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CORPUS is a faith community affirming an inclusive priesthood rooted in a reformed and renewed Church.
CORPUS, celebrating forty-four years of service to the people of God, is one of the oldest reform groups in the Catholic Church, and is active in reform movements both in the U.S. and abroad. We are committed to working for a renewed priesthood of married and single men and women dedicated to serving God through the Community of Believers.
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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t is that same Risen Lord who continues to warn us not to let our hunger for material wealth or status blind and deafen us to the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Salvation is an exodus experience. It is a movement from being imprisoned to being set free, from darkness to light, from fear to trust, from ignorance to understanding. It is a journey from self-concern to the humility of caring for the little ones, the least of our brothers and sisters. And this has everything to do with the Kingdom of God.
A CALL TO ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF CORPUS
A CALL TO ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF CORPUS August 31, 2018
As did Rachel (Jer. 31:15), the People of God weep for the children and cannot be comforted by words. Pope Francis’ recent expression of shame and sorrow over sexual abuse committed or countenanced by bishops, priests and religious is welcome and necessary, but very far from sufficient.
CORPUS joins with all who demand a change in behavior in the Catholic Church, so that:
1. victims of sexual abuse and their families at long last be treated with justice and compassion, and given support – without cost to them for as long as needed, regardless of when the offences occurred;
2. in each diocese there be standing committees, led by qualified lay people, to ensure that all credible allegations of sexual offences – whether of commission or omission - are reported, investigated and prosecuted according to the requirements of civil law and authority; and,
3. credible suspicion of abuse results in suspension from ministry during the investigation, and proven violation of the law results in permanent removal from Church ministry.
Along with these changes in behavior, Corpus calls for a radical change in thinking to heal the Church from its cancer of clerical sexual abuse. Institutional clericalism allowed systemic abuse to exist. It must die so that a reformed Church can be born: the death of the grain bears much fruit (John. 12:24).
Actions must be taken now. Words alone will not eliminate wolves who enter the sheepfold or remove the millstone now weighing down the Church. CORPUS, sensing the pain of the victims of sexual abuse and echoing cries of the people, demands that Church leadership ensure all necessary action be taken. CORPUS stands ready to assist.
John and Maureen Sheehan (Co-Chairpersons)
Gloria Durka / Paul Bumbar (Co-Secretaries)
John Shankey (Treasurer)
Jim Ewens (Editor, CORPUS REPORTS)
Petition to Reinstate Rev. Roy Bourgeois
A Petition to Reinstate Rev. Roy Bourgeois
PLEASE SEND TO YOUR BISHOP AND ROME
FIND YOUR BISHOP"S ADDRESS CLICK HERE
The Corpus Executive Council is very pleased to present this petition for reinstating Rev. Roy Bourgeois — who is being unjustly punished for preaching at a woman’s ordination. He told the Vatican that it was against his conscience to say that he did not believe in the ordination of women. Because Corpus is on record for favoring the restoration of a married priesthood in the Western Church, and for reviving the ordination of women in the Catholic Communion of Churches, we ask Pope Francis to follow the majority of Catholics who stand in solidarity with Rev. Bourgeois.
John and Maureen Sheehan, Gloria Durka, Paul Bumbar, Jim Ewens, John Shankey
RESOURCES
CORPUS Reports
