We Are Church: An urgent letter to our supporters
Dear CTA Members, Supporters, and Friends,
Earlier this summer, it came to the attention of staff and the Vision Council that Church Militant, a radically right-wing organization, is using the Call To Action name for an upcoming conference in Detroit.
We’d prefer not to give this organization more attention; however, we will say that this move by Church Militant appears to be intentional on their part. Assuming the model of our initial 1976 Call To Action conference, Church Militant seeks to kickstart their own ultra-conservative movement across the nation. This organization aspires to draw harsh, dividing lines among faithful Catholics. They spew hatred. They demand spiritual warfare and they have the funding and donors to carry out this dangerous mission.
Everything this organization preaches is in direct opposition of our principles of building an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, feminist, and LGBTQIA-affirming church:
A church that fosters gender justice, including the ordination of women, trans and non-binary folks.
A church that promotes and cultivates dignity among all peoples and families, regardless of their marital status or sexual and/or romantic relationships.
A church whose liturgies embrace the many cultures, histories, and languages of our universal church.
A church that truly lives by all the tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, including the preferential option for the poor; criminal justice reform and the abolition of the death penalty; dignity for labor and workers, especially low-income wage earners and immigrant workers; care for God’s creation; and solidarity among all in this one apostolic church.
We’re not afraid of Church Militant. We’re continuing to monitor this situation, and we don’t expect this conference to further harm our organization or chapters.
But we know that Christian nationalism is accelerating across the United States. And in the wake of Trump, the Jan. 6th insurrection, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and other recent SCOTUS decisions dismantling the separation of church and state, Christian nationalism continues to divide not only our country but also our church in disturbing, unprecedented ways.
Now is the time for all of us to unite and declare: We Are Church.
In the coming months, we at Call To Action will be reflecting, assessing, and releasing more on this theme. We are hopeful and inspired to continue our mission, and we hope, too, that you will join us in this mission.
Please, do not hesitate to reach out to me with your comments, questions, or ideas. I want to thank you for your continued support and trust in Call To Action.
In Solidarity,
Lauren Barbato, Interim Executive Director; lauren@cta-usa.org
Tamar Yager, Associate Director; tamar@cta-usa.org
Vision Council: Debra Brittenum, Fred Dabrowski, Marian Fredal, Amy Sheber Howard, Christa Kerber
Call To Action is a member-supported organization. Your contribution is important to us, especially in the wake of these attacks from right-wing groups. Please consider donating so we can continue our mission of connecting and funding Catholics in this anti-opression, anti-racist, gender-affirming work.
