Anne Burke receives 2005 U.S. Catholic Award for furthering the cause of women in the church

Mainstream mag U.S. Catholic gave their 2005 Award for Furthering the Cause of Women in the Church to Anne M. Burke, an Illinois appellate judge and former head of the National Review Board dealing with sex abuse cover-ups. Unlike some layfolk who earn the respect of Church hierarchy, Burke doesn't silence her voice in order to keep it:

Accepting the award, Burke said, "I believe that our common heritage as U.S. Catholics has never been more important, more dramatic, or more threatened. We live in precarious times, not just because of terrorism, global warming, and urban street crime, but because of a steady loss of confidence in the direction of our church, the truthfulness of its leadership, the role of the laity, and the persistent inability of the church to recognize our Catholic place in the modern world."

Noting how "the worst crisis in the history of the church in our nation" had brought the American hierarchy to a "breaking point at which they finally went to the laity of America to ask for direction and help," Burke called on Catholic laity to continue to take a stronger role in overseeing church affairs. "I do not for a minute believe that the bishops would have adopted the charter and norms for dealing with the abuse crisis or permit the unprecedented freedom that our original board enjoyed in getting to the bottom of the crisis had they not had their backs to the wall," said Burke. "Nor do I believe that without continuous scrutiny by the laity will the bishops refrain from tinkering with the burdens of justice and accountability placed on them by the charter."

--U.S. Catholic

Is it okay that I'm terribly excited to see that one of the most respected Catholics in the country is a blonde laywoman who wears pink? Indeed this IS a face of the Church!