We look forward with great anticipation to the inaugural convening of the American Catholic Council in Detroit next June. Despite the “advisory” issued by the Archdiocese of Detroit (see more below), we continue to witness a growing groundswell of support from the grassroots as more and more Catholics learn about the ACC and participate in an ever growing number of local and regional listening sessions across the country.

We recently published the preliminary brochure on the Detroit program that can be downloaded: DETROIT PRELIMINARY PROGRAM. It’s a large pdf file, so it may take some time to download. We remind you of the opportunity to take advantage of “early bird” discount registration rates that apply through December 31st. To register, see the notice in the sidebar.

In this newsletter, we publish the official ACC response to the Detroit “advisory” and launch a discussion on the challenge to develop within the ACC a “spirituality of nonviolence” that can sustain us over the long haul.

We thank those in leadership at all levels of the movement’s infrastructure, most especially those in the grassroots who have taken up the mantle of leadership in convening local listening sessions. There’s been a flurry of them of late, over a dozen in the last 6 weeks alone, involving close to a 1000 folks.

 

As we approach the season of “Thanksgiving” we are ever mindful of the time, talent and treasure shared by so many. In the Greek, the word “Thanksgiving” means Eucharist. May we be sustained as a growing and faithful Eucharistic Community, one in the Body of Christ.

– National Planning Committee

American Catholic Council, Inc.

For a listing of members of the Committee, CLICK HERE.

Our Church is suffering one of the largest crises in its 2000 year history.  The Church is losing its moral authority in the wake of sexual, financial, and political crimes.  Millions are leaving the Church around the world (more than 30 million in the US alone).

The Council planners believe that the Motifs of the Spirit offer significant guidance about ways to resolve this crisis. We are exercising our right and duty under Church Law to assemble, discuss, and offer recommendations “on matters which pertain to the good of the Church.”  (Canon 212.3) We are educating Catholics about the Second Vatican Council (the highest form of teaching authority in the Roman Church).

Through our national program of listening sessions, we are inviting Catholics to talk about the practical implications of these Motifs for their lives in the Church. And, we will celebrate Vatican II on June 10-12, 2011, at our Council.

We invite everyone to participate with us, including the Archbishop and the staff of the Archdiocese of Detroit.  We also publicly request Archbishop Vigneron to meet with us to correct this grave misrepresentation (Canon 220) of the thousands of faithful Catholics who have participated in listening sessions all over the US.

Visit our website at www.americancatholiccouncil.org

participate in a listening session, do an online survey, read and learn what the practical implications of these Motifs are for our Church.  Thank you.

Janet Hauter and John Hushon

Co-Chairs, American Catholic Council

We have heard from many who look forward with expectation for “tangible results” from the Detroit, i.e. an “action plan” for implementation that can motivate those who attend as well as inform the ongoing work of  various reform groups in the US and abroad. We recognize that this is critically important if we are to achieve the structural reform of our Church and in a way that reflects  what we have come to call the Motifs of the Spirit of Vatican II.

 

This has generated an increasing call that we begin to explore a Spirituality of Nonviolence to inform and sustain us for the long haul as we seek change in the Church. We invite our readers to begin by reflecting on a short reading  by Caridad Inda, a member of our National Planning Committee. Caridad challenges us to think through how we might demonstrate “love in action that does justice.”  In addition, one of our keynoters in Detroit, Jeanette Rodriquez, plans to speak to some of these concerns during her address on Friday evening of the Council. To facilitate the developing discussion on this theme, we have setup a related online Discussion Forum. After reading Caridad’s reflection below, we invite your participation in that forum.

Nonviolence, Public Witness & the Gospel (Caridad Inda)

 

 

 

Note: Participation in Forums will require sign-up to the ACC Assemblies Community Network;