The Catholic Common Ground Initiative is an intra-ecclesial relations effort launched in 1996 by the
National Pastoral Life Center
The Catholic Common Ground Initiative is an intra-ecclesial relations effort launched in 1996 by the National Pastoral Life Center. Its original goal was to dialogue with dissenting Catholics on a variety of unresolved issues that came about in th ...
. Its original goal was to dialogue with dissenting Catholics on a variety of unresolved issues that came about in the years following the
Second Vatican Council. One of its most notable proponents was the late Cardinal
Joseph Bernardin of Chicago.
This initiative was met with strong opposition from leading bishops in the United States. Cardinals
William Wakefield Baum,
James Aloysius Hickey, and
Bernard Francis Law were especially opposed to any undesirable concessions regarding Catholic teachings on
moral theology. The ''
New Oxford Review'' was also opposed to it.
Its current purpose and central mission is "to promote dialogue within the Church on a variety of theological and social issues, including the changing roles of women, human sexuality, healthcare reform, and immigration—challenges facing not just the American Catholic Church but the United States as a whole." Since 2009, the CCGI has been a pivotal component of The Bernardin Center for Theology and Ministry, housed at
Catholic Theological Union in
Chicago.
National Pastoral Life Center
The National Pastoral Life Center was an organization whose goal was to serve the leadership of the
Catholic Church's pastoral ministry, particularly in parishes and diocesan offices. It was founded in 1983 by Rev. Msgr. Philip J. Murnion with the help of the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference (US ...
. It was the publisher of ''
Church magazine
''Church magazine'' was a professional quarterly of pastoral theology and ministry published by the National Pastoral Life Center. It was written especially for pastors, parish leaders, and members of diocesan offices. Its founding editor was Mar ...
''.
In 1996, the NPLC created a debate in the Church by proposing the Catholic Common Ground Initiative, whose goal was dialogue with dissenting Catholics on a variety of unresolved issues that came about in the years following the
Second Vatican Council. This initiative was met with strong opposition from leading bishops in the United States.
In November 2009, it was announced that the NPLC was closing down after 25 years of service to the Catholic Church in the United States.
National Pastoral Life Center closing down
/ref>
See also
* Spirit of Vatican II
The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions), each lasting between 8 and 1 ...
References
External links
Catholic Common Ground InitiativeBernardin Center for Theology and Ministry
Catholic Church in the United States
Catholic theology and doctrine
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