BishopAccountability.org
	Catholic Group Will Hold Fort Myers Rally in Effort to Have More Say in Church By Dan Warner The News-Press January 16, 2009 http://www.news-press.com/article/20090116/WORSHIP/901160405/1002/NEWS01 A group of Catholics who say they are "disappointed and increasingly angry" they have no say in how their church is run will hold a day-long rally in Fort Myers on Saturday. Called the first Southwest Florida Lay Assembly, the rally will feature a speech by a noted Catholic lay protester, worship and "an opportunity for people to sound off," said John Hushon of Naples, assembly chair and a national leader in the protest movement. Hushon said 135 people have pre-registered for the meeting and walk-ins are expected to take the crowd to between 175 and 200. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lamb of God Episcopal Church on Cypress View Drive. Hushon said the anger of movement leaders is directed at church hierarchy "as they continue to sabotage the promise of the greatest reform movement in the Catholic Church - the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s." Specifically, said Hushon, protesters want a voice in issues involving finances and selection of bishops and pastors. "We don't touch doctrinal issues. We are not rewriting the creed," he said. Hushon said this will be the 15th regional assembly held across the United States, with others planned to lead up to a national American Catholic Council in 2011. Hushon also is co-chair of the national event. One of those who will attend the assembly is Janet Kennedy of Fort Myers, who describes herself as a devout Catholic and said she has "a lot of anger toward the church," mostly surrounding the issue of sexual abuse of children by priests. "The Church does not recognize the conscience of the people," she said. "They are forgetting the people have a right to their own conscience." Hushon and Kennedy are critical of Bishop Frank J. Dewane of the Diocese of Venice, saying the diocese does not allow their group to meet in Catholic churches and Dewane "is not very excited about a collegial leadership," but is "very much the lord that is appointed by Rome." "He signs his letters 'His Excellency,' and all that stuff," Hushon said. Diocese Communications Director Adela Gonzales White said Hushon's group cannot use diocesan churches because it "sponsors speakers who endorse dissent from church doctrine." She described Bishop Dewane as available to the laity and said he never signs letters "His Excellency." "That is false," she said. What: Southwest Florida Lay Assembly, a daylong rally of Catholics who want more say in how their church is run When: 9:30 a.m. Saturday; will run most of the day Where: Lamb of God Episcopal Church, 19691 Cypress View Drive Cost: $25, includes lunch Principal speaker: Dennis O'Brien, president of the University of Rochester and frequent author. Topic: Is Anybody Listening: Finding the Voice of the Catholic Church. Contact: dwarner@news-press.com
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.