AUSCP Bi-Weekly E-Bulletin

November 10, 2019

(Photo - NCR online)

"Rekindling our gift in the fire of the Spirit is the opposite of letting things take their course without doing anything, If everything continues as it was, if we spend our days content that 'this is the way things have always been done,' then the gift vanishes, smothered by the ashes of fear and concern for defending the status quo."

- Pope Francis

Amazon Synod

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Links to 2019 Assembly Presentations: 

Dr. Richard Gaillardetz 

Sr. Norma Pimentel

Cardinal Blase Cupich (text only)

Links to 2018 Assembly Presentations: 

Katarina Schuth 

Bishop R. McElroy

Richard Rohr

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Invitation to Become "Friends" of AUSCP

The AUSCP Friends Group now has 189 members. Please take time to invite your friends to join us!  

The majority of those who have become Friends have done so because of a personal invitation from an AUSCP member.

If you would like a flyer with the information on AUSCP Friends to print out or to email to your friends, send a request to: office@uscatholicpriests.org

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Help us continue the important and critical work of the AUSCP with your financial assistance!

You can click below to donate.

Thank you!

Parish Tithing

If your parish tithes its Sunday collection and sends a monthly donation to various places please consider putting the AUSCP on the list of recipients.  Thanks! 

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Membership Renewal

If you received a reminder about your annual dues, please renew by clicking on the BECOME A MEMBER button below, or send a check to:

 AUSCP

200 St. Francis Avenue, Tiffin, OH 44883-3458

872-205-5862

Consider setting up an auto-renewal on your bank account.

For more information, visit the AUSCP website at: 

AUSCP - HOME 

If you have a problem with your credit card being accepted online, call PayPal at 888-215-5506. When asked to name your problem, say “credit card denied.”

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To access the latest information on immigration reform and Action Alerts, click on the JFI logo below:

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To access information on care of creation and Laudato Si', click below:

Catholic Climate Covenant

Direct link to Homily Resources

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Creator Mundi 

"Creator Mundi" supports our mission. The AUSCP receives 12% of your purchase total every time you shop at the Creator Mundi Store, if you use code donateAUSCP  when you place an order. Click here to order.

Amazon Smile Updated 

Shop at:

 http://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-3307327 and Amazon donates to Association of Us Catholic Priests. 

Clericalism Subject of Letter to Bishops

The AUSCP recently sent a letter to all U.S.bishops, active and retired, addressing the subject of Clericalism. A copy of the 30-page document Confronting the Systemic Dysfunction of Clericalism, approved at the AUSCP Assembly in June, was sent with the letter, as well as a one page summary of the document. 

The letter said, in part, "As priests in Christ we are particularly challenged to be the ‘sign of Christ on the visage of the Church.’ That requires of us continual inward and outward purification and renewal. Our dismay at the continuing clericalism exhibited by us clergy and experienced among the people of God moved us to publish the enclosed document on Confronting the Systemic Dysfunction of Clericalism. It is the fruit of a year’s collaborative work by Members of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), our AUSCP Friends, Voice of the Faithful and other committed Catholics who care about the current ‘visage of the Church’ in our country and our culture. Too often, our visage is not a sign of Christ."

Copies of the clericalism document are available upon request from the AUSCP office: office@uscatholicpriests.org

Climate Crisis Working Group

The AUSCP Climate Crisis Working Group sent a letter to the leadership of USCCB on November 6, urging them to consider the need to speak and act prophetically about the Climate Crisis and to move the Church to action. The letter said, in part: Catholics presently do not hear about Laudato Si’ or the Climate Crisis or what they can do about it, from the pulpit.  You can help your priests wake the sleeping giant in your Eucharistic Assemblies to face the Climate Crisis by creating the political will to act.

