deciding how to vote, and will
incorporate them in our discussions in the Council. Our concerns center
on the action words of the resolution as quoted verbatim above. We do not
see how those words can be interpreted to exclude ordination of women
unless one does not consider such ordained positions as the pope and the
bishops as positions of leadership or ministry. This we fear will be seen
by our opponents as confirmation that we have the hidden agenda of which
they have always accused us. We are making some progress , e.g.,
Brooklyn, Albany, Providence, San Francisco and elsewhere in dialog with
some dioceses. We would not want to cut off that process and possibly see
bans on meeting on church property reinstituted by advancing a position
that many, if not most bishops see as contrary to church teaching.

To be more constructive, our broader position concerns the advancement of
lay participation in leadership, which we already advocate. Our broadest
position regarding structural change would concern how to assure the
availability of the Eucharist to the People of God now and in the future.

Please take some time and let us know what you think!

Formal Proposal

RESOLUTION PROPOSAL:

Whereas, our Church is the entire People of God; and

Whereas, VOTF affirms our mission statement (to provide a prayerful voice,
attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively
participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church) and
third goal (to support structural change within the Catholic Church); and

Whereas, the future of the Faith we are called to sustain is dependent
upon a supporting structure inclusive of the voices and talents of all the
People of God, and

Whereas, the Gospel message of inclusion is diminished by discrimination
against more than half of its total membership; and

Whereas, women are excluded not only from governing positions within the
Churchs hierarchical structure, but also from many ministerial leadership
roles; and

Whereas, the deterrence of future abuses by the hierarchy is dependent on
the entire People of God;

THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT:

Voice of the Faithful calls for Church-wide discussion on advancing equal
access for women for all positions of leadership and ministry within the
Catholic Church.

Excerpts of Responses to the Proposal from Richard Taylor

Im responding to the resolution you circulated that VOTF endorse equal
access for women to all positions of leadership and ministry in the
Catholic church. In my response, Im using the term womens ordination
as a shorthand to describe the above.although I agree wholeheartedly with
all the whereas statements in the proposed resolution advocating VOTFs
support for womens ordination, I think it would be a mistake for VOTF to
adopt it. I know I may be wrong and so look forward to the discussion that
this resolution will provoke. My reasons for opposing the resolution at
this point are the following: I think the genius of VOTFs goals and
mission statement is that they focus on having the currently-excluded
laity actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic
Church. Rather than raise specific issues (other than the goals around
ending sexual abuse), VOTF says in effect, If the laity truly were
involved in the churchs governance and guidance, then they would be able
to advocate directly, at the table of decision-making, for the many issues
about which they are concerned, among them womens ordination. Lay
involvement in church governance is the most important reform we can
undertake.No other organization of VOTFs stature and size has this as
its primary goal. We must not divert and thereby dilute our energies
into other efforts, no matter how worthy. Our major contribution to womens
ordination will be to have laity integrated into the governance and
guidance of the church. Another aspect of VOTFs genius is its attempt to
erect a broad tent under which Catholics with a great variety of views can
come together to end sexual abuse and to advocate for lay involvement in
church governance. As soon as we advocate around other issues, however
worthy, we say in effect, Catholics who dont agree with this stand are
no longer welcome in VOTF.

The reason I used the shorthand of womens ordination is that, in my
experience, as soon as you start talking about womens leadership in the
church, the broader Catholic community and church leadership immediately
assume that youre talking about womens ordination. If you say, No, were
just talking about womens role and leadership, their response is, Youre
really for womens ordination. Youre not fooling us. Youre just using
this discussion as a cover-up for your real intentions. Id dont see any
way to convince them, especially since so many of us do support womens
ordination.

Response to the Proposal and to the Ensuing Discussion from Susan Vogt,
VOTF Region 5 Representative (Kentucky)

I (and I imagine most) of the replies that are not in favor of VOTF
taking on the issue of womens role in the church are NOT opposed to
working for equality in treatment of women in the church. I just think
that VOTF is not the organization to do it. I actively work for womens
equity in the church through a number of other organizations to which I
belong. I believe that VOTF, however, needs to focus like a laser on the
goals we have already defined. As we achieve these goals (especially
increasing the voice of the laity in church governance) the wisdom of the
gathered faithful will be able to make an impact on any unjust church
policies. I understand your impatience for change. I also think this
should have happened yesterday, but please dont impugn those who have a
different strategy and put the original 3 goals of VOTF first.

Excerpts of Response to the Proposal from Linda Mains, Region 12
Representative:

I too am puzzled. If our mission is to actually influence substantive
change in the Church to assure that the conditions which led to clergy
abuse are virtually eliminated, why would we want parse our mission into
subsets that we absolutely know will meet resistance? By delineating the
womens issue or the gay issue we are dividing versus expanding the
numbers of people available to actively support change on the core
issueno meaningful voice by anyone but the designated hierarchy. Our
abused children have paid an extremely high price to provide us with such
a powerful platform from which to create acceptance for ridding the Church
of the absolute and unilateral power of the hierarchy.

