HANOVER (NJ)
Daily Record
BY MARIA ARMENTAL
DAILY RECORD
HANOVER -- Members of reform Catholic groups on Saturday called for a restructuring of the Roman Catholic Church, accusing the church hierarchy of being out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent.
Among the proposed changes: a more open and inclusive church, including acceptance of women's ordination and the elimination of clergy's vows of celibacy and greater laity involvement.
The Saturday morning meeting at Birchwood Manor in Whippany attracted nearly 150 people, members of organizations under the umbrella of the Catholic Organizations for Renewal, a coalition of Roman Catholic groups inspired by Vatican II.
While Vatican II formally closed in December 1965 and bishops professed to follow the council's decrees, Catholic reformists said not enough, if anything, had been done.
"Vatican II is the most authentic teaching of the church as of today," said Theresa Padovano, of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic lay group originally founded in response to the priest sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston.