NEW JERSEY
The Star-Ledger
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
BY JEFF DIAMANT
Star-Ledger Staff
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson will not allow a self-described "progressive" Catholic author to speak at a laity group meeting in a Jesuit retreat center in Morristown, saying she "contests the teachings of the Catholic Church."
But rather than disinvite Angela Bonavoglia, the 57-year-old author of "Good Catholic Girls: How Women are Leading the Fight to Change the Church," the group Voice of the Faithful has moved tonight's meeting to the nearby St. Mark's Lutheran Church on Harter Road.
Theresa Padavano, co-facilitator of the group's northern New Jersey chapter, said she was told Monday by the Rev. Charles Moutenot, director of Loyola Retreat Center, that diocese officials decided not to let Bonavoglia speak there because of her public support for women's ordination and abortion, which the church opposes.
Padavano criticized the decision: "We did not invite (Bonavoglia) to speak on either of those issues. We invited her to speak on her knowledge of reform groups as a whole, and on Voice of the Faithful in particular."
Her speech is titled "Catholic Women: Victims and Leaders." The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Posted by kshaw at May 13, 2005 06:44 AM