FutureChurch

FutureChurch is an organization that advocates for a variety of causes within the Roman Catholic Church, including women's ordination and an end to mandatory priestly celibacy.

FutureChurch was founded in 1990 or 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1993 or 1994. [These different dates are given on various pages of the FutureChurch website.]

In the early years, FutureChurch received support from the Diocese of Cleveland. However, in 2004 the Cleveland diocese, led by Bishop Anthony Michael Pilla, released a statement critical of the organization. [See http://www.futurechurch.org/response.htm]

Richard Lennon succeeded Pilla as Bishop of Cleveland on May 15, 2006. Shortly after, FutureChurch began looking for another location for its office. [See the reference to the "Great Office Search" at http://www.futurechurch.org/newsletter/summer06/directorsdesk.htm] There were widespread rumors that Lennon had refused them permission to operate out of churches in the Cleveland diocese, but these rumors were not officially confirmed by FutureChurch or by the archdiocese. [The rumors appeared in June 2006 on a number of blogs, including [http://amywelborn.typepad.com/openbook/2006/06/that_was_quick.html Open Book] . The rumors were still unverified as of early 2007: the magazine "Catholic World Report" (February 2007 issue, page 39) stated that "neither FutureChurch nor the diocese has confirmed the rumor."]

References

External links

* [http://www.futurechurch.org/ Official site]