Re: opening for a Catholic Spring? just musing . . .
I did this thing at Brookings yesterday, with EJ (it was supposed also be with the bishops counsel but he bailed) and there was a lot of this. Though I agree with michael sheehan who I think said that the catholic church is not a democracy, if people want that they can become congregationalists, where the people in the pews matter :)
Father thomas, from georgetown had one killer stat. One out of every 3 americans born catholic, leaves the catholic church. If that group of people formed one church it would be one of the largest (top 3) churches in the country.
You know what all our catholic groups are missing? Deep serious theological thinking. They are organizing vessels - not engines of ideas. No one is more removed from heirarchy these days than the serious catholic scholars.
There were some other good observations yesterday from lib catholics that are worth making it back to our friends.
------Original Message------
From: John Podesta
To: Sandy Newman
Cc: Tara McGuinness
Subject: Re: opening for a Catholic Spring? just musing . . .
Sent: Feb 11, 2012 8:45 AM
We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a
moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now.
Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this
one will have to be bottom up. I'll discuss with Tara. Kathleen
Kennedy Townsend is the other person to consult.
On 2/10/12, Sandy Newman <sandynewman@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi, John,
>
> This whole controversy with the bishops opposing contraceptive coverage even
> though 98% of Catholic women (and their conjugal partners) have used
> contraception has me thinking . . . There needs to be a Catholic Spring, in
> which Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages dictatorship and
> the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the
> Catholic church. Is contraceptive coverage an issue around which that could
> happen. The Bishops will undoubtedly continue the fight. Does the Catholic
> Hospital Association support of the Administration's new policy, together
> with "the 98%" create an opportunity?
>
> Of course, this idea may just reveal my total lack of understanding of the
> Catholic church, the economic power it can bring to bear against nuns and
> priests who count on it for their maintenance, etc. Even if the idea isn't
> crazy, I don't qualify to be involved and I have not thought at all about
> how one would "plant the seeds of the revolution," or who would plant them.
> Just wondering . . .
>
> Hoping you're well, and getting to focus your time in the ways you want.
>
> Sandy
>
> Sandy Newman, President
> Voices for Progress
> 202.669.8754
> voicesforprogress.org
>
>
>
>
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Subject: Re: opening for a Catholic Spring? just musing . . .
To: "John Podesta" <john.podesta@gmail.com>
From: tara.mcguinness@gmail.com
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