On this Christmas Day, I am delighted that Pope Francis has chosen the occasion to focus on the need for change in the Roman Catholic Church's hierarchy. He is also rightly focusing on what has gone wrong in recent decades and he has drawn attention to the fact that what we are witnessing within the ranks of the church hierarchy is much different than the ministries Jesus tried to model for us.
I spent twenty years of my life working with Catholic reformers, trying to bring change to a church embroiled in several scandals during the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. One of my biggest hopes for 2015 is that Pope Francis will convene Vatican III. It has been 52 years since the Vatican II council, and much has changed since then. When Pope John XXIII announced to the world that he was convening Vatican II, he stated: "It is time to open the windows to let some fresh air in." It has been rightly argued that succeeding popes squashed what could have been several decades of reform. Pope Francis recognizes this. At age 78, it would be the perfect time for him to convene a council, ensuring that all voices are heard.
I am no longer active in the reform movement. (It required a lot of travel and expense.) However, I continue to hope that new voices will be a stimulus for change. I am also delighted that Pope Francis has successfully related the message that Roman Catholicism can no longer operate in a vacuum and the church cannot truly call itself inclusive until all have a place at the table.
Merry Christmas to all.
