Theologians Support Voice of the Faithful

THEOLOGIAN PETITIONVoice of the Faithful Has the Right to ExistDrafted by Dr. Thomas Beaudoin, Dr. William Clark, S.J. and Dr. Anthony Massimini
As Catholic theologians, we support the rights and responsibilities of lay Catholics, acting in the grace of their spiritual gifts, to gather in the Spirit of Christ, who dwells within the whole Church.
Their gifts are God's empowerment and blessing of the laity's unique voice for the renewal and up-building of the Church and the world.
These rights and responsibilities of lay Catholics are part of official Catholic teaching, and we encourage all Catholics to read the documents of Vatican II.
Thus, we fully support the right and responsibility of Voice of the Faithful to meet in prayerful discernment of the signs of the times, and to present to the hierarchy for confirmation and implementation what their sense of faith requires them to voice.
"Christ … fulfills His prophetic office … not only by the hierarchy who teach in His name and by His power, but also by the laity …." (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, n. 35)
"They [the laity] are, by [reason of] knowledge, competence or outstanding ability which they may enjoy, permitted and sometimes even obliged to express their opinion on those things which concern the good of the Church." (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, n. 37)
"While preserving intact the necessary link with ecclesiastical authority, the laity have the right to establish and direct [apostolic] associations, and to join existing ones …. [B]y their expert assistance they increase the efficacy of the care of souls as well as of the administration of the goods of the Church." (Vatican II, Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, n. 19, 10)
Signatories: Dr. J. Matthew Ashley, University of Notre Dame Dr. Richard J. Beauchesne, Emmanuel College, Northeastern University Dr. Tom Beaudoin, Boston College Dr. Eugene C. Bianchi, Emeritus, Emory University Dr. Francis J. Buckley, S.J., University of San Francisco Dr. Francine Cardman, Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. William Clark, S.J., College of the Holy Cross Dr. Anne Clifford, Duquesne University Dr. Richard Clifford, S.J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. Francis X. Clooney, S.J., Boston College Dr. Marie A. Conn, Chestnut Hill College Dr. Paul Crowley, S.J., Santa Clara University Dr. Nancy A. Dallavalle, Fairfield University Dr. James Dallen, Gonzaga University Dr. Margaret A. Farley, Yale University Divinity School Mary Kathleen Flannery, SSJ, Chestnut Hill College Dr. Jeannine Hill Fletcher, Fordham University Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz, University of Toledo Dr. Roberto Goizueta, Boston College Dr. Thomas H. Groome, Boston College Juliann Kriege Heller, Ph.D. Candidate, Boston College Dr. David Hollenbach, S.J., Boston College Dr. Harold (Bud) Horell, Boston College Dr. Karen L. Howard, Merrimack College Dr. Mark Jordan, Emory University Dr. James F. Keenan, S.J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. Alice Laffey, College of the Holy Cross Dr. Paul Lakeland, Fairfield University Dr. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., College of the Holy Cross Dr. Robert Ludwig, Depaul University Dr. Carole McCollester, O.P., Loyola University, New Orleans Dr. Gary Macy, University of San Diego Bette Manter, Th.D. Candidate, Harvard Divinity School Dr. Anthony Massimini, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design Dr. Robert Masson, Marquette University Dr. Vincent J. Miller, Georgetown University Dr. Paul Misner, Marquette University Dr. Catherine M. Mooney, Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. Margaret Mary Moore, Theology and Life Institute, Inc. Maureen Beyer Moser, Ph.D. Candidate, Duquesne University Dr. Theresa Moser, R.S.C.J., University of San Francisco Dr. Timothy P. Muldoon, Mount Aloysius College Dr. Frederick Murphy, College of the Holy Cross Catherine T. Nerney, SSJ, Chestnut Hill College Dr. Maureen O'Brien, Duquesne University Dr. Kenneth L. Parker, Saint Louis University Dr. Richard Penaskovic, Auburn University Dr. Gaile M. Pohlhaus, Villanova University Dr. Barbara Quinn, R.S.C.J., University of San Diego Dr. Jane Regan, Boston College Dr. Alan Revering, Quincy University Dr. Ann R. Riggs, Rivier College Dr. Virginia M. Ryan, Rivier College Dr. John R. Sachs, S.J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, Harvard Divinity School Dr. William M. Shea, Saint Louis University Dr. Vincent M. Smiles, College of St. Benedict and St. John's University Dr. Leonard Swidler, Temple University John Switzer, Ph.D. Student, Boston College Dr. Terrence W. Tilley, University of Dayton Dr. John Topel, S.J., Seattle University Dr. David Tracy, University of Chicago Dr. Paul Turner, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO Dr. Edward Vacek, S.J., Weston Jesuit School of Theology Dr. Sally M. Vance-Trembath, University of San Francisco Dr. Cristina Vanin, St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Dr. Terry Veling, St. Thomas University, Miami Dr. Johann M. Vento, Georgian Court College Dr. Win Whelan, St. Bonaventure University