The Association for
the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) was
founded in 1980 by lay and clerical Catholics
in the wake of Vatican condemnations of such theologians as Edward Schillebeeckx,
Jacques Pohier, and Hans Küng. The Association affirms that there
are fundamental rights and corresponding responsibilities which are rooted
in the humanity and baptism of all Catholics. In the same spirit, the Association
seeks to put into practice the statement of the 1971 Synod of Bishops:
While the Church
is bound to give witness to justice, she recognizes that anyone who ventures
to speak to people about justice must first be just in their eyes. Hence
we must undertake an examination of the modes of acting and of the possessions
and life-style found within the Church itself. Within the Church, rights
must be preserved.
Hence, the goals of ARCC
are: To institutionalize a collegial and egalitarian understanding of Church
in which decision-making is shared and accountability is realized among
Catholics of every kind. We are Church!
Press
Statement concerning Law resignation: Let
the People Decide!
Contact
your Bishops Campaign: Get Democracy on
the agenda!
Press
Statement concerning Vatican Response to Dallas Charter
Press
Statement concerning USCCB June 2002 Bishops' Meeting
International
Movement for a Catholic Constitution (May
2002)
WHY
A CATHOLIC CONSTITUTION?
The
Catholic Church has always adopted and adapted whatever good means are
available to bring Jesus' Gospel of love and justice to the world. Today
we need to adopt the best governance structures that have been developed
to ensure justice in the Church, and then the world. Catholic reform, hence,
will strengthen our ongoing struggle for world justice and human rights.
To this end, ARCC presses for participatory Church governance structures
that will end outdated practices of unilateral, unaccountable privilege
and lack of transparency that have been typical of monarchies. We Catholics
must adopt new rules of governance that will guarantee participation and
protection for all the members of the Church. That is why Pope Paul VI
said during Vatican Council II in 1965: Set up a Constitution for
the Catholic Church!
The following are the
Key Governance Principles on which the Proposed Catholic Constitution is
based:
1. Principle
of Written Constitution
2. Principle of Subsidiarity
3. Principle of Election
4. Principle of Limited
Term of Office
5. Principle of Separation
of Powers
6. Principle of Accountability
7. Principle of
Representativeness
8. Principle of Dialogue
The ultimate goal of the
Movement for a Catholic Constitution is a series of "Constitutional Conventions"
at each level, culminating in the universal level, to draft and ratify
a Constitution by which the Catholic Church at that level will be governed.
Related issues: liberty
of thought, conscience, and inquiry
Collection
of documents and links pertaining to freedom of thought and conscience
in the Church
Select
past issues of ARCC Light
Present
at the Creation Video
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