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  Catholic Protesters Seek Attention

Erie Times-News
April 14, 2008

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080414/NEWS07/804140371/-1/NEWS

[with photo of members of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests and BishopAccountability.org yesterday at their news conference in Washington, D.C.]

NEW YORK -- Pope Benedict XVI might not see them or hear them, but Roman Catholic activists hope his U.S. visit this week will help them draw attention to issues ranging from the ordination of women to sexual abuse by priests.

The groups have planned vigils, demonstrations and news conferences to press their causes as the pope visits Washington and New York.

The Vatican's envoy to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, said any dissent was regrettable.

Members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and BishopAccountability.org, participate in a news conference and vigil to release a list of U.S. bishops who have been publicly accused of sex abuse and call on the pope to take action, Sunday, April 13, 2008 in Washington.
Photo by William B. Plowman

"Even in the Catholic church, nobody has the right to instrumentalize the visit of the pope to serve their personal interests," Sambi told the National Catholic Reporter. "The problem is that there are too many people here who would like to be the pope ... and who attribute to themselves a strong sense of their own infallibility."

Supporters of women's ordination will host what they call "an inclusive Mass" at a Methodist church in Washington, presided over by Catholic women -- including two who were recently excommunicated.

Gay Catholic activists, who plan to demonstrate Tuesday along the papal motorcade route in Washington, have compiled a list of statements by Benedict that they consider hostile to gays and lesbians.

Another divisive issue being raised this week is the Vatican's ban on contraception.

In a conference call organized by Catholics for Choice today, four Catholic theologians will be examining the impact of the 1968 encyclical "Humanae Vitae," which defined the Vatican's opposition to artificial birth control.

"Catholics wonder why there's this huge disparity between what the hierarchy says we should do in regard to contraception and what Catholics on the ground actually do," said Catholics for Choice president Jon O'Brien.

Asked about the prospects that Benedict might reconsider the ban, O'Brien replied, "I do believe in miracles."

For many American Catholics, the most distressing church-related issue of recent years has been clerical sex abuse. Thousands of molestation allegations have been filed against Catholic clergy, and dioceses have paid out more than $2 billion in claims since 1950.

David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said his group would not be mollified even if the pope meets privately with abuse victims.

"Few Catholics and victims will be moved in any way by gestures, words, tokens," Clohessy said. "It's as plain as day that three years into his papacy, Benedict has done literally nothing to protect the vulnerable or heal the wounded."

 
 

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