The Community of Christ Our Brother has supported its administrator, Father Conald Foust, who has publicly opposed the encyclical “Of Human Life,” and has urged other priests and laymen to state their opinions on the papal letter banning artificial contraception.

The community approved a statement last week after Father Foust told members that the recent encyclical ignores the advance of the Church.

Father Foust asked in his statement, “How can Catholics oppose the papal authority and remain loyal to the Catholic Church? The total Church has come to realize that the Spirit reveals the Church to all, that the search for truth is a dialogue between all members of the Church...”

“The hierarchial organs of the Church have a definite function, but we have come to realize that this is not a function in isolation, nor of absolute power. Paul VI did not acknowledge this awareness,” Father Foust said.

The Atlanta priest said Pope Paul rejected the majority view of the commission established by Pope John XXIII. He added, “In view of the more dynamic notion of Church life and authority according to which you have a vital share in that authority, in view of the commission’s report, in view of the statement of so many theologians, I confront you with three questions:

1. What do I really think in this matter?

2. Do I have any obligation to speak out in order to help other thinking people decide the question freely in their own minds?

3. Do we feel any obligation as the Community of Christ Our Brother to give witness to our dissent in this matter, if, indeed we do so dissent as a body? The community’s statement said, “The Community of Christ Our Brother wishes to support the action of our administrator, Father Conald Foust, in speaking publicly his beliefs on the issued of artificial birth control. We further wish to express our admiration for the courage he has shown in addressing this issue.”

“We further encourage other priests and laymen to state honestly and forthrightly the truth regarding the issue as it is dedicated by their consciences. We feel that it is important to keep the Church we love from standing for one thing and practicing another.”

Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan has not commented on the actions of Father Foust or the community’s statement.