We thank and commend him for his total approval of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in his Peace Day Declaration of New Year's Day. As the bishops of Mexico asked him to address the problem of immigrants during his visit there, we in turn urge him to address the issue of human rights in our Church during his visit here. Failure to see our own problems while attempting to correct these same problems in others is a common human condition. Article 10 - Points out the need for Due Process in our Church. Article 19 - Suppressing Freedom of Expression in our Church by mental and spiritual persecution is the institution's way of dealing with the prophetic voice of dissent.
Silence is another.
Like the Vatican's silence that met the bishops of Oceania as they call for, even plead for, changes to be made especially regarding a married priesthood in our Church. Were this ancient tradition in place today, half of the world's parishes would not be without priests, thus depriving millions of the Eucharist, a sinfully high tax to pay for the control provided by mandatory celibacy. Subsidiarity would not be a hollow word in our Church and there would be far fewer acolyte-bishops. Article 23 - Points out that our Church, right here in St. Louis, offends by denying employees, like hospital workers and teachers, the right to collectively organize for their welfare and thus mock words to the contrary found in Papal documents and pronouncements. To strengthen him in this task, and especially as he addresses women's equality in our Church, we recommend a prayer for Christmas Day by Janet Morley, Episcopal priest.