I've been at the California convention of Call to Action this weekend. It's a progressive Catholic organization that advocates the ordination of women and married men, and the recognition of the dignity of homosexuals. The organization also takes a strong stance in favor of social justice. Although many members oppose abortion, most also oppose legal restrictions on abortion. I and most of the members of Call to Action have been deeply disappointed by Pope John Paul II in many ways.

No doubt, many of John Paul's rules will be broken at our closing liturgy (Mass) on Sunday at noon. The presiders at Mass will probably be married and unmarried priests, male and female, straight and gay. Still the organization is very Catholic in its theology and tradition. We want to reform our Catholic Church, not start a new religion. Most of us have been Catholic all our lives. Many of us have degrees in Theology from Catholic institutions (so do I). Many conservative Catholics and many outsiders think the Catholic faith requires strict obedience and conformity, but that's not what I learned in my Catholic theological training. There is a good amount of room for dissent and disagreement and diversity among Catholics. Catholics in Lincoln, Nebraska, were have been excommunicated for belonging to Call to Action, but Lincoln is the only diocese that has taken such a severe measure against the organization.

During the convention many of us would check the radio at breaks, to hear the latest news on the Pope. Many were also checking the scores of the Illinois game today, and the two actions seemed strangely similar. Still, when the news came, there was a sincere feeling of regret. He was a good man, a man who stood up for peace and for social justice in many ways, but he hurt many Catholics by his strictly conservative views on gender and reproductive issues. Some of the participants were friends with theologians whose views had been suppressed by this pope. There was relief at the end of his reign, but also a feeling of uncertainty about the future. It could well be that John Paul's successor will be more conservative. If that happens, I'm afraid that many progressive Catholics will just give up.

May John Paul II rest in peace, and may the Catholic Church elect a new pope who truly stands for love and justice and equality - and diversity.

-Joe Offer-