KANSAS CITY (MO)
National Catholic Reporter
October 5, 2018
By Heidi Schlumpf
A gathering of conservative Catholics who want “Authentic Reform” in response to the church’s latest sex abuse scandals ended with plans for a statement and a call for like-minded organizations to band together to force church leaders to act against sexually active priests and bishops, as well as those who abuse minors.
While some called for changes in canon law to allow more lay oversight in church governance, others admitted that was unlikely and instead urged attendees — many of them wealthy donors — to use their moral authority as baptized Catholics to effect change by withholding donations and pressuring bishops to demand an independent Vatican investigation of the U.S. church.
“We can’t wait around for the leadership of our church to kick this can down the road, hoping we’ll forget about it,” said Timothy Busch, the millionaire businessman who co-founded the Napa Institute, sponsor of the “Authentic Reform” event in Washington, D.C.
“We’re not going to forget about it,” he said. “We’re going to bring them to justice, move them out and restore our church to holiness.”
Known for its annual conferences in California wine country, the Napa Institute blends conservative theology and libertarian economics, with an emphasis on apologetics, sexual ethics and countercultural anti-secularization. All were on display at “Authentic Reform,” with a lineup of big-name conservative Catholic speakers and guests.
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