Caption (above, left): Q and A exchange following Father Schüller’s presentation. (above, right): Father Helmut Schüller. Photos | Katharine Gilbert
Sabina Clarke
They came in droves to Sugar Loaf Hill on the campus of Chestnut Hill College; braving the dank humidity of a stifling July evening — serious and committed Catholics aching for change in a divided Church; eager to hear the message of a reformist Austrian priest—the quietly charismatic Reverend Helmut Schüller.
Regina Bannan, event coordinator, and Father Schüller.
Photo | Katharine Gilbert
If turnout is an indicator, on this his third stop of a 15-city tour, Philadelphia answered with a resounding yes and an overflow crowd of more than three hundred who filled the seats, lined the walls and plopped on the floor —all demanding a voice in a divided, authoritarian Church that has lost touch with its people.
Regina Bannan, the organizer of the event sponsored by Voice of the Faithful, Call to Action and the Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Council, gave a rousing introduction that set the tone for the evening, “They turned out in New York, they turned out in Boston and they turned out in Philadelphia,” as the crowd roared its approval.
Schüller, who describes himself as “simply a parish priest doing God’s work,” entered the ministry during the papacy of John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council. He quoted Pope John XXIII’s use of the Italian word aggiornamento which means to “reform, renew and revitalize.”
He traced his activism to his appointment as vicar general to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, while serving simultaneously as pastor of a parish. His first task was handling the sex abuse scandal. After organizing a task force of more than 400 priests and deacons, he was fired for his initiative and stripped of his title of monsignor by the Vatican. About this he quipped, “It was not the tragedy of my life.”
Speaking about the need for a balance between power and control in the Roman Catholic Church, he criticized the “absolute monarchy” that Catholics are living in today adding, “Church leaders now seem to be afraid of the laity.”
About the contentious issue of women’s ordination in the Roman Catholic Church, Schüller quoted Pope Leo the Great in the 4th century who said that men and women are equal in the eyes of God — adding
“This is the ground message of the Bible.”
He also spoke about the need for total acceptance of divorced Catholics who want a “new beginning” and for the “total acceptance of all gay men and women.”
Following a talk peppered with compassion, insight and humor, a relaxed Schüller, who was obviously enjoying himself, encouraged questions from the appreciative and responsive audience.
Audience members at Chestnut Hill College.
Photo | Katharine Gilbert
After a few questions, a fired-up nun who identified herself as from the Order of St. Francis, stormed the podium facing Schüller, barely able to contain her excitement saying, “I was in the back of the room and had to come up front and see your face. We have been talking about these issues for thirty years.” After an impassioned and fervent delivery, she embraced Schüller and the crowd went wild.
Another nun sitting in the first row, who traveled from Chicago to hear him, asked Schuller, “How can we support priests like you and Father Roy Bourgeois?” Schüller answered, “Pray and work at the parish level.”
Then a soft-spoken man held the microphone and revealed to everyone that he was gay stating, “For years, I have been looking for a Church where I could belong.” He was followed by another man who stood up and announced “I am getting too old to wait for the Catholic Church to make changes. I attend a Mass in a Methodist Church where I feel welcome. I think we need to recognize God in everyone.” A sentiment Schüller seemed to share.
A tricky question on homosexuality and Church teaching that could have been troublesome was deftly handled by Schüller when someone asked how homosexuality could be reconciled with Church teaching since the Bible condemns homosexuality.
Schüller explained that during biblical times, homosexuality was not understood adding. “We can’t always take the Bible literally and have an open Christian approach.”
As if to cap off the evening, a man seated on the floor gazed up at Father Schüller and challenged, “Why weren’t you excommunicated by the Church for your activism?” With good humor, Schüller responded, “Because of public opinion.”