Voice of the Faithful
   
  Monday January 13th    
Subscribe to VOTF Newsletter
Email:
 
    Keep the Faith, Change the Church    
top 2
 

 

Educating Ourselves

One of the great Biblical metaphors of the human/divine relationship comes from John's Gospel. Jesus says, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit." (John 15:5) Our relationship with our Lord is a living, growing thing. Only with care and attention, just as with vine and branches, will it flourish. Jesus calls us to ongoing mutual relationship. We need the elements of prayer, learning and reflection to nourish this life giving and constantly changing relationship.

VOTF hopes to provide opportunities to learn and increase our understanding of our faith, ourselves, and one another through reading, reflection, dialogue, and prayer. Questions are part of our faith journey. There are many pilgrims on this journey, and their thoughts will be shared here.

The articles, speeches, and essays that will be offered here represent their authors' thoughts and reflections, rather than VOTF policy. Please note that previously on this Web site, Dr. Massimini's and Prof. Appleby's papers were described as "Highly Recommended Reading." Although we have reorganized our site, VOTF still highly recommends these papers. Based on people's response to the papers, we believe them to be important works in and of themselves - as well as valuable stimuli to the dialogue that our Church so greatly lacks and so urgently needs. Not everyone in or outside of VOTF will agree with the ideas of these and other papers; however, VOTF is committed to free exchange, thoughtful consideration, and respectful dialogue. We welcome all views.

The Rights of Priests, James F. Keenan, S.J.

TOWARD VOTF'S GOAL # 3: THE NEED TO KEEP EDUCATING OURSELVES AND TO KEEP GROWING SPIRITUALLY
By Anthony Massimini

TOWARD A HEALED AND RENEWED CATHOLIC CHURCH
Expectations and Requirements for The New Archbishop of Boston, and For All Bishops and Pastors
by Anthony T. Massimini

"The Church at Risk: Remarks to the U.S.C.C.B.,"
by Scott Appleby

"Discerning the Spirit: A Guide for Renewing and Restructuring the Catholic Church,"
by Anthony T. Massimini

"Rebuilding in Boston" by James Keenan, SJ

 

"Some people worry when they have questions about their faith, or when they begin to realize that the old explanations, good enough before, no longer seem to offer coherent meaning. This worry is misplaced. To believe means to want to understand, and to want to understand means to be asking questions … Faith is precisely the opening of one's mind, one's understanding to God revealing himself. But what God reveals to us is not apparent instantaneously, once and forever in all its implications."
—Monica K. Hellwig, Understanding Catholicism

 

 

 

 

 

top 3

Find a Parish Voice affiliate in your area.

Calendar of events


Click here to get your copy of Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

Voice of the Faithful is recognized as one of the most promising lay organizations to evolve in the Catholic Church. Your support is absolutely necessary for us to continue. The online donation form and the mail in donation form are both quick and easy ways for you to participate, and we are most grateful. (VOTF is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. )

VOTF™
Mission Statement

To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.

 

Our Goals

1. To support survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

2. To support priests of integrity

3.To shape structural change within the Catholic Church.
More


right line

Pray Each Day
at Noon

Jesus, Lord and Brother, help us with our faithfulness. Please hear our voice, and let our voice be heard. Amen. More

 

         

home | survivor support | clergy support | about us | press | contact us| site map

Copyright © 2006 Voice of the Faithful, Inc. All rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions

Voice of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
Voice of Compassion, VOTF logo(s), Parish Voice, and
Prayerful Voice are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful, Inc.

Home
Contact
Join
Donate
 
Home
Who We Are
VOTF Positions
VOTF in the News
Prayerful Voice  
Survivor Support
Priest Support Working Group
Structural Change  
Voice of Renewal/Education
Parish Voice Affiliates
Protecting Our Children
VOTF Conferences
VOTF Fundraising
Young Adults 18-39
Bishops' Accountability
VOTF Speakers' Bureau
Educating Ourselves
Meetings  
Opportunities
Links
 
Home
Home
 
Working Groups
Working Groups
Our Statement of Identity
Our Statement of Identity
Our Story
Our Story
Our Policies
Our Policies
Rights & Responsibilities
Rights & Responsibilities
Our Future
Our Future
Mission Statement & Goals
Mission Statement & Goals
Theologians' Statement of Support
Theologians' Statement of Support
VOTF FAQs
VOTF FAQs
Officers, Trustees, & Incorp. Docs
Officers, Trustees, & Incorp. Docs
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
Why Catholics Join VOTF
Why Catholics Join VOTF
VOTF Financial Statements
VOTF Financial Statements
VOTF Membership Brochure
VOTF Membership Brochure
 
