Call to Action members to present petition to bishop
On Friday afternoon, members of Call to Action-Nebraska, a group calling for reforms in the Roman Catholic Church, will pay a visit to Lincoln Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz.
They’ll present a petition signed by 1,000 people nationwide objecting to Bruskewitz’s refusal to participate in the sex abuse audit administrated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Some leaders of national Call to Action, based in Chicago, will also be on hand to present the petition and participate in a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. on the sidewalk outside the Catholic Chancery near 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard.
The Lincoln Diocese has refused to participate in the voluntary audit, which began after the church established child protection programs in 2002 in the wake of a nationwide sex abuse scandal. Bruskewitz participated in the initial audit, but has declined to participate in subsequent audits. This year Lincoln was the only U.S. diocese that did not participate.
Rachel Pokora, state president of CTA-Nebraska, noted that the audit is voluntary and Bruskewitz is not required to participate. But failure to do so “does promote a sense of suspicion,” she said.
While there is no evidence that Lincoln children are in danger, “we have to be vigilant,” Pokora said. “To act like Lincoln is an oasis is shortsighted.”
Bruskewitz was at a retreat Wednesday and Father Mark Huber, diocesan chancellor, declined to comment. In an earlier prepared statement, however, Bruskewitz said the Lincoln diocese was in full compliance with all civil and church laws concerning the abuse of minors.
Patty Hawk, a member of the CTA-Nebraska board and national co-president of Call to Action, said more people are adding their names to the petition. “My hope is that he (Bruskewitz) will see that thoughtful Catholics are wanting to be in dialogue with him (about) the issue of safety of children.”
Besides criticizing the non-participation in the audit, the petition also expresses concerns about other issues in the Lincoln Diocese, including Bruskewitz’s 1996 excommunication of CTA members and his refusal to allow girls to serve at the altar.
Local CTA leaders appealed the excommunication decision to Rome, and contend that they have never received an official response. However, in December the Lincoln Diocese released a letter from a Vatican official stating that Bruskewitz was within his rights to issue the excommunication ruling, and in February the Signatura, which is like a Supreme Court in the Vatican, issued a letter saying it was unable to act on the appeal.
“We have been denied due process,” said John Krejci, another member of CTA-Nebraska.
Pokora said the group has applied for a permit to hold a demonstration on public right of way outside the Chancery. The prayer service will focus on broader issues, such as the church’s treatment of women, gays and lesbians and other groups, she said.
Reach Bob Reeves at 473-7212 or breeves@journalstar.com.
They’ll present a petition signed by 1,000 people nationwide objecting to Bruskewitz’s refusal to participate in the sex abuse audit administrated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Some leaders of national Call to Action, based in Chicago, will also be on hand to present the petition and participate in a prayer service at 3:30 p.m. on the sidewalk outside the Catholic Chancery near 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard.
The Lincoln Diocese has refused to participate in the voluntary audit, which began after the church established child protection programs in 2002 in the wake of a nationwide sex abuse scandal. Bruskewitz participated in the initial audit, but has declined to participate in subsequent audits. This year Lincoln was the only U.S. diocese that did not participate.
Rachel Pokora, state president of CTA-Nebraska, noted that the audit is voluntary and Bruskewitz is not required to participate. But failure to do so “does promote a sense of suspicion,” she said.
While there is no evidence that Lincoln children are in danger, “we have to be vigilant,” Pokora said. “To act like Lincoln is an oasis is shortsighted.”
Bruskewitz was at a retreat Wednesday and Father Mark Huber, diocesan chancellor, declined to comment. In an earlier prepared statement, however, Bruskewitz said the Lincoln diocese was in full compliance with all civil and church laws concerning the abuse of minors.
Patty Hawk, a member of the CTA-Nebraska board and national co-president of Call to Action, said more people are adding their names to the petition. “My hope is that he (Bruskewitz) will see that thoughtful Catholics are wanting to be in dialogue with him (about) the issue of safety of children.”
Besides criticizing the non-participation in the audit, the petition also expresses concerns about other issues in the Lincoln Diocese, including Bruskewitz’s 1996 excommunication of CTA members and his refusal to allow girls to serve at the altar.
Local CTA leaders appealed the excommunication decision to Rome, and contend that they have never received an official response. However, in December the Lincoln Diocese released a letter from a Vatican official stating that Bruskewitz was within his rights to issue the excommunication ruling, and in February the Signatura, which is like a Supreme Court in the Vatican, issued a letter saying it was unable to act on the appeal.
“We have been denied due process,” said John Krejci, another member of CTA-Nebraska.
Pokora said the group has applied for a permit to hold a demonstration on public right of way outside the Chancery. The prayer service will focus on broader issues, such as the church’s treatment of women, gays and lesbians and other groups, she said.
Reach Bob Reeves at 473-7212 or breeves@journalstar.com.
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