Each of us is called to action on behalf of caring for creation and preserving what God has given us for our use. Here are helpful links to become more informed and to take action:

Catholic Climate Covenant Resources: https://catholicclimatecovenant.org/resources

Link to the Archdiocese of Atlanta Action Plan to implement the encyclical LaudatoSi':  An Action Plan for The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

Link to NCR's Earth Beat report:  Catholics call Trump's mover from Paris climate deal UNCONSCIONABLE!

https://www.ncronline.org/news/earthbeat/catholics-call-trumps-move-paris-climate-deal-unconscionable

Parish Green Teams and Laudato Si: 

Green teams answer pope’s call to ‘care for creation’ | Georgia Bulletin

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/laudato-si-three-years-later-the-us-response

Important Action to Alleviate Climate Crisis

Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act

The Social Justice Subcommittee of AUSCP Toledo Chapter has endorsed HR 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (EICDA), saying that the legislation is a common-sense way to follow the principles of Catholic Social Teaching by caring for the earth and helping the poor. The bipartisan bill will diminish carbon pollution by at least 40% in the first 12 years, create 2.1 million new jobs, and put money directly into people’s pockets every month to spend as they see fit.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, called the bill “a hopeful sign that, more and more, climate change is beginning to be seen as a crucial moral issue.” Faith groups of all types have endorsed the bill as well. 

The Citizens' Climate Lobby is calling for endorsements from organizations and individuals. You can endorse the bill HERE.

Hope for the Holidays - for those in Immigration Detention

Thousands of families are being held in three immigration detention centers in the U.S. You can bring hope to these families and to children who cross our borders alone, by writing Christmas cards in English and/or Spanish. Write a message of hope and encouragement, sign the card (first name and city/state). Instead of putting your cards into individual envelopes, place them in one large manila envelope and send them by December 6th to:

First English Lutheran Church

Attn. Hope for the Holidays

     3807 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.

Encourage your friends and parishioners to participate in this simple way of brightening Christmas for those in immigration detention!

More information and resources for this project are   available at:

 LIRS.org/hopefortheholidays

Bishop EcElroy Says Church in U.S. Is Adrift

In an article published on November 7th in NCR Online, Bishop McElroy said, "It is my reluctant conclusion that the church in the United States is now adrift on many levels, and that a fundamental moment of renewal is needed. A synodal pathway would offer an opportunity to set that type of renewal in motion."

Bishop McElroy explains how the recent Amazon Synod used synodality to create a church with four characteristics: a missionary church, a participatory church, a welcoming church, and a church of harmony that fosters the values of peace, mercy and communion. Then he said, "These four hallmarks could constitute for the church in the United States a charter for renewal through which to reanimate our evangelizing and believing church."

You can access the full article HERE.

Annual Appeal Initial Returns

The Annual Appeal mailing was sent out on October 11th to coincide with the feastday of Pope St. John XXIII and the opening date of the Second Vatican Council in 1962. Early returns have been received from 212 persons for a total of $27,142. Thank you!

The Annual Appeal is the main source of income for the AUSCP! This year's goal is $150,000 from 450 donors. We need the support of all who believe in furthering the spirit of Vatican II and the agenda of Pope Francis. If you know any persons who are possible supporters of the AUSCP, please approach them for a donation. Or, notify the office and we will send an appeal letter to them. Send the name and address to: office@uscatholicpriests.org.

Thank you for whatever support you are able to offer! We are counting on your generosity to help us move forward.

The 9th ANNUAL AUSCP ASSEMBLY

Our Catholic Faith in the Political World

Maritime Conference Center (MCC)

(Near BWI and Amtrak Station)

Baltimore-Washington: JUNE 22 - 25, 2020

The current Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Christophe Pierre, has accepted an invitation to preside and preach at the 2020 AUSCP Assembly Mass on June 24th.

Speakers for the 2020 Assembly include Archbishop John Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe; John Carr, Founder & Director of Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown Univesity; Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, former Executive Director of the Catholic Health Association.

In addition, Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director of LCWR, will lead the retreat on Monday, June 22nd, and Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK, will serve as a contemplative reflector during the Assembly. You won't want to miss this superb lineup! Details for Registration will be sent soon.

For  links to articles of interest on various topics, visit the AUSCP Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/AUSCPriests

For more information and photos, visit the AUSCP website at: AUSCP - HOME 

 ©2017 Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP)