NOTICE
We, 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
To Faithful Catholics Everywhere
Welcome to the CORPUS Community!
CORPUS is a national association advocating both a married priesthood and a celibate priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. In the spirit of Vatican II and rooted in a strong Eucharistic commitment, we believe that priesthood should be open to all whom God calls regardless of gender, marital status or sexual orientation.
CORPUS represents the more than 35,000 married priests in the United States (110,000 worldwide) who were ordained Roman Catholic priests, but who were also called by God to matrimony. These priests desired only to celebrate their Catholic roots; proclaim their wives as sacred; embrace their families as a blessing; and serve the People of God.
Begun in 1974, CORPUS began as the Corps of Reserved Priests United for Service. These were priests who would continue to be available to help celibate priests in their parish ministries. By 1980, it was clear that our hopes would not come to pass. We changed our name to the Corps of Resigned Priests United for Service.
The following decade was given to dialoging with Bishops, the development of theological and canonical resources and organizing for the acceptance of a married priesthood. By the year 2000, we understood that marriage alone was not the answer to reform. In justice, all whom God calls (married or single, gay or straight, men or women) should be able to respond with “YES”! We are now known as CORPUS, the National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood.
Celebrating forty-six years of service to the people of God, is one of the oldest reform groups in the Catholic Church, and is active in reform movements both in the U.S. and abroad. For over 46 years, we have been joined by supporters who stand in justice with our mission. Be with us in prayer, solidarity and financial support in our efforts to reform the priesthood for all Catholics, everywhere.
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WINTER 2020