Influence for change has to come from the very broadest spectrum of the
entire membership of the Church not just those of us who have supported
reform in many arenas for many years. Like many of us, I enjoy spending
time with people who think the way I do about womens rights, human
rights, gay rights, etc. but in VOTF I guarantee you that Im not looking
for a support group. Im looking for so many voices that they can no
longer be discounted or ignored. In my mind that means numbers and
support and active involvement from all parts of our Church. We should be
looking for breadth of commitment across the entire Church for the
proposals we have already crafted (financial accountability, involvement,
SOLs, etc.) not depth of commitment from like-minded people. We should be
turning over every rock of an idea to expand our appeal not to contract
it.

What other reform organization exists that provides a home for all the
voices of the faithful as does our mission? What other reform
organization says regardless of where you fall on the continuum of
Catholic reform opinion, VOTFs mission is to make sure that your voice
gets heard. If our mission does not have as much validity for the 1.7
million members of the Knights of Columbus as it does for Call to Action,
Im thinking the Hierarchy is safe from us.

Excerpts of Response to the Proposal from Dan Dick, Worcester

I am sure that, by now, everyone is aware that the final, deepest down,
bedrock issue that frightens and threatens the caste that runs the RC
institution and all of its branches is the growing movement to gain equal
rights in the church for the female of the species (Just as it frightens
some VOTF and other lay people, as well?!)

VOTF and its affiliates can fuss over what is meant by the 3 goals,
especially, structural change, all they want but such is so secondary to
the real aim of what it means to reform the church, its structure, its
theology, its liturgy, etc.

I am certain that you all know, in your heart of hearts, that until
females have the same birthright as males in this institution, true reform
will never be achieved. We wont even be on the right road to that total
and true reform.

Response to the Proposal from Francis Piderit, VOTF New York

When I first joined VOTF in 2002, I understood our first goal, To support
those who have been abused, as referring specifically to those in our
Church who have been victims of physical sexual abuse. As I have attended
our VOTF New York meetings and have reflected more deeply on our church
and our mission, I have come to believe that our first goal in its deepest
sense refers to all forms of abuse that use sex as a surrogate for power
and control over others. I believe the subordinate position of women in
the Catholic Church is in reality another form of sexual abuse, a gender
abuse perpetrated and perpetuated by men. Speaking as a Catholic man, I
believe I have a responsibility to stand and say publicly that I cannot
stand by and be complicit in this abuse any longer. For this reason, I
support the call for a church-wide discussion of the position of women in
our Church. I recognize the valid tactical concerns of all who have
expressed their reservations. To those who say we should not get
distracted, I say that this discussion is about the full meaning of our
first goal. To those who say this is really about womens ordination, I
respond that this is first and foremost about justice for women, our
repudiation of the gender abuse which has been a blemish on the Church of
Christ for too long, and our embrace of St. Pauls inspired words that we
are neither Jew nor Gentile, slave or free, male or female, in Christ
Jesus.

Excerpts from Responses from the Sponsors, Rich Moriarty, Peggie L. Thorp
and Mary E. Collingwood

Fully cognizant of VOTFs website stating that it does not take a public
position on the issue of womens ordination, the proposal carefully
advocates for a Church-wide conversation concerning womens equal access
to leadership within the Church. Conversation does not mean ordination;
rather, it means having an exchange of thought between parties with
differing experiences and perceptions particular to this case, the status
of women within our Church. Current Church teaching does not prohibit such
an exchange, nor is there any theological basis that prohibits dialogue on
this subject.

Some respondents question the timing of this proposal, as they do not
feel it would be a wise strategy and ultimately, it may even hinder VOTFs
success in attaining its goals.Other respondents expressed concern over
diminished energy and focus on the goals already established. Yet if
viewed honestly, VOTF cannot hope to attain its third goal if the status
of women in our Church is not addressed. In fact, we view it as part and
parcel to understanding what the third goal demands of us as a reform
organization.The long term mission of VOTF must include womens roles be
cause it is in direct correlation to the composition of the laity in whose
name we strive. This is a fundamental justice issue. If VOTF wants to
change the governing structure of our Church, VOTF needs to recognize this
fundamental reality.

What our proposal is:
A call for discussion about the how and why of womens absence in our
Church leadership roles.
A call for clarity around our language.Imagine that we lay people do
arrive at the table of dialogue and shared leadership. We will be arriving
in precisely the way we are defined now women as not the equal of men.
A call for reflection: A:: of us, regardless of our feelings on this
proposal, are being attentive to the Spirit Whose work is not always
clear while it is in the works. Good hearts and discerning minds will
eventually effect a sensus fidei with which we can all move forward.
A call for participation: No other organization that we have been able to
identify has spoken for discussion of womens roles in the Church.
A call for education. Discussion of womens roles in our Church cannot
help but educate us all, as well as animate much of Vatican IIs hopes for
lay participation in the work ahead.


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