To look forward, Catholics should look back to former Bishop Lucker

[CatholicEdHead]

Much has been written about Pope Benedict XVI when Cardinal Joseph Ratinger assumed the Papel mantel.

While more traditionalist teachings are taking more prominance, many progressive/liberation Catholics have to turn to the writings of the past to help guide them to the future.

One figure to look at is the late Bishop Raymond Lucker of the New Ulm, Minnesota diocese. He saw that you need to adapt for the future by working through the present.
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/

While Bishop Lucker has passed on, his writings still live on. Here are some examples of his theological thinking:

Levels of Church teachings (e.g. changeable or not)
http://www.womenpriests.org/teaching/lucker.asp

Here are links to all his Pastoral Letters from Nov 1997 to Nov 2000:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/writings.html

Key letters from above link:
Role of Laity:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/april98.html

Allowing married priests:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/oct98.html
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/nov98.html

St. Francis:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/mar00.html

Capital Punishment:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/april99.html

On Pope Pius XII:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/feb00.html
"Pius taught clearly and forcefully in his encyclical of 1950 on false opinions threatening to undermine the foundations of Catholic doctrine, that once a clarification on a debatable issue was made by papal teaching in an encyclical the matter is closed. Nevertheless, only fifteen years later the Second Vatican Council was open to the development of doctrine on some papal teachings and took positions different than Pius himself; for example, on ecumenism, on the church, on religious liberty, on the relationship of church and state, and original sin."

All Position Statements:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/bishopoverview.html

On Call to Action:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/bishopoverview.html#130
"Call to Action Conference

A few weeks ago I spoke at the Call to Action Conference in Milwaukee. I find the same kind of people there that I grew up with, people who love the Church, who have embraced the reforms of Vatican II, who are open to the growth of their faith through participation in small faith-sharing groups, who are concerned by the renewal of the Church and who are deeply committed to the "new Pentecost" so ardently prayed for by the saintly Pope John XXIII. They are active in their own parishes and dioceses, engaged in the transformation of society, committed to non-violence, justice and peace.

December, 1999 "

On Church Laity:
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/bishopoverview.html#119
Laity

Recently an instruction came from offices in the Vatican "On the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest." The intent of that document was to give support to priests. Unfortunately the tone and manner in which it addressed the role of the laity was negative and not especially helpful.

April, 1998 "

You can also order a book for $25 with all 25 years of Pastoral Letters.
http://www.dnu.org/news/lucker/luckerbook.html