Project "VATICAN III – from below“

Project "VATICAN III – from below“

 

Project

Up to now, IMWAC (and Platform „We are Church“) have been continuously raising awareness

in respect to (almost) all reform themes, have arranged meetings, published books and undertaken

many other activities. However, substantial reforms have not been implemented by the leader(s)

of our Church – except for blockades. Therefore, the movement of the IMWAC is called to initiate

a last powerful endeavour. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vatican II (from 11

October 1962 to 7 December 1965) we are preparing a VATICAN III – from below in Rome:

− 7 December 2015: solemn Public Proclamation of the documents of Vatican III

− 8 December 2015: final celebration in Rome.

 

Objective

The plan is to rework and complement the four Constitutions (C), the nine Decrees (D) and

the three Statements (S) of the Vatican II in the light of a new genuine “Aggiornamento” in

accordance with the requirements of the modern society and new theological knowledge. In case

of need, structural issues of these documents should be also addressed. In doing so, the tradition of

the Church has to be taken into consideration.

 

Method

The documents of the Vatican II will be summarized in nine themes (see below). At least

nine country groups of IMWAC should each select one theme which they should overwork

till September 2015. A huge and important project like this cannot be completed without an

international allocation of tasks. All reform movements are cordially invited to participate in

this project. However, the Platform should be always responsible for the coordination to avoid

friction losses through uncoordinated approaches. The end results of all themes will be assembled

and finalized by the Executive Committee of the “Circle of the 12” (see time schedule below)

and approved in a three-day General Meeting in September 2015. After further amendments and

corrections, the final document will be presented to the public at a Press Conference on Friday, 4

December 2015, in Rome. For 7 December 2015, there is a Demonstration March of all Peoples

to the Vatican planned where the documents will be adopted in a Public Proclamation at St.

Peter’s Square.

 

Participants - 2015 in Rom

To have as many people as possible participating in the Demonstration March in Rome, it is

recommended to start with the “promotion process” as soon as possible in 2011. Our members and

sympathizing fellow-travellers should be planning a one-week holiday in Rome for the beginning

of December 2015. Our goal is to have about 450 people participating in the Demonstration

March: 100 each from Austria, Germany and Italy, and 150 from other European countries and

other continents.

 

The nine areas of themes for the nine country groups are proposed as follows:

(abbreviations C, D and S see above):

 

1. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (C), specifically further development of

 

2. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (C), specifically the theology of the “Communio”

 

3. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (C), Social Communications (D) and

 

4. Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (C)

 

5. Bishops in the Church (D), specifically “Communio” and particular Churches)

 

6. Ecumenism (D) and Eastern Churches (D)

 

7. Lay People (D) and Christian Education (S)

 

8. Priestly Training (D) and Life of Priests (D)

 

9. Renewal of Religious Life (D), Religious Freedom (S) and Relations with Non-Christians (S)

 

Contents, Tasks and Responsibilities

Final debriefing

Great Demonstration March of the Peoples to the Vatican

and Public Proclamation of the documents of Vatican III at St.

Peter’s Square (alternative location in case of rain: church close

by or meeting hall)

 

Saturday/Sunday Debriefing of the Press Conference

Last preparation for Monday, 7 December 2015

Friday,

Press Conference in Rome

4 December 2015

Thursday,

Integration of recommended changes (editorial team)

3 December 2015 Last preparations for Press Conference (list of speakers for 7

December)

Wednesday,

Meeting for Final Resolution in Rome (meeting hall for

Rental of the

2 December 2015 around 400 participants, with translator service); only minor

meeting room in

changes of documents possible.

Rome

End of

Final three-day General Meeting in Vienna, Munich or

September 2015 Innsbruck: resolution on all documents of the Council; till end

of October, recommended changes will be incorporated in

document by editing team

September 2014 Rental of meeting rooms and time schedules (specifically of the

Demonstration March of the Peoples) to be sent to Rome

 

Starting shot: publication of final distribution of tasks and

responsibilities (i.e., composition of documents of Vatican III),

simultaneous press conferences in all participating countries

April 2012

Election of the Executive Committee „Circle of the 12“: 6

board members and 6 deputies: Austria, Germany, Italy/South

Tyrol and three deputies from other countries

From October

The groups will be working on the documents taken over; in the

2011 to February case that a group or country cannot manage its task, a restitution

2012

resp. redistribution to another group or groups will be arranged.

Finalization of tasks and responsibilities latest by March 2012.

October 2011

Distribution of tasks and responsibilities of editing the

Council’s documents to the groups resp. countries of IMWAC

June/July 2011

Resolution of IMWAC on the project in general; reflection

process on which group will be working on what themes till

October 2011

From March till Consultation within IMWAC, specifically Germany

June 2011

From February

Preliminary consultations in Vienna, in the board of the

till March 2011 Austrian „We are Church“; board resolution of Austrian group;

information to IMWAC

 

Paul Weitzer on behalf of the Viennese group of „Wir sind Kirche“

Translate: Paul Röttig, a member of “we are church” - Austria

Vienna, Austria, 19 January 2011.