Biship Morlino of Madison has been criticized for attempts to return to Pre-Vatican II services and governance. In 2008 two progressive groups signed a letter complaining of his actions in a one page paid advertisement in the Madison, WI newspaper. (SEE: http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2011/09/2008-outcry-concerning-madisons-biship.html) Now the group sent a letter to Pope Francis in April 2014 and the letter has been leaked. The following excerpts of Wisconsin State Journal articles regarding the issue.
In the Spirit: In letter to pope, progressive Catholics list grievances with Madison diocese : Wsj
In a letter to Pope Francis, the local group says it is very difficult in the Madison Catholic Diocese to be the kind of church the pontiff wants — one that works with the poor for justice, is sensitive to the needs of others, and welcomes everyone, especially those marginalized by society.
“The church you envision is not the church we are experiencing,” the letter states. “We experience not pastoral sensitivity, but judgment; we are marginalized, even excluded.”
Brent King, a spokesman for the Madison Catholic Diocese, said the letter contains “many false assertions.” By going public with their grievances, the letter writers will serve only to sow “deeper division and discord,” he said.
The letter was coordinated by members of two groups: the Madison-area chapter of Call to Action and Integrity/Dignity Madison.
Call to Action is a national organization of about 25,000 Catholics whose stated aim is to “transform” the church. Most members seek the ordination of female priests, the elimination of mandatory celibacy for priests, and a more welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
Integrity/Dignity Madison is an ecumenical group founded 37 years ago to minister to LGBT people.
The letter was sent to the Vatican by certified mail in late April. It was never released to the press, though a copy of it recently was leaked to the State Journal by one of the 96 people who signed it. The person said he was frustrated that nothing has come of the letter and wants other Catholics to know of its existence.
Jim Green, a leader of the local Call to Action group, agreed to answer a few questions about the letter but wanted it made clear he was not the source of the leak and that the group’s leadership did not sanction the letter’s release.
Green said all of the signers identify as Catholic. This will be a point of contention with some, as critics of Call to Action say its members oppose so many of the church’s teachings that they should not call themselves Catholics.
During an average week, about 56,000 people attend Mass somewhere in the 11-county Madison Catholic Diocese. So those who signed the letter are a tiny slice.
Green acknowledged this and said it has always been a challenge to reach people in the pews who may be sympathetic to the group’s views because Morlino does not allow Call to Action to meet at any parishes in the diocese.
King said that’s because the group’s views on so many issues are antithetical to church doctrine and practice. Allowing Call to Action to meet on church property “can only cause confusion, or, far worse, serious scandal among the faithful,” he said.
Green said a copy of the letter was given to Morlino early on as a courtesy….
Read the entire article by going to: In the Spirit: In letter to pope, progressive Catholics list grievances with Madison diocese : Wsj
For the response of the Madison diocese to some of the issues go to: http://host.madison.com/diocese-s-response-to-complaints-listed-in-letter-to-pope/article_b54bab8e-99c0-5623-9906-690b18ae4b52.html
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