'Dissenting' groups remain in directory

BY LUKE COPPEN
GROUPS which allegedly dissent from Church teaching appear in next year's official directory of Catholic organisations it emerged this week, in spite of new rules which for the first time demanded a "fundamental commitment.' to Catholic dogma.
Campaigners reacted with dismay to the news that the 2002 Catholic Directory of England and Wales listed organisations which they believe condone abortion and support women's ordination.
The bishops of England and Wales issued strict new ciiteria for entry into the Directory last year.
For the first time ever, they stated that organisations wishing to be listed under the "Catholic Societies in England and Wales" section should support the teaching and practice of the Church.
The bishops drew up the guidelines largely in response to criticism that the Directory, which is published annually on behalf of the bishops' conference of England and Wales, appeared to officially sanction groups which publicly challenged Church teaching.
For many years, the preamble to the list of Catholic soci
dies has said that all groups appeared with "ecclesiastical approval".
Next year, however, the preamble says that the groups listed must have "a fundamental commitment" to Church teaching, "particularly as expressed in the documents (Jr the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church".
They must also have a membership widely distributed throughout England and Wales, or be involved in work "properly described as being of national importance".
Critics expressed disappointment this week that despite the stringent new criteria two controversial women's organisations — the Catholic Women's Network (CWN) and the St Joan's International Alliance — were still listed in the Directory.
Joanna Bogle, author of the booklet Does the Church Oppress Women?, published by the Catholic Truth Society, said that the new guidelines were "praiseworthy", but depended on the good will and loyalty of applicant groups.
Criticising the inclusion of the CWN, she said: "Our bishops made it clear that the only groups which can be included in the Directory are those which support the teaching as set out in the Catechism. The Network doesn't. Our bishops have made it clear that such a group has no place in the Directory."
In the 2002 Directory, the Catholic Women's Network describes itself as a national network of women "who believe that the Gospel speaks about freedom from oppression and calls women to full participation in all aspects of life and the church as a matter of justice".
In its annual report, the group claimed to have "come under attack from fundamentalist groups" following its
publication of material on abortion. It added that "the CWN does not have a stance on abortion".
Joanna Bogle said that by claiming to have no position on abortion, the CWN circumvented the bishops' guidelines on entry to the Directory.
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church most definitely commits Catholics to uphold the teaching that abortion is amoral. It is not a subject on which a Catholic can take 'no stance'," she said.
In the 2002 Directory, the St Joan's International Alliance says that its aim is "to enable interested Catholics to work for equal rights and opportunities for men and women in all fields". It has links with dissenting groups around the world, including We Are Church.
Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Malone of Liverpool, head of the panel which scrutinised applications to the societies section of the Directory, offered some hope to opponents of the Network and the Alliance in a statement on Monday.
He said: "The panel appointed by the bishops' conference has been able to accept most of the applications, while identifying some entries as being best placed in other parts of the Directory. In the case of a small number of societies, however, the panel wished to be more sure of their 'fundamental commitment to the teaching of the Catholic Church', and entered into correspondence for this purpose. As it was not possible to complete this satisfactorily before the printer's deadline, these societies have been allowed to remain in the 2002 Directory while the correspondence continues. The panel does not intend to publicise at this time the names of the societies which are under such consideration."