OHIO
National Catholic Reporter

Lori Lesko | Jul. 29, 2013

CLEVELAND The only way to restore the church to the people is to revisit the Second Vatican Council and openly discuss with the church hierarchy the polarizing issues of optional celibacy, the ordination of women and welcoming lesbian and gay couples to the sacraments. This was the message Austrian reformist priest Fr. Helmut Schüller delivered to a crowd of 400 on Thursday at the Independence Middle School in Greater Cleveland.

Catholics need to return to the spirit of Vatican II and “become citizens of the church again,” Schüller said, urging women to continue speaking out for their rights.

Cleveland is one stop of the 15-city “Catholic Tipping Point” tour, sponsored by 10 progressive Catholic organizations including the Cleveland-based FutureChurch. The organizations support Schüller’s calls for inclusive and transparent changes to church governance, including greater lay participation, inclusive ministries and…