2/11/2013
For Immediate Release
| Contacts: | |
|---|---|
| Sr. Christine Schenk [Cleveland, OH] FutureChurch Executive Director 216-228-0869 (office) 216-513-3647 (cell) chris@futurechurch.org |
Mary Louise Hartman FutureChurch Board of Trustees Cell: 609-915-2258 Home: 609-921-9134 |
(Cleveland) FutureChurch congratulates Pope Benedict XVI for his wise decision to resign as the leader of the universal Church. It takes courage to recognize when one no longer has the physical strength and health to fulfill the responsibilities of one of the world's most demanding jobs.
"This precedent-setting decision, at least for the modern era, is pointing the Church away from a monarchical model where a leader rules for life," said Sr. Christine Schenk Executive Director of FutureChurch. "Pope Benedict is making it clear that papal leadership is an office, and doesn't belong to any one person. This is good for the Church, and bodes well for the future."
"The work of international Catholic governance has sometimes been hindered during a Pope's declining years," said Mary Louise Hartman member of FutureChurch's Board of Trustees. "In the past, this might have resulted in delayed, poor or politicized decisions. Benedict realizes this and is taking steps to avoid problems that come with trying to govern when one is in declining health."
FutureChurch prays God's richest blessings on Pope Benedict, even as we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on conclave deliberations.About FutureChurch Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, FutureChurch seeks changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. It is a national coalition of 3,500 parish centered Catholics striving to educate fellow Catholics about the seriousness of the priest shortage, the centrality of the Eucharist (the Mass), and the systemic inequality of women in the Catholic Church. FutureChurch is a nonprofit organization that makes presentations throughout the country, distributes education, advocacy and prayer resources and recruits activists who work on behalf of its mission.