Catholics for Renewal

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Catholics For Renewal Submission to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, Rome

On the Theme of Synod of Bishops XVI General Assembly For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission, 15 August 2022  

eFlipbook  - 'Keys to renewing our Church together'

Ten Summary Documents progressively written by Catholics For Renewal to support Plenary Council participation have been brought together as a free 'eFlipbook' "Keys to renewing our Church together" in conjunction with Garratt Publishing.

They are intended to assist in understanding common terminology and key principles likely to be encountered during deliberation of the 5th Australian Plenary Council and other Renewal Processes. The eFlipbook may be accessed at #93 on this website  DOCUMENTS  page.

On the Documents page unique profiles of individual Australian Catholic Dioceses may also be downloaded  at # 99. 

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Welcome

to Catholics for Renewal. This Website provides information on who we are, what we do, our aims and concerns. It provides current information in relation to renewal of the Church - aspirational, under pursuit, or as it happens in real time.

We welcome all Catholics who are committed to their faith and want a Church which is Christlike in all it does, providing leadership in the world based on the teachings of Christ. We are of the view that the institutional Church needs renewal in accordance with those teachings. We call for an outward-facing Church whose leaders are accountable, transparent and inclusive, and which advocates unequivocally for the rights of the oppressed and disadvantaged while tending practically to their needs.


Encouraged by a history of church renewal 

Church reform over the centuries has been continual, but has required great patience, too much patience. Whilst daunted by the challenge ahead we are also encouraged by hopeful new signs of change, and some things that have already been achieved in recent times or are starting to happen.   These include initiatives by Pope Francis, and global collaboration between a growing number of active national and international Church Reform and Renewal groups, thanks to unprecedented networking opportunities now readily available through new technology. Also see Church Mutation.


Commitment

 We are not content with seeking renewal of the Church. We believe that we all have responsibilities to commit to a better world. This website refers to a variety of social concerns and also identifies particular issues in which Catholics for Renewal is active, including the important area of clerical child sexual abuse.You are invited to follow or otherwise participate in our endeavours. See Contact Us.

This website provides opportunities for those who wish to express their views and/or support the process of renewal in the Church, either directly or indirectly. Catholics for Renewal comprises a diverse group of people who work rigorously and professionally in all our research, analysis and advocacy. We work as volunteers and welcome and encourage anyone with an interest in Church renewal to support the group, either by becoming a website 'subscriber' or more actively engaging with us. In any case all are welcome simply to use this website as an information resource or as a means of tracking the status of church renewal.

We need and want a Church where we are ‘all one in Christ, with no more distinctions ...between male and female’ (Galatians, 3:28) and whose leaders read well the signs of the times and interpret them in the light of the Gospel.

We seek no more nor less than a Christlike Church, and we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all we do.

Peter Wilkinson (President)
Peter Johnstone (Past President)

 

There is no charge for subscriptions. If you would like to assist our work, here’s a link to our ‘donate’ facility. All our limited funds are used strictly and carefully for the purposes of Catholics for Renewal. Most of our work is funded by members incurring expenses on behalf of the organisation.


# See News Updates  Here


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Latest news reports

(details Here)

  • Laymen and laywomen eligible to vote at Synod General Assembly
  • For first time in history, Pope Francis gives women right to vote at the synod
  • General secretary elected provincial, to leave Bishops Conference
  • The Synod and the Church's future: what Catholics want
  • Doctors fight states’ push for telehealth euthanasia consultations
  • Pope announces new appointment for Bishop Randazzo
  • Voice to Parliament enhancement to Constiitution - solicitor-general
  • Synod organisers say process should lead to greater local control in Church
  • The anti-clericalist pope makes his "altar boy" an archbishop
  • Government extends review of religious exemptions for schools
  • Communities invited to learn about upcoming Diocesan Synod
  • Oceania bishops publish response to Synod of Bishops document
  • New report breaks down Australian Catholic population
  • Archbishop Costelloe announces Diocesan Assembly for Perth
  • ‘Experts from five continents’ begin drafting working document
  • German church forges ahead with reform plans despite Rome
  • German Catholic bishops approve blessing same-sex relationships
  • German Catholics conclude their "Synodal Path"
  • Lay women speaking out on behalf of others in Asian synodal assembly
Forthcoming Events
See EVENTS page
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Documents Page HERE
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Getting Back on Mission
Catholics For Renewal submission to the Australian Catholic Plenary Council 2020/2021 was available here but has since been updated and published as a book "Getting Back on Mission: Reforming Our Church Together", published by
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Communique
"The Australian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR) wrote an
Open Communiqué to all the Australian Bishops and religious leaders
prior to their meeting of 14-21 May 2020.

The Open Communiqué seeks renewal and reform of our Church  in accordance with its Christ-given mandate through the Plenary Council.

The Open Communiqué and covering email may be read HERE.

Visit the ACCCR Website HERE
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Notable Videos

What the Australian Catholic Church will look like in 2030
Dr Bob Dixon, St Thomas Moore Forum, 26 April 2017, Published on May 2, 2017
Video address by Dr Robert (Bob) Dixon to the St Thomas More Forum, Campell, A.C.T., on 26th April 2017.