Catholic Organizations for Renewal

cor logoWe, the undersigned members of Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR), are outraged by and unequivocally condemn the violent storming of the United States Capitol that we witnessed on January 6, 2021. At the same time, as faithful Catholics, we lament the U.S. Catholic community’s complicity and participation in fostering an environment that encouraged and enabled such violence.

To be clear, the chaos and violence that terrorized our nation on Wednesday was a direct and foreseeable result of more than four years of President Trump’s violent, racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic rhetoric – rhetoric that many U.S. bishops repeatedly failed to name and condemn both individually and collectively. Even now, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a tepid statement that condemns violence but does not acknowledge President Trump’s role in encouraging it or their own complicity in it. 

We also recognize that many of our fellow Catholics staunchly supported Donald J. Trump throughout his four years as president. Some even served in the administration. And nearly half of Catholic voters supported his reelection in 2020.

We cannot ignore that many Catholics cast their votes influenced – in part – by statements, letters and sermons from clergy that masqueraded as Catholic teaching. At odds with Pope Francis, the official statement of the USCCB, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” placed opposing abortion access and LGBTQ rights above upholding the lives and dignity of the poor and vulnerable, reversing the disastrous effects of global climate change, and dismantling oppressive ideologies such as white supremacy and nationalism. 

As a people of faith, we reaffirm our commitment to Gospel values of non-violence and love of neighbor and we pray that the violence that unfolded before us on the Feast of the Epiphany will yield a new epiphany – that we as a Catholic community will work with ever more diligence to become the community of justice-makers that our baptisms call us to. We pray, too, for President-elect Joseph R. Biden (a fellow, faithful Catholic), Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris, and all our elected representatives as they begin the work of leading our nation toward healing and justice.

Endorsed by:

Call To Action
Catholics for Choice
CORPUS
DignityUSA
FutureChurch
New Ways Ministry
Quixote Center
RAPPORT
Roman Catholic Womenpriests - USA
Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Conference
Women’s Ordination Conference

Catholic Organizations for Renewal (COR) is a leadership forum of U.S. church reform organizations. The purpose is to further reform and renewal in the Roman Catholic Church, to build an inclusive church, to bring about a world of justice and peace and to reflect the sacredness of all creation. COR works collaboratively to provide an authentic Catholic moral voice on these issues and coordinates projects that further these goals.

COR provides a space where Catholics can talk, seek understanding and hopefully, reach consensus. Joint actions can be mounted, joint positions taken, but in each instance one or more member groups take the initiative and present the proposal to all other member groups, who then choose individually whether to be associated with that initiative. This preserves the autonomy and diversity of the member organizations, which differ considerably in the range of issues they choose to address. This principle is at the heart and soul of being Catholic.

Our guiding principles are contained in two foundational documents: 1990 Call To Reform in the Catholic Church and We Are Church: A Catholic Referendum 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.catholic-organizations-for-renewal.org/

Organizations Include:

For more information contact: