Page 47 – Future Church

2020 Mary of Magdala Celebration with Preacher Dr. Kim Harris

Written on July 23, 2020. Posted in Mary of Magdala, Women In Church Leadership.

FutureChurch Celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Mary of Magdala on July 22, 2020 with a special online liturgy with preaching from Dr. Kim R. Harris, Ph.D.

Dr. Kim Harris is Assistant Professor of African American Thought and Practice in the Department of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University. While pursuing her PhD at Union Seminary in New York City, she composed Welcome Table: A Mass of Spirituals, along with composer M. Roger Holland II. A gifted preacher, story teller, singer, and composer she records and travels the nation, performing concerts, lecturing on the music of African American freedom traditions, and leading music in a variety of liturgical settings.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #S-921009

Women Erased: In Search of a Majority with Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, Th.D.

Written on July 14, 2020. Posted in Women Erased, Women In Church Leadership.

Throughout the early (2nd-6th) Christian centuries, the lives of most women were lived in silence, while the few elite ascetic women got at least some attention. What about the rest? Dr. Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, Catholic Professor of New Testament emerita at Brite Divinity School and past president of the Catholic Biblical Association, explores the lives of these early Christian women we know little about.

Women Erased: Reading the Bible Against the Grain with Carol Dempsey, OP, Ph.D.

Written on June 22, 2020. Posted in Women Erased, Women In Church Leadership.

Carol Dempsey, OP, PhD explores new ways of reading the Scripture “against the grain” and offers us new understandings of many of the stories and poems can become uncanningly “prophetic” to move us forward in our work for global justice. Included in our discussion is the topic of the gendering of “God” as we explore hegemonic power. Professor Carol J. Dempsey, OP is an internationally recognized and award-winning scholar who teaches courses in Biblical Studies, specifically in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. With particular expertise in the Prophets, Professor Dempsey’s interests lie in a feminist and liberation approach to biblical texts, gender studies, biblical theology, literary and rhetorical criticism, and environmental/ecological studies.

To Speak the Truth in Love Book Study with Christine Schenk, CSJ and Theresa Kane, RSM

Written on June 4, 2020. Posted in Women In Church Leadership.

To Speak the Truth in Love: A Biography of Theresa Kane RSM

A three-part series from FutureChurch featuring Sr. Christine Schenk CSJ (author) and Sr. Theresa Kane RSM

FutureChurch was honored to welcome Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ and Sr. Theresa Kane, RSM for this unique opportunity to read Sr. Christine’s new book, To Speak the Truth in Love: A Biography of Theresa Kane RSM, together! Each session was filled with additional insights and commentary from Sr. Christine and from Sr. Theresa Kane herself offerred a Q&A. View the session descriptions and the videos of these three remarkable nights below:

Session One: Pope John Paul II meets Sister Theresa Kane: Who is this Person?
Sr. Theresa Kane’s historic 1979 encounter with Pope John Paul II requesting full inclusion of women in all the ministries of the church galvanized the women’s movement in the Catholic Church. What led up to this moment? What changed because of Theresa’s prophetic act?

Session Two: Innovative Provincial: The Perils of Prophetic Leadership
After Vatican II, Theresa and the Sisters of Mercy of the Union experienced immense changes in their ministries and lifestyle. Because Theresa would not desist from speaking her Sisters’ truth about the full equality and moral agency of women, the Vatican tried to remove her from office. But she persisted with a deep and persevering faith.

Session Three: The Significance of Theresa Kane’s Leadership Yesterday and Today
In 2009, the Vatican announced dual wide -ranging investigations of US sisters, described at the time as “probably the largest investigation in church history.” Pope Francis ended both investigations favorably for the sisters. After nearly 50 years of opposition, the Vatican publicly affirmed contemporary expressions of religious life first inaugurated by Theresa and her contemporaries. What lessons does this 50-year saga hold for the People of God today?

Women Erased: From the Lectionary with Michael Peppard, Ph.D.

Written on May 8, 2020. Posted in Women Erased, Women In Church Leadership.

FutureChurch welcomes Michael Peppard, PhD, associate professor of New Testament Studies at Fordham University, who discusses how Biblical women are disproportionately underrepresented in the assigned Scripture readings for the Church year: some women are omitted entirely, others are only read at weekday mass, and still others are made “optional.” Providing examples from both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, Dr. Peppard covers just the tip of the iceberg in this presentation.

An Ecclesial Dream Too Small: Pope Francis Undermines Synodal Process, Upholds Eucharistic Famine, and Sidelines Women

Written on February 13, 2020. Posted in Press Releases.

Release date: Thursday, February 13, 2020
Contact(s):
Deborah Rose-Milavec
Russ Petrus
Contacts:
Russ Petrus, Co-Director of FutureChurch, 216.228.0869, russ@futurechurch.org
Deborah Rose-Milavec, Co-Director of FutureChurch, 513.673.1401 (mobile), debrose@futurechurch.org

CLEVELAND – On July 16, 2020 the Vatican announced the appointment of Bishop Edward Malesic as Bishop of Cleveland. Currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Bishop Malesic be installed as the Twelfth Bishop of Cleveland on September 14, 2020.

“FutureChurch welcomes Bishop Malesic to Cleveland and we pray for him and all Cleveland Catholics as we begin this new relationship,” said Todd Ray, Chair of the FutureChurch Board of Trustees. “We are heartened by indications from Greensburg laity and clergy that Bishop Malesic is a pastoral leader with strong listening skills,” Ray added.

Bishop Malesic succeeds Bishop Nelson Perez who was installed as Archbishop of Philadelphia in February.

“Bishop Perez’s time in Cleveland was a step in the right direction after the difficult leadership of Bishop Richard Lennon. And we are cautiously optimistic that Bishop Malesicwill continue to work with Clevelanders to foster healing, restore trust, and build relationships based on collaboration and mutuality,” said Russ Petrus, co-director of FutureChurch and resident of the Diocese of Cleveland.

“While we are particularly encouraged by reports regarding the listening sessions Bishop Malesic undertook in the wake of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report, we also hope that he will extend that pastoral practice to the voices of women in this diocese beginning with an installation Mass that fully and equally includes women at the altar with the practice of genuine inclusion continuing throughout the course of his tenure in all aspects of ministry in this diocese,” added Deborah Rose-Milavec, co-director of FutureChurch.

“We hope his gift for listening will translate into meaningful and prophetic action that will respect and fully embrace the critically important ministry that Catholic women in this diocese already provide and help all Cleveland Catholics work together to address the most pressing issues facing the local and global Church today,” Rose-Milavec said. “We must finally address racism in our structures and culture, the exclusion of women, the vilification of LGBTQ Catholics, the need for a married priesthood, and the rapidly declining numbers of both priests and self-identified Catholics.”

FutureChurch looks forward to engaging with Bishop Malesic to find ways of working together to bring about a more just and inclusive diocese, Church, and world.

END

About FutureChurch Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, FutureChurch seeks changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. It is a national coalition of 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 is a nonprofit organization that makes presentations throughout the country, distributes education, advocacy and prayer resources and recruits activists who work on behalf of its mission.

FutureChurch prays for Bishop Nelson’s success, healing for the Catholics of Philadelphia; urges Cleveland Catholics to voice their needs and desires for the next bishop of Cleveland

Written on January 27, 2020. Posted in Press Releases.

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 27, 2020
Contact: Deborah Rose-Milavec, Russ Petrus, Co-directors
(216) 228-0869

russ@futurechurch.org
debrose@futurechurch.org

CLEVELAND, Ohio – FutureChurch prays for both Bishop Perez and the Catholics of Philadelphia as they begin their relationship and embark on a new journey together. Pope Francis’ decision to appoint Nelson Perez as Archbishop of Philadelphia was announced on January 23, 2020. He will be installed on February 18th.

“Bishop Perez’s pastoral approach to leadership came as a welcome change to Cleveland Catholics in the wake of years of pain and difficulty under the leadership of Bishop Lennon,” said Marie Graf, a Cleveland-area Catholic and Vice-chair of the FutureChurch Board. Bishop Richard G. Lennon ordered the closing of 50 parishes in 2009, had a notably contentious relationship with many priests of the diocese, and was the subject of an Apostolic Visitation in 2011. Twelve of the closed parishes appealed closure with the assistance of FutureChurch and won.

“In his brief time here, Bishop Perez helped to begin what will be an ongoing healing process for Catholics in Cleveland. And we pray that the people of Philadelphia will have the same experience” said FutureChurch Co-director, Russ Petrus. Perez replaces Archbishop Charles Chaput, whose legalistic approach – particularly when it comes to divorced and remarried Catholics as well as the LGBTQ Catholic community – has frequently put him at odds with Pope Francis.

Bishop Perez’s successor in Cleveland has not been named. “Cleveland Catholics are understandably concerned about the future leadership for the Diocese,” said FutureChurch Co-director, Deborah Rose-Milavec, “and FutureChurch urges them to make their pastoral needs and desires known.”

FutureChurch has developed a brief survey for Cleveland Catholics and will forward results to the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, who plays a vital role in determining which candidates are presented to officials at the Congregation for Bishops and Pope Francis for consideration. Take the survey at http://bit.ly/cle-bishop.

Those wishing to communicate directly with the Apostolic Nuncio can do so:

By email:

nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org

By phone:

202-333-7121

By mail:

The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre

3339 Massachusetts Ave NW

Marie Collins Accepts FutureChurch’s 2019 Louis J. Trivison Award

Written on November 8, 2019. Posted in Fall Event.

FutureChurch co-director, Deborah Rose-Milavec, introduces and presents Marie Collins with the 2019 Louis J. Trivison award in recognition of her tireless pursuit of justice for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, protection of children and vulnerable people, and accountability from the hierarchy. Accepting the award, Marie Collins offers a brief presentation on her background, her experience as a member of the Papal Commission for the Protection of Minors, two reforms she sees as necessary, and what gives her hope.

Read the transcript of this presentation.