From the Director’s Desk…

Catholic Press Association Honors Newsletter.  For the second straight year, Focus on FutureChurch received journalism awards from the Catholic Press Association. We garnered three third places for general excellence, best essay and best feature article, special interest newsletters. Most gratifying was an honorable mention for best editorial: “Of Celibacy, Priesthood and the Holy Spirit.” We competed with America and St. Anthony Messenger who placed second and third respectively.

Still Awaiting Post Synod Exhortation.  In May we sent nearly 2,000 signatures to the 14 member international post synod committee asking for open discussion of mandatory celibacy and women deacons. We received just one reply from Australia’s Cardinal Pell who assured us that our request would not be included. There is as yet no projected date of publication for Pope Benedict’s post synod exhortation.

We’re Growing!  The FutureChurch Leadership Council and staff are committed to being the best organization we can be by utilizing up-to-date strategic planning and management practices. Over the past six months FutureChurch underwent an organizational assessment conducted by Sarah Spengler of Grace Enterprises, a Cleveland organizational consulting firm. We will be working on specific challenges identified in the assessment as we grow to our next stage as a successful nonprofit organization.

Leadership in National Women’s Coalition.  FutureChurch is an important leader in the newly formed Women’s Justice Coalition.  U.S. reform organizations working for women’s equality are collaborating to study U.S. Dioceses and will issue a “report card” evaluating the “stained glass ceiling” in educational, liturgical and workplace settings. The coalition will also honor dioceses exhibiting progress. For more info visit
www.womensjusticecoalition.org