Slowly but steadily, the “Call to Action” process that was begun last May by a handful of English priests continues to expand. The initial call was articulated in a letter to the Tablet with just seven signatories, was followed by a larger meeting of priests at a church in Waterloo, and later a meeting of something like 350 - 400 people, including laity, from dioceses all across the United Kingdom. (See the Call to Action website, for the group’s Mission Statement, and a full report on the day’s proceedings). The rolling out of the process is continuing, with local diocesan groups now engaged in planning further activities at diocesan level.

I reported previously that while this initiative has obvious parallels with priests’ initiatives elsewhere, for example in Austria, Belgium, Ireland and the USA, there are also distinct differences The most notable of these, is that the emphasis is emphatically on negotiation and discussion, not on confrontation, which is why I prefer to think of it as a “Call to Dialogue” - not to action. (Indeed, the full title on the website is “A Call to Action - May Dialogue be Fostered”). Some of this debate is taking place on the Call to Action website, in the discussion forums, and some will take place in diocesan meetings currently being planned.

I particularly liked this suggestion by Rebekah in the Southwark diocesan forum, on listening groups:

One of the key things that came out of the meeting was the need for more listening, for many of our priests and bishops to listen to and hear what the people in the pews are saying and what they think about important matters.

We are seeking to explore if it is possible to establish a process to enable listening to take place within the diocese.

The one thing, above all else, that came out during our meeting, was this issue of listening and the difficulty of getting anyone to listen to what people are saying. We felt that it would be useful if a series of Listening Groups could be held across the diocese possibly on an area, deanery and diocesan basis.

-Call to Action, forum for Southwark diocese

There are also some useful links on the resources page - such as an intriguing report of an article by the Benedictine abbot of Einsiedeln, Switzerland (who is a member of the Swiss Catholic Bishops’ Conference), on proposals for reform of the church - including one that members of the laity should also participate in selecting bishops, and could even serve on the body advising the pope:

All the baptized and confirmed of a diocese, he suggests, should be involved appropriately in the naming of their bishop. Maybe cardinals could have term limits – “For example, people from the whole world, women and men, young and not so young, could be called for five years into the college of cardinals,” wrote the abbot. Further: “If, for example, these people could meet every three months with the Pope, it could bring a new dynamism into the leadership of the Church.”

- Call to Action, forum on “Church Reform“

Around the country, there is progress - more advanced in some areas than in others, and not always taking the same form. Some dioceses have already held initial planning meetings, some have set dates for them, others are still making contact with each other to set up planning groups. Some appear to be restricted to those who have already been involved in the October 10th meeting, some have issued open invitations to all who are interested - and some are spreading the word through other groups. In some dioceses, there have not yet been any reports of progress posted - but Nottingham has not only met, they have already a report on proceedings and plans. Others are doing completely different, but complementary things: in Oxford, there is planned a day not for discussion or planning, but simply for prayer and reflection. In Edinburgh, a speaker addressed a regular meeting of the Newman Association on the Call to Action movement.

Meanwhile, it’s a fair bet that there are also developments at parish level. In my own parish, I am involved in two different programs springing from the “Year of Faith” initiative. Once a week, I am leading a small group discussion, working through a booklet prepared by Westminster diocese. Also once a week, I join a group that is watching an American video series called simply, “Catholicism” - followed by small group discussion. My experience is that discussion in both groups touches on the issues raised by the Call to Action/Dialogue process - and when I use those occasions to refer to the diocesan meeting for Arundel and Brighton I will be attending next week, I invariably find strong interest and support.

I cannot predict in any detail precisely what will be decided at nest week’s meeting, but I am confident it will include planning for further meetings aimed at drawing in much greater participation from local parishes. When we get to that point, I am certain that I will no longer be the only person from my parish participating - and am equally certain that others who will be meeting next week, will have the same experience. It is clear that although some of the reactionaries in the Church have the loudest voices and get the headlines, on the ground, there is an overwhelming groundswell of support for the principles of Vatican II (and possibly beyond).

Here’s a summary of diocesan developments, as far as I have established from the forums on the Call to Action website.

Diocesan developments:

Meetings already held:

• Edinburgh Diocese - Fr Robert Kane was due to speak about the “Call to Action” at the Edinburgh Newman Circle, Wed Nov 14 -
• Meeting for Nottingham Diocese (including a report on proceedings and plans), Sat Nov 17
• Meeting for Clifton Diocese, Wed Nov 21

Meetings scheduled:

• Meeting for Plymouth Diocese, Sat Nov 24
• Portsmouth Diocesan gathering, Sat Nov 24
• First Meeting for Salford, Sat Nov 24
• Arundel & Brighton Meeting, Wed Nov 28 -
• Birmingham Diocese

• Meeting, Sun Dec 9
• Day of Reflection (Oxford, date unknown)
• Northampton Diocese Meeting, Sat Jan 19

Invitations/ discussions about forming groups:

• Hallam Diocese
• Hexham/Newcastle and Middlesborough Diocese
• Leeds Diocese
• Liverpool Diocese
• Southwark Diocese
• Westminster Diocese
• St Andrews and Edinburgh

No reports:

• Brentwood
• Cardiff
• East Anglia
• Lancaster
• Menevia
• Shrewsbury
• Wrexham

Related articles

• The British “Call to Action”: Continuing the Process (queeringthechurch.com)
• “Theologians’ Revolt” - International Edition (queeringthechurch.com)
• Catholic Rebellion on Gay Marriage: US - and Italy (queeringthechurch.com)
• Austrian Church Reform: Cardinal Schonborn’s Balancing Act (queeringthechurch.com)