An appeal to the Bishops of England and Wales

to ordain priests for our parishes.

 

 

We, the undersigned Catholics, wish to express our support for our bishops who are preparing the Catholic Church in England and Wales for new forms of ministry and leadership. We request the Catholic Bishops Conference to place the following items on the agenda for their next plenary meeting.

 

We ask that the bishops:

 

  1. Acknowledge that there is a major crisis in ministry within the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
  2. Acknowledge that there is no doctrinal or theological barrier to the ordination of married men. Our church has already ordained married former Anglican priests.
  3. Take practical steps toward ordaining suitably qualified married men.
  4. Encourage a wide-ranging discussion of the role of women in ministry and in the authority structures of the Church, including the question of women's ordination.
  5. Establish appropriate scriptural, theological and pastoral training programmes (campus, distance and online) to prepare suitable women and men for ministry. These candidates should have the recommendation of their parishes and communities, and should participate in mentored pastoral work.
  6. Invite priests who have left the ministry to return to active priesthood, subject to negotiation with the local bishop.

 

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Signatures                    Names [PLEASE PRINT] and parish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please return to M. Robinson. 19 Cheviot Close, Preston Grange. NE2 99QQ

or go to www.petitionthem.com