FutureChurch is an American religious organization that advocates for a variety of causes within the Catholic Church. It is based in Lakewood, Ohio[1][2] and supports women's ordination, the advancement of feminist theology, and an end to mandatory priestly celibacy.[3][4] It has been characterized as "liberal" by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.[2][3][5]
FutureChurch has been characterized as a "national"[1][2][6] and even "international"[7] group, but is active primarily in the Cleveland metropolitan area.[8] Its executive director is Deborah Rose-Milavec.[9]
History
editFutureChurch was founded in 1990 in Cleveland, Ohio,[6][10] by Sr. Christine Schenk, Fr. Louis Trivison, and others.[7][11] It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1994.[10]
In its early years, FutureChurch was in a friendly dialogue with the Diocese of Cleveland.[12] However, in 2004 the Cleveland diocese, led by Bishop Anthony Michael Pilla, released a statement critical of the organization.[10] Shortly after Richard Lennon succeeded Pilla as Bishop of Cleveland on May 15, 2006, FutureChurch began looking for another location for its office.[13] There were rumors that Lennon had refused them permission to operate out of churches in the Cleveland diocese, but these rumors were not officially confirmed by FutureChurch or by the archdiocese.[14]
When Bishop Lennon decided to close several Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, FutureChurch was one of the groups that contested this move.[2][15] According to Eugene Kramer, the chairman of the FutureChurch Board of Trustees, Bishop Lennon met with the organization's leaders in January 2007 to discuss alternatives to the parish closings.[16] When the closings went ahead, some Catholics in the diocese appealed to the Vatican, and in March 2012, the Vatican overruled Bishop Lennon on this matter.[1][2]
After the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith mandated certain changes in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in April 2012, FutureChurch helped to rally support for religious sisters in Cleveland.[5]
Mission
editFutureChurch seeks the full participation of all Catholics in the life and leadership of the Church. FutureChurch works for: Just, open and collaborative structures for Catholic worship, organization and governance; a return to the Church's early tradition of both married and celibate priests; a return to the Church's earliest tradition, "modeled on the inclusive practice of Jesus", of recognizing both female and male leaders of faith communities; and, regular access to the Eucharist, the center of Catholic life and worship for all Catholics.
References
edit- ^ a b c O'Malley, Michael (July 23, 2011), "Cleveland Catholics abuzz over investigation of Bishop Richard Lennon", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ a b c d e O'Malley, Michael (March 7, 2012), "Vatican reverses Cleveland Catholic Diocese's closing of 13 parishes", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ a b O'Malley, Michael (January 22, 2010), "Lakewood-based FutureChurch leads effort to press Catholic Church to allow married priests", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ "FutureChurch: Mission and Vision", FutureChurch Web Site, FutureChurch, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ a b Goodstein, Laurie (June 1, 2012), "American Nuns Vow to Fight Harsh Criticism From the Vatican", The New York Times, New York, NY, retrieved June 1, 2012
- ^ a b O'Malley, Michael (September 25, 2010), "FutureChurch to hear nun who advocated female clergy: Religion in the News", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ a b Segall, Grant (March 19, 2010), "Obituary: Rev. Louis J. Trivison led Resurrection Catholic and FutureChurch", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (June 1, 2012), "American Nuns Vow to Fight Harsh Criticism From the Vatican", The New York Times, New York, NY, retrieved June 1, 2012; this article discusses FutureChurch solely in the context of the Cleveland local church, even though the subject of the article involves the entire United States.
- ^ "Futurechurch Names New Executive Director", FutureChurch Web Site, FutureChurch, September 18, 2013, retrieved October 10, 2013
- ^ a b c "Statement from the FutureChurch Leadership Council Responding to the 4/1/2004 Statement in the Cleveland Diocesan Memorandum", FutureChurch Web Site, FutureChurch, April 1, 2004, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ Oatis, Kate (July 22, 2011), "FutureChurch celebrates Feast of St. Mary of Magdala", National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, MO, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ Roberts, Tom (July 16, 2009), "A Map to the Future Church", National Catholic Reporter, Kansas City, MO, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ See the reference to the "Great Office Search" at http://www.futurechurch.org/newsletter/summer06/directorsdesk.htm
- ^ The rumors appeared in June 2006 on a number of blogs, including Open Book. The rumors were still unverified as of early 2007: the magazine Catholic World Report (February 2007 issue, page 39) stated that "neither FutureChurch nor the diocese has confirmed the rumor."
- ^ Jenkins, Colette M. (March 7, 2012), "Lawyer: Vatican overrules 13 Cleveland closings", Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012
- ^ Kramer, Eugene (July 24, 2011), "Letters to the editor", The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, retrieved March 15, 2012