Minnesota archdiocese warns against reform group’s 2010 synod

August 14, 2009

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is warning the faithful that a 2010 synod sponsored by the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform “is not being conducted under the auspices of the Archdiocese, the universal Roman Catholic Church, or any entity or organization affiliated with the Archdiocese or the universal Roman Catholic Church.”

The archdiocese released its warning on August 13, the day on which Father Roy Bourgeois-- a Maryknoll priest who has been excommunicated for his participation in feminist ceremonies at which women have claimed to be ordained as priests-- was appearing at a fundraiser for the coalition of eight dissenting groups. The keynote speaker at the coalition’s synod-- entitled “Claiming Our Place at the Table”-- is Paul Lakeland, director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Jesuit-run Fairfield University.

“The Archdiocese wishes to lovingly caution those members of the faithful participating in the ‘work/study groups’ and intending to attend the synod of the potential that the issues on which CCCR will seek reform are magisterial teachings of the Church, and are therefore to be believed by divine and catholic faith,” the archdiocesan announcement concluded. “The Archdiocese also wishes to remind the faithful of its need to shun any contrary doctrines, and instead to embrace and retain, to safeguard reverently and expound faithfully, the doctrine of faith and morals proposed definitively by the magisterium of the Church.”

 

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Further information:

• Official Announcement: Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis)
• Catholic Coalition for Church Reform
• Maryknoll priest denies excommunication, continues to uphold women's ordination (CWN, Aug 10)