STATEMENT BY WAACSA REGARDING THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF MARTHA HEIZER

The excommunication of Martha Heizer and several other Catholic reform leaders in recent times is a sign of the growing dissatisfaction of Catholics with certain teachings and practices in the Church. Many Catholics have become frustrated with the suppression of dialogue on critical issues in the Church. Those who speak out are either ignored or side-lined, while those who publicly dissent are at risk of excommunication. WAACSA calls for an urgent opening up of dialogue in the universal Church and in local Churches, a decentralisation of responsibility, and an understanding of authority as service to others. No matter what means Catholics use to express their frustration, in the end everyone in the Church must listen respectfully to each other with conciliation rather than judgment in mind, if we are to be true to the spirit of Christ.

WAACSA has chosen to work for reform in the Church from within by promoting dialogue. WAACSA will continue to respect current teachings and practices in the Church while at the same time working to realise the goals of the Second Vatican Council

Brian Robertson

National Coordinator of We Are All Church South Africa

On behalf of the membership

OCTOBER 2014