Back to the Future Church



Magdalena (by Gheorghe Tattarescu) 

At least one group is actively trying to move the Roman Catholic Church back to its more egalitarian beginnings.

The Future Church website states that this group’s vision includes “a return to the Church’s earliest tradition, modeled on the inclusive practice of Jesus, of recognizing both female and male leaders of faith communities” - as well as “a return to the Church’s early tradition of both married and celibate priests.”  Other components of the Future Church vision include democratizing Catholic organization and worship, and allowing “regular access to the Eucharist” for every Catholic.

The overwhelming majority of Future Church members are

“Catholics in good standing.”  These include nuns, priests, and lay people.  Although not affiliated with a specific parish, the group considers itself to be parish-based (since the parish is usually the “primary place of worship”).  Future Church asserts that “Jesus did not ordain anyone,” and that the practice of ordination began “decades later in church history.”  The website quotes Luke 8:1-5 to show that Jesus did, however, have women disciples (i.e. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and "many others").

In a section titled Scripture Readings that Subordinate Women… Make Sure They Don’t Happen in Your Parish, the website lists the following passages:  Ephesians 5:22-24, 1 Timothy 2:11-15, 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, Colossians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1-6, and Titus 2:4-5.  Some of these passages now have U.S. Lectionary short forms that omit “verses which were reported to have caused widespread misunderstandings when proclaimed in some parishes.”

Future Church also urges that Catholics begin focusing upon “what the priest shortage means to them and their parishes.”  This can be done through the formation of local dialogue groups.  Awareness can be raised in this manner concerning the scope of this shortage, worship and communion in the absence of a priest, and “the history of celibacy in the Church.”  Its website “call for national dialogue on the future of priestly ministry” explains:  As in any family, we need to talk about our differences, our needs, our hopes and our dreams…  

Resources

http://futurechurch.org/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joanna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrrhbearers

Copyright February 4, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved