The Catholic Tipping Point

Fr Helmut Schüller från Österrike ger sig i sommar ut på en turné i USA, för att uppmärksamma Katolska kyrkans ledning på behovet av förnyelse av kyrkan och för att stärka lekfolkets roll i den. Under rubriken Take Action presenteras de behov som finns och vad som konkret planeras för åstadkomma en förändring. Det är så bra att jag lägger inte texten i sin helhet nedan, så att ingen missar det.

"Red ribbons action

At each of the speaking events, attendees are encouraged to wear red ribbons to signify the pastoral voice in each of us.  Red is traditionally the color of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit gave believers the power and responsibility of teaching the faith, it is also often associated with The Second Vatican Council, which emphasized the important role of the laity.   Lay people are capable and ready to serve their communities as pastoral leaders and preachers and eager to be part of the solution to the crisis that is overworking priests and underserving our communities.

These ribbons will be collected at the end of the event and Fr. Helmut will carry them with him along his journey.  The growing pile of ribbons will be a reminder of the many Catholics around the country who support him and the other priests, lay people and religious brothers and sisters who want to find creative solutions to the crises facing our church.  After the final speaking event, the ribbons will be publicly presented to the office of Cardinal Dolan, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, as a message from Catholics across the country.

Continue the conversation

We must let our own local communities know that we love our church and will work to make it a more just and vibrant community.  Encourage all of the attendees at the church to spread the word by talking with friends at church about what they’ve learned.  Encourage them to make an appointment for themselves and a friend to chat with their priest. We are reminded by Fr. Helmut that many of our own priests are working past retirement, serving in several parishes at once or being asked to say many Masses per day, so a meeting with two people at once might seem more productive. 

They know that the rules barring lay people and women from serving are making it nearly impossible for them to fully do the job they are called to do.  Ask your priest if he feels overstretched or if there are pastoral roles he feels must be skipped because of the work load and volunteer to help around the parish.  Let him know that you appreciate him, and that you know we need to work together to make our communities vibrant and move our church forward.  Listen to what he has to share and let him know you love your church.  This is how the seeds of a movement are planted!"