Catholic Culture is an excellent website dealing with a number of issues regarding the faith. They really want to LIVE the Catholic life.
In particular, they have some excellent items on Voice of the Faithful. S
ince this has been a really hot topic around here a few weeks ago, I thought that I would provide you with the links.
Is it the Voice of the Faithful
Voice of the Faithful - Site Review
An Inside Look at Voice of the Faithful
8 comments:
So, VOTF is associated with "dissenters" by including them as speakers at a conference. So what? I attended a professional development (I am a member of the organization) conference where Malcolm Gladwell delivered his 'Tipping Point' speech. Very enlightening, BUT he is also very outspoken about teaching evolution. By association, does that make me a dissenter?
Going to a professional association conference -- gym teachers, heart specialists, roofing contractors, etc., -- you are their to learn so that you can be the best in your profession. They probably invited him not to speak on evolution but on something related whatever you do. (from doing a search on the web, you must be involved in the area of adult training, since it seems he spoke at the american society for training and development recently but I could be wrong.)
So, I really think you are stretching your case with the example given.
I will leave it at that.
I am trying to illustrate the difference between fostering a free exchange of ideas and actively endorsing a specific idea. The former does not necessarily lead to the later. VOTF may be looking to 'stir the pot' with their speakers, but it is their stated mission and objectives that I focus on. Actions vs. words vs. implication. You can't really know, for sure, a wolf in sheeps clothing until it's been unzipped. So, for now, they remain by my CATHOLIC brothers and sisters endeavoring to heal the extraordinary hurt brought about by very irresponsible church leaders.
I thought it was important to remind your readers that an event of great saddness is about to occur in our Archdiocese. Eight Catholic parish schools will be closed by the end of June. This adds to the 5 Catholic parish schools closed last June. Slowly, the Catholic presence in the city of Washington is disappearing. Actually, 13 school closings in less than 2 years, isn't so slow.
The parish churches connected to these schools are in great jepordy and are slated to also be closed in the next few years.
When these schools and churches close, they will be gone forever.
This is a loss of incaculable proportions. Let's not let these schools and churches close in silence. Please encourage your readers to call the Archdiocese and tell the Archdiocese "NO MORE".
Leave Catholicism in the Nation's Capital. DO not close our churches and schools. Take money from Catholic Charities. Any one can do social services, but only Catholic schools and Churches teach Catholicism.
Pray for wisdom for our Archdiocese, particularly for Archbishop Wuerl. Let the Holy Spirit do his work.
It is sad that schools and parishes in the city are closing. Especially as an indication of the decline of the communities that they once served. But to suggest that they are a higher priority than the Church's work on behalf of the poor ("Take money from Catholic Charities") is at complete odds with Christ's message. Indeed, "Let the Holy Spirit do his work", and provide for those among us less fortunate.
The communities where the Catholic schools are being closed are not areas that are experiencing economic hardship. Rather 6 of the 7 schools that are being converted to public charter schools(regardless of the parents' pleas to keep them Catholic) are actually in areas of high economic redevelopment. Drive by the schools that are closing and what you will see are areas of thriving redevelopment. For example. Immaculate Conception school is 4 blocks from the D.C. Convention Center. There has been a tremendous influx of young families moving into this area in order to be close to work and family. The schools that are beinging closed actually are being "Converted"(Archdiocese term) into public charters schools. The Archdiocese has chosen two real estate developers,Joseph Bruno and Jack Griffin to be the operators of the new charter schools. By abondoning Catholic education in the Nation's Capital(14 Catholic schools closed since June 2006!!!)we are telling the world that Catholic Education is no longer a priority for this Archdiocese.
I wouldn't be too quick associate community decline and econimic hardship...at least not in this context. It may be true that the schools being closed (or converted) are close to redevelopment and there may indeed be a return of young families to the area, this is not necessarily an indication of a robust Catholic community. If there were enough parishoners and/or students to support these schools, the Archdiocese (and the community) would find a way to keep them open. Parents' pleas are not enough. Without a high level of commitment from the community, with students AND dollars, the schools are not viable.
This would be a great topic for AAoWDCC to provide comment.
I will provide comment on the school issue, hopefully next week. It has been busy around here.
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