JustChurch Campaigns
Brownsville Diocese: Church Workers and Laity Have Rights
February 2007:
Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley in Texas is making headlines for their courageous work to share the truth about clergy sexual abuse survivors. In January, the local PBS television station, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, censored a Frontline film about a survivor of clergy sexual abuse. The documentary, titled "Hand of God," aired in every other PBS station in the country except one. CTA members made headlines when they challenged the station's decision to not air the film. When they inquired about the censorship, they were told that the station's manager, Monsignor Briseno, wanted to watch the film first to see if it was appropriate for local viewers. The news was picked up by the AP wire and was carried in newspapers across the country.
CTA members believed the truth must be told and responded with gospel nonviolent action. They secured a local theater and invited the film's director and his brother, the featured abuse survivor, to share the documentary with Catholics in southern Texas. Now, after increasing pressure, Monsignor Briseno, stated at a recent PBS board meeting that the station will try to find a time to air the documentary film in March.
This is a wonderful success for lay Catholics seeking to reveal the facts about clergy sexual abuse and to ensure that clergy are no longer allowed to hide the truth.
Prior to February 2007:
Since 2003, members of Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley have been engaged in a struggle to support four parish staff and their own rights as laity at Holy Spirit Parish. The four staff members had been part of more than 50 employees in the diocese who unionized under United Farm Workers (UFW) and signed contracts with their pastors. Not only are unions supported by Catholic social justice teaching, but even Vatican workers are part of a union.
When a new pastor was assigned to the parish, he fired these four women workers on his first day of work. 600 parishioners united for an outdoor mass that Sunday, boycotting the regularly scheduled mass. Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley, many of whom were members of Holy Spirit, helped organize the protests, civil suits were filed and the parish workers were reinstated. CTA/Rio Grande Valley members continue their struggle to be followers of Christ, active in their church, active for justice in the world.
Currently, the CTA/Rio Grande Valley invites you to help them in asking Bishop Pena to send a mediator to their church. Their present pastor will not allow parishioners to serve in the church unless they are personally approved by him. Many parishioners are now banned from participating in the life of the church as eucharistic ministers or lectionary readers. He has also abolished scores of lay ministries that provided vital services to the surrounding neighborhood. This pastor's actions have not only hurt the parish community, but also has deep ramifications for the well-being of many who looked to the church for help.
To support CTA/Rio Grande Valley in their current postcard campaign, print this letter and mail it to Bishop Pena (address included in letter).
On Friday, January 19th, CTA/Rio Grande Valley questioned why the local PBS station, owned by the Brownsville Diocese, did not air the nationwide Frontline documentary "Hand of God." The film follows the story of a family whose son was sexually abused by a priest. Every other station in the country, except one, aired the documentary. CTA/Rio Grande Valley responded with gospel nonviolent resistance by inviting the film's director to show the documentary to people in the Brownsville diocese at a local theater. Then, at a board of directors meeting, the station manager conceeded to air the documentary in March of 2007. This is a wonderful success for Catholics seeking to reveal the facts about clergy sexual abuse and to ensure that clergy are no longer allowed to hide the truth.
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Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley in Texas is making headlines for their courageous work to share the truth about clergy sexual abuse survivors. In January, the local PBS television station, owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, censored a Frontline film about a survivor of clergy sexual abuse. The documentary, titled "Hand of God," aired in every other PBS station in the country except one. CTA members made headlines when they challenged the station's decision to not air the film. When they inquired about the censorship, they were told that the station's manager, Monsignor Briseno, wanted to watch the film first to see if it was appropriate for local viewers. The news was picked up by the AP wire and was carried in newspapers across the country.
CTA members believed the truth must be told and responded with gospel nonviolent action. They secured a local theater and invited the film's director and his brother, the featured abuse survivor, to share the documentary with Catholics in southern Texas. Now, after increasing pressure, Monsignor Briseno, stated at a recent PBS board meeting that the station will try to find a time to air the documentary film in March.
This is a wonderful success for lay Catholics seeking to reveal the facts about clergy sexual abuse and to ensure that clergy are no longer allowed to hide the truth.
Prior to February 2007:
Since 2003, members of Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley have been engaged in a struggle to support four parish staff and their own rights as laity at Holy Spirit Parish. The four staff members had been part of more than 50 employees in the diocese who unionized under United Farm Workers (UFW) and signed contracts with their pastors. Not only are unions supported by Catholic social justice teaching, but even Vatican workers are part of a union.
When a new pastor was assigned to the parish, he fired these four women workers on his first day of work. 600 parishioners united for an outdoor mass that Sunday, boycotting the regularly scheduled mass. Call To Action/Rio Grande Valley, many of whom were members of Holy Spirit, helped organize the protests, civil suits were filed and the parish workers were reinstated. CTA/Rio Grande Valley members continue their struggle to be followers of Christ, active in their church, active for justice in the world.
Currently, the CTA/Rio Grande Valley invites you to help them in asking Bishop Pena to send a mediator to their church. Their present pastor will not allow parishioners to serve in the church unless they are personally approved by him. Many parishioners are now banned from participating in the life of the church as eucharistic ministers or lectionary readers. He has also abolished scores of lay ministries that provided vital services to the surrounding neighborhood. This pastor's actions have not only hurt the parish community, but also has deep ramifications for the well-being of many who looked to the church for help.
To support CTA/Rio Grande Valley in their current postcard campaign, print this letter and mail it to Bishop Pena (address included in letter).
On Friday, January 19th, CTA/Rio Grande Valley questioned why the local PBS station, owned by the Brownsville Diocese, did not air the nationwide Frontline documentary "Hand of God." The film follows the story of a family whose son was sexually abused by a priest. Every other station in the country, except one, aired the documentary. CTA/Rio Grande Valley responded with gospel nonviolent resistance by inviting the film's director to show the documentary to people in the Brownsville diocese at a local theater. Then, at a board of directors meeting, the station manager conceeded to air the documentary in March of 2007. This is a wonderful success for Catholics seeking to reveal the facts about clergy sexual abuse and to ensure that clergy are no longer allowed to hide the truth.
To join CTA/Rio Grande Valley or send a letter of support to them directly, contact Gerald Brazier, CTA/RGV President, at gbrazier@rgv.rr.com, or visit the website at http://www.cta-rgv.org.
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++ Sign up for Catholic Action Alert updates from Call To Action.
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