Project Vatican III

Project "VATICAN III – from below"

Project

Up to now, IMWAC (and Platform “We are Church”) have been continuously raising awareness in respect to (almost) all reform themes, have arranged meetings, published books and undertaken many other activities. However, substantial reforms have not been implemented by the leader(s) of our Church – except for blockades. Therefore, the movement of the IMWAC is called to initiate a last powerful endeavour. On the occasion of the 50anniversary of the Vatican II (from 11 October 1962 to 7 December 1965) we are preparing a VATICAN III – from below in Rome:

7 December 2015: solemn  Public Proclamation of the documents of Vatican III

8 December 2015: final celebration in Rome.

Objective

The plan is to rework and complement the four Constitutions (C), the nine Decrees (D) and the three Statements (S) of Vatican II in the light of a new genuine “Aggiornamento” in accordance with the requirements of the modern society and new theological knowledge. In case of need, structural issues of these documents should be also addressed. In doing so, the tradition of the Church has to be taken into consideration.

Method

The documents of the Vatican II will be summarized in nine themes (see below). At least nine country groups of IMWAC should each select one theme which they should work on till September 2015. A huge and important project like this cannot be completed without an international allocation of tasks. All reform movements are cordially invited to participate in this project. However, the Platform should be always responsible for the coordination to avoid friction losses through uncoordinated approaches. The end results of all themes will be assembled and finalized by the Executive Committee of the “Circle of the 12” (see time schedule below) and approved in a three-day General Meeting in September 2015. After further amendments and corrections, the final document will be presented to the public at a Press Conference on Friday, 4 December 2015, in Rome. For 7 December 2015, there is a Demonstration March of all Peoples to the Vatican planned where the documents will be adopted in a Public Proclamation at St. Peter’s Square.

Participants - 2015 in Rome

To have as many people as possible participating in the Demonstration March in Rome, it is recommended to start with the “promotion process” as soon as possible in 2011. Our members and sympathizing fellow-travellers should be planning a one-week holiday in Rome for the beginning of December 2015. Our goal is to have about 450 people participating in the Demonstration March: 100 each from Austria, Germany and Italy, and 150 from other European countries and other continents.

The nine areas of themes for the nine country groups are proposed as follows:

(abbreviations C, D and S see above):

1.     Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (C), specifically further development of the „Sensus fidelium“

2.     Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (C), specifically the theology of the “Communio”

3.     Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (C), Social Communications (D) and Mission Activity (D)

4.    Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (C)

5.    Bishops in the Church (D), specifically “Communio” and particular Churches)

6.    Ecumenism (D) and Eastern Churches (D)

7.    Lay People (D) and Christian Education (S)

8.    Priestly Training (D) and Life of Priests (D)

9.    Renewal of Religious Life (D), Religious Freedom (S) and Relations with Non-Christians (S)

Time Schedule

Date	Contents, Tasks and Responsibilities	Remarks
December 2015	Final debriefing
Monday, 7 December 2015	Great Demonstration March of the Peoples to the Vatican and Public Proclamation of the documents of Vatican III at St. Peter’s Square (alternative location in case of rain: church close by or meeting hall)	Demonstration marches from different starting points; registration of demonstration; church/meeting hall
Saturday/Sunday	Debriefing of the Press Conference Last preparation for Monday, 7 December 2015
Friday, 4 December 2015	Press Conference in Rome
Thursday, 3 December 2015	Integration of recommended changes (editorial team) Last preparations for Press Conference (list of speakers for 7 December)
Wednesday, 2 December 2015	Meeting for Final Resolution in Rome (meeting hall for around 400 participants, with translator service); only minor changes of documents possible.	Rental of the meeting room in Rome
End of September 2015	Final three-day General Meeting in Vienna, Munich or Innsbruck: resolution on all documents of the Council; till end of October, recommended changes will be incorporated in document by editing team
September 2014	Rental of meeting rooms and time schedules (specifically of the Demonstration March of the Peoples) to be sent to Rome
Pentecost 2012:	Starting shot: publication of final distribution of tasks and responsibilities (i.e., composition of documents of Vatican III), simultaneous press conferences in all participating countries	Publication of distribution of tasks and responsibilities
April 2012	Election of the Executive Committee „Circle of the 12“: 6 board members and 6 deputies: Austria, Germany, Italy/South Tyrol and three deputies from other countries	South Tyrol to be reactivated and invited
From October 2011 to February 2012	The groups will be working on the documents taken over; in the case that a group or country cannot manage its task, a restitution resp. redistribution to another group or groups will be arranged. Finalization of tasks and responsibilities latest by March 2012.	March 2012: Final distribution of  tasks and responsibilities
October 2011	Distribution of tasks and responsibilities of editing the Council’s documents to the groups resp. countries of  IMWAC
June/July 2011	Resolution of IMWAC on the project in general; reflection process on which group will be working on what themes till October 2011
From March till June 2011	Consultation within IMWAC, specifically Germany
From February till March 2011	Preliminary consultations in Vienna, in the board of the Austrian „We are Church“; board resolution of Austrian group; information to IMWAC

Paul Weitzer on behalf of the Viennese group of „Wir sind Kirche“

Translate: Paul Röttig, a member of “we are church” - Austria

Vienna, Austria, 19 January 2011.