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	In a Clash over Faith, Catholics Urged to Stay Clear of '11 Meeting By Niraj Warikoo Detroit Free Press October 14, 2010 http://www.freep.com/article/20101014/NEWS05/10140523/1007/In-a-clash-over-faith-Catholics-urged-to-stay-clear-of-11-meeting The Archdiocese of Detroit is warning Catholics in metro Detroit -- including priests and ministers -- to stay away from a national conference of liberal Catholics to be held in Detroit next year. And Archbishop of Detroit Allen Vigneron is calling upon conference organizers to cancel their plans, saying they are in opposition to the Catholic faith. The American Catholic Council, which calls for church reforms and greater openness, is to hold a national gathering June 10-12, featuring progressive Catholic leaders. The liberal group claims there is too much secrecy and hierarchy in the church; it calls for more acceptance of gays and lesbians, and women in leadership roles. It wants female and married priests. "Serious sexual and financial abuses have resulted" from problems in the Catholic church, the group says in a newsletter. The conference is to feature a range of Catholic speakers who have been critical of the Vatican, including controversial Swiss priest Hans Kung. The liberal group says its efforts are done in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, whose 50th anniversary is next year. But the archdiocese slammed the American Catholic Council in a statement Tuesday, saying "the goals proposed are largely in opposition to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council." The archdiocese, which oversees 1.3 million Catholics, said some of the scheduled speakers "espouse positions which are clearly contrary to Catholic faith." "Catholic parishes, schools, and institutions are not to host any meetings, gatherings, or listening sessions associated with the planning of the June 2011 American Catholic Council. Priests, deacons, and ecclesial lay ministers will want to avoid lending support to such a misguided effort." Vigneron "asks us all to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we may embrace authentic development of faith and morals, and shun efforts which threaten unity," the statement said. The group's cochair, Janet Hauter of Chicago, responded Wednesday that some Catholic leaders "use scare tactics to silence people." There are "many Catholics dismayed at the lack of responsible pastoral leadership within the church, the lack of accountability for the sinfully criminal behaviors of predator priests and their clerical enablers and the lack of fiscal transparency present in reporting how hard earned donations are being spent and/or stolen," Hauter said. Contact Niraj Warikoo: 313-223-4792 or nwarikoo@freepress.com
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