Canadian Religious Conference in Open, Major Public Dissent from Rome

OTTAWA, March 7, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Canadian Religious Conference (CRC), the official organization representing the over 200 religious congregations in Canada (groups of monks, nuns and priests organized into religious orders), has publicly voiced dissent to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The controversial statements come in a letter and document written by Alain Ambeault C.S.V., the President of the Canadian Religious Conference, which intends to make suggestions to Canadian bishops as they go for their once-every-five-year visit with the Pope in the coming months.

The document states, in part, (it's 26 pages!) such things as:

Our primary intention is to express our creative fidelity to the Canadian Church; this will translate into the expression of our perception of its reality. (my emphasis)

Creative fidelity to the Canadian Church? How creative? How faithful? And notice, it's not the "Catholic" Church but the Canadian Church.

The CRC, while listing a number of "Recognitions"'s, they have a nearly equal number of "Regrets" and "Hopes"...For instance. "We regret":

...the holding up of an ideal that leaves little room for advancement and progress; the defence of principles that do not reflect human experience (divorce, contraception, protection against AIDS, alleviation of suffering at the end of life).

...the quick condemnation of theologians...

That our Church often gives priority to the reaffirmation of dogma and traditional morals rather than listening to the people’s search for meaning and journeying alongside them in the discovery of their deeper motivations.

The legalistic image of the Catholic Church – and of our Canadian Church – its rigidity and its intransigent stands on sexual morals...

The unconditional alignment of our Church with directives issued from Rome: the disappearance of the practice of general absolution in communal celebrations; the lack of consistency in regard to the role of women in the Church or to married priests…

The maintenance of a number of strict liturgical laws that still constitute barriers to the full participation of lay people in liturgical celebrations; the little place granted to women in the Eucharistic liturgy. The rigidity of the directives of Roman documents: the insistence on the observance of rules rather than taking into account the life experiences of participants.

And many, many more "Regrets" - and I listed none of the "Hopes"...In fact, one might be concerned if such a group of professed Catholics has been swayed, not by our Lord's teachings and those of His Church, but by the influence of a culture under the domination of the evil one.

It is sad to see such a loss of the faith, especially from among the so-called religious. One might rightly say that many have not lost the faith, but have, in fact, abandoned the faith, or failed miserably to nourish and grow the faith.

While reflecting on those things in the Church which one might rightly determine to be regrettable, only a person having no faith would view unchangable teachings as deplorable or objectionable. Only those unconcerned with the salvation of their own souls and the souls of others would dismiss the Church and her teachings. Of course, few among us have no hopes for the future of the Church. Many hope and pray for a purer, more faithful belief and understanding, a deeper fidelity to Christ and His Church, a courageous embracing of the cross, the graces to be able to willingly and freely say yes to His Mother when she reminds us to "Do whatever He tells you".

The document is here.