For Immediate Release 4/14/09

“Where is the Justice in the Catholic Church?”
FutureChurch will ask Catholics for feedback at Open Mic. Night

FutureChurch would like your feedback to the question “Where is the justice in the Catholic Church?

Please join us for what is sure to be a lively conversation. Catholic Social Teaching if often called the “best kept secret” of the Church. Why is it considered a secret? Is social justice in plain sight or is it hiding? Do we see justice in our care for the poor, parish closings, treatment of women, and daily experience of church? To get the conversation started, FutureChurch has invited a panel of younger adult Catholics to begin the conversation. “We need everyone’s voice, especially the voice of the future of the Church to identify areas of injustice and ways to make the church a closer witness to gospel justice,” said Emily Holtel-Hoag, FutureChurch Special Project Coordinator and a younger adult Catholic herself.

“Over the last 10 years, I've been having an increasingly challenging time seeing the justice in the Catholic Church.  From the hierarchy's response to the priest sex abuse scandal to their continuing discrimination against others who are different from themselves to the bishop's seemingly arbitrary decision to close parishes, I'm finding it difficult to remain a part of the institutional Church.  I'm grateful that FutureChurch is giving us a forum to hear what others think as well as voice our own opinions about where we see justice in the Catholic Church,” said Dante Parete, one of the panelists that will speak.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Sweetwater Landing overlooking the Emerald Necklace Marina and the Rocky River. Snacks, cold drinks, coffee and tea will be provided along with a cash bar of beer and wine. There is no charge for the event, but a free will offering will be accepted. Sweetwater Landing is located at 1500 Scenic Park Drive, Lakewood, Ohio 44107. For directions go to sweetwaterlanding.com.

FutureChurch, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a national coalition of 5,000 parish-Centered Catholics striving to educate fellow Catholics about the seriousness of the priest shortage, the centrality of the Eucharist (the Mass), and the systemic inequality of women in the Catholic Church. FutureChurch makes presentations throughout the country, distributes educational and informational packets and encourages widespread discussion of the need to open ordination to all baptized persons who are called to priestly ministry.

FutureChurch
17307 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, OH 44107
216-228-0869
www.futurechurch.org