Priests" Group Readying for Assembly June 23-26

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
June 16, 2014

http://interact.stltoday.com/pr/local-news/PR061614044817485

The third annual assembly of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, June 23-26. Media coverage is invited to the assembly, to be held at the St. Louis Airport Hotel Marriott.

Most recent public statement

In early June, the AUSCP sent a letter to Pope Francis in support of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which has received critical comments from a Vatican official. The letter to the pope expressed hope that “a genuinely dialogic process, conducted with gentleness and reverence, will bring this issue to a conclusion more in keeping with Acts 15, Vatican II, and your own pastoral approach.”

Proposals to be considered

During the assembly, members will consider eight proposals, including the social justice issues of comprehensive immigration reform and full payment of worker pensions. Other issues include ordaining married men, supporting the Catholic Common Ground Initiative, opening up the process of selecting bishops and setting up a process to help with the next translation of the Roman Missal. Additional proposals call for improving association relations with diocesan bishops and expanding AUSCP membership.

Keynote speakers

The assembly keynote speakers include Donald Senior, C.P., writer and professor at the Catholic Theological Union; Michael Crosby, a Capuchin Franciscan and author on biblical discipleship; Dianne Bergant, C.S.A., professor of Old Testament studies at Catholic Theological Union; and Father Jim Bacik, a theologian, author, teacher and pastor.

Award Presentation

Archbishop Emeritus John R. Quinn of San Francisco will receive the John XXII Award at a banquet Wednesday, June 25. Quinn has written two books describing his thoughts on the reform of the papacy.

Liturgies

Liturgical musicians Jan Michael Joncas, David Haas, and Marty Haugen will participate at liturgies and other occasions.

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis is scheduled to preside at liturgies during the assembly.

Registration needed? Yes and no

Full participation in the assembly is for registered members of the AUSCP. Four pre-assembly workships are open to at no charge for local priests and guests. No registration is necessary.

Workshop topics are on the Priest-Labor initiative with Father Tony Cutcher, president of the National Federation of Priests Councils; Consensus Decision Making with Father Doug Doussan; Ministry in the Afro-American Community with Paul Marshall, S.M., and Clarence Williams, CPPS; and Ministry to Hispanics with Father David Garcia.

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