CVR - ITV Survey Response

The results of this survey are little short of astonishing.  Our experience in a range of Catholic reform organisations confirms our belief that around 50% of Catholics in the UK broadly support the reform agenda.

On some issues however this survey suggests that the percentage is much higher, for example the number supporting a married priesthood is well over 60%. The response regarding gay relationships indicates that a high percentage of respondents support more tolerance in respect of celebrating such relationships.

CVR - ITV Survey Response

There is no surprise at the response to the question regarding artificial contraception, this is a debate long ago settled in the Catholic lay community and exists only in the minds of those in the Vatican Curia and the few others in denial.

What the survey confirms very strongly is that Catholic Voices for Reform is correct in its claim that the Church has reached a stage where an open discussion about how the Church can best fulfil its sacred mission in the modern world is the only way forward.

Concerns and needs should always be brought to the Bishops and shared among others of the laity as is perfectly legal in Church law. (Can. 212 (3))  Those who ask for dialogue and reform are demonstrating loyalty in their commitment to the Roman Catholic Church.

We now call upon our all of our bishops to initiate a full and open dialogue involving the whole Church in England and Wales, laity, priests and bishops, to cover all of these issues which are already being discussed by Catholics all over the country after Sunday Mass and on other occasions when they meet.

Such a discussion should include:

1. Governance of the Church in England and Wales and the role of the laity, with a view to introducing fully inclusive governance through collaboration at parish, diocesan and national level.
2. The requirement for compulsory celibacy for priests.
3. The treatment of people of a different sexual orientation and others who feel separated and excluded from the Church.
4. The role of women in Church ministry.
5. The imposition of the new translation of the liturgy.

We believe that, in the true spirit of collegiality and subsidiarity, as indicated in outcomes of the Second Vatican Council, it is appropriate for the Church in England and Wales to make a genuine effort to listen to lay Catholics and consult with them in the most collaborative way.

The questions we posed, for consideration by Pope Benedict during his visit should now also be considered by our Bishops as part of the consultative process indicated above. And we pledge our willingness to work with our Bishops to promote a Church that is both credible and a force for good in the modern world.

Our questions already published are shown below.

Questions Catholics would like to ask Pope Benedict

1.     In the present over-centralised Church structure how can the Church revive Collegiality of Bishops and the importance of the local Church?

2.     Why is Rome planning to impose an outmoded liturgy on Britain? And why are the proposed reforms not using inclusive and grammatically correct English?

3.     The Church has an honourable history of extolling the relief of poverty and inequality through ‘social teaching’.  However, it’s teaching in pursuit of greater equality requires considerable development, how can the Church humanise its understanding of God’s gift of ‘sexual orientation’?

4.     Many people believe that the Church will soon allow  married priesthood, as this is purely a church law, why not avoid further hurt and change the rule on celibacy now?

5.     The question of women’s ordination to the diaconate and priesthood is hampered by the outmoded anthropology and theology of the Magisterium. How can the experience of the laity and the scholarship of female and male theologians assist the Church to understand that the non – ordination of women is purely ‘cultural and historical’ and has no anthropological or theological roots?

6.     The abuse crisis has highlighted to the world that the Institutional Church is too monarchical, lacks transparency and accountability.  How can the Church draw on the skills and abilities of the laity in moving towards a healthy, accountable and professional Church government at central and local level?

Many other questions are actively under discussion and the above are only a selection of those which people would like to discuss with Pope Benedict during his visit to the UK.

Bernard Wynne

13 September 2010

Contact

Bernard Wynne Tel. 020 8850 6458 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Valerie Stroud Tel. 07904 332201 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Simon Bryden-Brook Tel: 020 7235 2841 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pat Brown Tel: 0795 0048628 email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it