The Catholic Faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte are asked to take action in the following ways.

1) Follow the formal steps for “Initiating Recourse Against An Administrative Decree”

NB: This will initiate the canonical process for challenging the Protocol, though it will likely not initially block the implementation of the Protocol in question. (find this document FaithfulAdvocate.org > Rights of the Faithful)

a. Write to Bishop Martin within ten working days of the legal notice of the Protocol, asking him to revoke the decree (Prot.No. ____)

b. Delivered to: (or emailed to: bishopsoffice@rcdoc.org)

Most Reverend Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv.

Diocese of Charlotte

Office of the Bishop

1123 S. Church St.

Charlotte, NC 28203

c. The request must state exactly what is being petitioned, and the reasons why. We are petitioning that he revoke the recent decree (Prot. No. B _____).

d. Requests that are not specific as to what is being sought or why, will not be accepted and will not be considered as delaying the initial ten (10) day time limit.

e. If a valid request for revocation of the decree is received within the ten (10) daytime limit, Bishop Martin has thirty (30) days from receipt of the petition to decide his response. If no response is given in thirty (30) days, a negative response is to be assumed [cf. canon 1735].

f. If, after legitimate petition, Bishop Martin does not revoke the initial decree,hierarchic recourse may be proposed to the Holy See.

g. This must be done within a peremptory time limit of fifteen (15) working days. This recourse cannot validly be proposed unless one has first written to Bishop Martin to ask him to revoke the decree.

h. This recourse is to be made in writing, along with the reasons for seeking recourse,to the proper Dicastery of the Holy See (Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments). Letters can most easily be mailed through the Nuncio, as described on the website: https://www.faithfuladvocate.org/write-to-the-vatican. See the full Appeal Process form here: https://www.faithfuladvocate.org/the-rights-of-the-faithful > Take Action

2) Separately, write letters to the Nuncio and Rome:

a. to the Apostolic Nuncio and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome

i. telling them of this inconsiderate act on the part of the Bishop and the harm that it has caused to the faithful of the Diocese

b. Further, please continue to send letters to the Dicastery for Bishops to share your concerns about the impact of the Bishop’s governance over the Diocese of Charlotte. This is outlined on the main page of the Faithful Advocate website, in the left column.

NB: For the process of recourse, the first way mentioned above, before writing to the DDWDS, we must follow the steps outlined, including waiting for a reply from the Bishop in the time period specified.

NB: The second way listed above is a separate appeal from the process of recourse, and this action can be taken immediately.