Church of the Resurrection’s Resolution on the Eucharist
(Sent to the Bishop of Cleveland, Anthony M. Pilla, in March of 1990, and to the Cleveland Diocesan Parishes in August of 1990)
WHEREAS: The Parish Council serves as the representatives of the parishioners of the Church of the Resurrection of Solon, Ohio and, as the voice of the Church for its parish laity, and
WHEREAS: Vatican Council II has declared that “it is through the liturgy, which especially in the divine Sacrifice of the Eucharist ‘the work of our redemption is accomplished’” (Const. on the Sacred Liturgy, Par. 2); and
WHEREAS: The same Council has stated, “Nevertheless the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows. For the goal of the apostolic endeavor is that all who are made children of God by faith and baptism should come together to praise God in the midst of God’s Church, to take part in the sacrifice a d to eat of the Lord’s supper, (Const. On the Sacred Liturgy, Par. 10); and
WHEREAS: It is the conviction of the Parish Council that “to take part in the Sacrifice” has never meant simply “receiving Communion”, but the whole Eucharistic of the community, beginning with the Preface and ending with the Great Amen; and
WHEREAS: The council has noted that due to the declining number of priests, many Catholics are being deprived of the Church’s sacramental life; and
WHEREAS: The Council recognizes this as form of discrimination against the people of God so affected, while Vatican II’s “Church in the Modern World” asserts that “every type of discrimination is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God’s intent;” and
WHEREAS: As a result, the American Catholic Bishops have, of the potential options to available to address this problem, select the least acceptable alternative of permitting said parishes to celebrate a sharing of Communion on Sundays as part of a prayer service in lieu of permitting more creative means of fostering a larger body of clergy who could celebrate Mass; for in the opinion of this Parish Council within the Christian community there is no lack of vocations to the ordained priesthood if we consider priests who have married and who are willing to lead the community in worship, married men who desire to be priests, and single and married women who feel called to the ordained priesthood; and
WHEREAS: The Parish council has discussed and deliberated on this problem, and as a body, has great concern with the decision of the American Bishops in this regard and the implications and portents said decision has for the future development and direction of the American Catholic Church;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parish Council of the Church of the Resurrection has, by consensus, agreed to express the sense of the Parish Council on this matter and wishers to convey, with respect, its grave concern with this decision and, further, its prayerful request that the Bishop of Cleveland and, collectively, the American Bishops reconsider this decision and its implications, including a reconsideration of the issue of expanding the ranks of those permitted to be ordained as priests within the Catholic church so as to include women and men, married and single, so that the Eucharist may continue to be the center of the spiritual life of all Catholics.
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