Critical Issues with the Church

The need to deepen an understanding of what the Church is, as taught by Vatican II, and its mission to the world. 

Need to form body of lay people for policy action (similar to Episcopal Church for example)

The bishops have lost their respect because of this lack of leadership. They are always looking over their shoulder to Rome for their support.

Role of laity, democratic structures.

To return to the understanding that God is the Head and we don't or shouldn't make things up as we go along. Majority opinion unequal to "God".

Manner of choosing bishops and their appointments to dioceses around the country. (criteria used, if any!?)

Proper reporting of church funds. Who pays for the Cardinals new apartment(s)? Renovated home? Former Cardinal's apartment?

1) election of bishops 2) exclusion of married men from presbyterial ordination.

•  Bishops are not appointed by the Holy Spirit. 2) Church is like a bank.

•  Blatant, active homosexuality among priests. 2) Bishops only concerned with issues that might cause lawsuits or "perhaps" scandal. They are as guilty as sin, but if I was in their position, could I have done any better?  

How bishops are selected.

Love is the most important thing in this world today. If we love our leaders in the church, stop the laws that make them unhuman. They are not God and we are robbing them of their happiness. God is love. They should be able to have at least one wife or husband, children and this union be blessed by al religious orders.

How to bring non-active Catholics to the church. The spirituality of the family.

Renewed emphasis on baptism as source of identity for disciples who function as priests - less emphases on ordination as source of identity. Regression from "Spirit" of Vatican II (actually, essence of #2 above) in other words: an overemphasis on Peter and an under emphasis on Paul.

•  Bishops apologize for cover-ups of abuse cases. 2) Priest shortage and morale ups and downs due to more Catholics and Masses but difficulty getting coverage for vacations or illness.

Catholics have a lousy notion of what obedience means.

Episcopal moral leadership

Getting to deal with essential things rather than wasting time and energy on rubrics etc.

Mistakes are made by all human beings. The church is made of human beings your conclusion.

Globalization; Modernity; Religion and Violence' New Evangelization, Fundamentalism; Generational differences; especially among Roman Catholic clergy.

Election of bishops

"Call to Action" issue.

Ecumenism 2) new style of leadership to replace monarchical papacy (e.g. regional "papal" vicars, global networking among Episcopal conferences allowing for local decision-making).

•  Obedience to the magisterium. 2) call to holiness  

Clericalism is a curse on the church.  

The Church needs to move away from its medieval, hierarchical model to one that includes the youthful in a more dialogical process.

We are a church with OUT direction. The current CONSERVATIVE direction is ruining our church. The Priest Sex Scandal has seriously "wounded" our church. We are a church without a rudder. There are RULES AND LAWS - but NO DIRECTION, NO LEADERSHIP. Where are our bishops - to lead!!!

•  Clericalism 2) Abuse of power

Surveys such as this!!!

 Having to put up with people like you!

The loss of a generation of women and immigrants due to narrow vision of ministry, particularly ordained.

Irresponsible biblical studies/scholarship. Revisionist History that demonizes the last (very judgmental) but tolerates. No critical self reflection over the last 40 years.

Our servicemen are proud to wear the uniform of the USA. We priests should be proud to wear our uniform in public. Publicly we show our allegiance to our chief.

Youth

Poor language in both ss translations and especially the non scriptural prayers. 

•  Clergy shortage 2) Centralization of Authority 3) Co-opting of the culture 4) Fear of dialogue on certain topics 5) Failures in ecumenical efforts 6) Loss of teens and young adults 7) Disparity of resources

•  Seminary formation 2) Election of church leaders

1) Dismal failure of bishops "leadership": cowardly, superficial, and stupid, with only a handful of exceptions. 2) Hollywood and media elites attack the Catholic Church and traditional morality unopposed by Church leaders. 3) Catholic education at all levels must be faithful to Catholic doctrine, practice and be of high academic quality.

The rights of parents and their children in education no government education bureaucracy at all levels.

I would like to see more dialogue between older and younger priests.

Transparency in all of church. cf Newman's Consulting the Laity in Matters of Doctrine.

1) Choice of Bishops 2) methodology-reward for "serving" present Bishops. - rather than call to serve broader church.3) small diocese become dumping grounds for Auxiliary Bishops from Detroit. Many never appreciate differences from Detroit.

Clear teaching. Repentance. Prayer. Power from God. Biblical renewal. Catechetical formation.

Sadly, everything that has anything to do with sexuality. Honesty and integrity of bishops.

 What should be the role of former priests who have married in light of non-catholic men (Episc., Lutheran) who are being ordained?  

Our bishops must Listen to and speak for our people. Openness on all issues even when there is disagreement…especially when there is misuse of money by bishops

The way the American bishops overreacted to issues regarding sexual abuse of minors/adolescents. Their norms are too punitive.

