Crisis of Catholic Authority: Faith and Power in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska

Excommunicated I could have never imagined this wordused to describe me. Yet, this is exactly what happened because of my newbishop's extra-synodal legislation excommunicating Catholics who belong tocertain organizations. An active and engaged Catholic, I found myself confusedas I confronted a rigid church that demanded unquestioning obedience. I feltbetrayed by a church that educated me to use my mind and then punished me whenI did so. Unfortunately, what has long been the case in the Diocese of Lincolnis spreading to other dioceses as well.