Reaching out to youth. Evangelizing people. Simplicity of lifestyle for those in authority.

 Vocations

Priest's in formation in our diocese should improve

 Future membership in the church for today's youth

The church needs to do the following: 1) Get the laity out of the ordained priestly roles. 2) condemn modernist (liberal ) groups 3) correct the abuses of the mass 4) preach the truth in all it's fullness and stop watering it down and apologizing for it.

Fascist pope disregard for Vatican II

•  Pastors burdened with administration at the expense of pastoring. 2) Reluctance to allow non-ordained to lead parishes when priests are not available. 3) we are stuck in survival rather than growth mode.

Openness of discussion? Trust in Spirit? Are bishops leaders of local churches or are they underlings of the bishop of Rome?

•  Seminary formation 2) priestly responsibilities. 3) expectations of the laity 4) open clergy. Few professions have the expectations put upon them that priests do.

The attempts on the part of a relatively small but vocal and active group of Catholic clergy That is mainly priests) and ex-priests and catholic lay people who want to "protestanize" the catholic church in areas of the magisterium, and area of liturgy, education and morality. they are wolves in sheeps clothing.

•  decision making in general has to be more inclusive. The faithful have such a reservoir of incredible resources. 2) reconfiguring/ reforming parish structures esp. in large mega parish.

 vocations to priesthood and religious life

Increased willingness to obey the magisterium

I believe our saintly pope is part of a transition from patriarchy to women's liberation, the right to personal privacy, and the peace which Pope Paul VI declared to be difficult but possible. Try to get the CGI bishops to speak out openly. God may be ready to bless the church for the misguided obedience bishops have shown.

Vocations and haw they impact the world. Greater emphasis on social justice including work for peace in the world.

"Marriage" approval for persons of same sex compassion and forgiveness for sexual abuse priests.

Greater OBEDIENCE to Church authority

  1) Women Priests 2) Servant leadership 3) lay leadership in parishes

 Regarding support: especially those who are involved in progressive, justice, peace, solidarity activities.

Satisfying: only because of people not "BIG CHURCH”

Unsatisfying: because of bishops. Support: other clergy-few

Your prejudices "scream" off this page. I'm amazed at your simplistic approach.

Thank you for this survey. Now bring the laity into this process.

No survey form. His comments: You are not welcome to serve me any more of your

I have chosen not to participate in your survey of priests. However, I wanted to let you know that I am not ignoring or dismissing your effort. My concern is that the results of the survey might be used to further distract the Church. It seems that our intra-familial discussion has been distracted by concerns of authority and sexuality away from our more primary mission of preaching the Kingdom of God to the poor. I respect the good work that Call to Action has done in the past and I pray that your good action might not be derailed by the concerns indicated in your survey.

I have been fortunate to have a good career in the church. I have had a lot of support and responsibility, great life, but some theological questions

Morale: for a priest, these are the same thing (at least they should be).

We need Call to Action now more than ever. The Church hierarchy need a real wake up call. Reports now show less people attend Mass. More people feel the church is out of touch with the real issues people struggle with. The clergy shortage is acute. There is no shortage of people willing to minister. Cardinal Maida has spent every cent we have. He lent money to parishes that have no way of paying it back. (St. Jude Detroit) He purchased the building across from the cathedral, just so he could order the women's' ordination sign down, he has his landscaper cut the entire neighborhood's grass, $17,000 per month......built an apartment for himself at St. John Center for $1,300,000.00, built a special garage for his car so no one would know when he was there, $52,000, a private elevator to his apartment so he would not have to pass via the main lobby, $250, 000.00, put $1,000,000.00 into his residence ..... where does this end? We have challenged him as clergy, now it's the lay people's and religious' turn. In the past 20 years the archdiocese has spent $62,300.000.00 dollars on poor parishes and defunct schools. What do we have to show for that money? NOTHING! the Chirco family had a home in Grand Haven. they donated it to the church. It was sold for $20,000.000.00. That money could have been used in so many ways that would have benefited the Church. It was used to build his hotel at St. John. Please raise your voices up and help us ........

Note: I do not trust other clergy, on the whole, because so many are unhappy, uneducated and jealous.

Thank you for conducting this survey. I look forward to seeing the results.

I am not Writing my year of ordination because I am afraid of you.

Mostly satisfied but very depressed by the present pope and his minions.

I am praying for each of you please do not underestimate the consequences of your dissent.

Who cares! I have been hurt so often that I lost all respect for church authorities

Thank you for your ministries and service to the church! I feel very much support but not from diocese

If I see no change in our leadership I am seriously contemplating leaving the priesthood in a few years after I celebrate my 25th anniversary.