VOTF Positions
VOTF Positions
VOTF FAQs
VOTF FAQs
Declaration to Pope
Declaration to Pope
 
VOTF Latest News Coverage  
VOTF Latest News Coverage  
Press Releases
Press Releases
Media Contacts
Media Contacts
Archives
Archives
 
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Opening Prayer for VOTF Meetings
Opening Prayer for VOTF Meetings
Liturgy of Rededication
Liturgy of Rededication
Keeping Prayer at the Center
Keeping Prayer at the Center
Healing Mass
Healing Mass
VOTF Retreat
VOTF Retreat
Worldwide Day of Prayer & Fasting
Worldwide Day of Prayer & Fasting
Offer Your Prayer
Offer Your Prayer
Recommended Readings
Recommended Readings
 
Survivor-Sponsored & VOTF Events
Survivor-Sponsored & VOTF Events
Call to Reform
Call to Reform
Letter to Survivors
Letter to Survivors
Hearing the Stories Program
Hearing the Stories Program
 
Who We Are
Who We Are
What We Do
What We Do
Prayer for Priests
Prayer for Priests
Suggested Actions
Suggested Actions
Best Practice
Best Practice
Priest of Integrity Award
Priest of Integrity Award
Recommended Reading & Links
Recommended Reading & Links
Especially for Priests
Especially for Priests
Contact
Contact
 
Structural Change - Home Page
Structural Change - Home Page
Diocesan Finance Council Principles
Diocesan Finance Council Principles
Working Group Report
Working Group Report
Working Group Report - Spanish Translation
Working Group Report - Spanish Translation
Child Safety Motion
Child Safety Motion
Child Safety Motion - Spanish Translation
Child Safety Motion - Spanish Translation
Starting a Parish Council
Starting a Parish Council
 
Who We Are
Who We Are
Bibliography
Bibliography
Vatican II Citations
Vatican II Citations
 
Welcome to Parish Voice
Welcome to Parish Voice
Starting a Parish Voice Affiliate
Starting a Parish Voice Affiliate
Parish Voice Directory
Parish Voice Directory
Calendar of events
Calendar of events
PV Affiliate Web Sites
PV Affiliate Web Sites
 
Protecting Our Children
Protecting Our Children
Suggested Reading
Suggested Reading
 
VOTF Leadership Meeting, Indianapolis, IN July 2005
VOTF Leadership Meeting, Indianapolis, IN July 2005
?It?s Not History ? It?s Time for Renewal? ? Worcester, MA Nov. 13, 2004
?It?s Not History ? It?s Time for Renewal? ? Worcester, MA Nov. 13, 2004
"Response of the Faithful" -Boston, MA, July 20, 2002
"Response of the Faithful" -Boston, MA, July 20, 2002
"Being Catholic in the 21st Century" - NY, NY, Oct. 25, 2003
"Being Catholic in the 21st Century" - NY, NY, Oct. 25, 2003
 
Highlights
Highlights
Story of Convention
Story of Convention
Declaration to Pope
Declaration to Pope
Fr. Doyle's Speech
Fr. Doyle's Speech
Jim Muller's Speech
Jim Muller's Speech
Jim Post's Speech
Jim Post's Speech
Papers Received
Papers Received
Videotape Orders
Videotape Orders
VOTF Keepsakes
VOTF Keepsakes
 
Letter to our Friends
Letter to our Friends
Mail in Donation Form
Mail in Donation Form
Online Donation Form
Online Donation Form
 
YA Mission Statement
YA Mission Statement
Working Papers
Working Papers
Conference Notes
Conference Notes
 
Observations on Crimen Sollicitantionis (PDF)
Observations on Crimen Sollicitantionis (PDF)
VOTF Council Resolution  
VOTF Council Resolution  
Revised Norms 6/05
Revised Norms 6/05
Revised Charter 6/05
Revised Charter 6/05
Dallas Charter
Dallas Charter
Norms Approved by Bishops
Norms Approved by Bishops
Problems Implementing Bishops' Charter
Problems Implementing Bishops' Charter
Bishops' Monitoring Form
Bishops' Monitoring Form
Effects of Sexual Abuse
Effects of Sexual Abuse
 
VOTF Speakers' Bureau
VOTF Speakers' Bureau
 
Papers & Articles
Papers & Articles
Canon Law
Canon Law
Vatican II
Vatican II
15 Things Any Catholic Can Do
15 Things Any Catholic Can Do
VOTF Speakers' Bureau
VOTF Speakers' Bureau
Learn About the Crisis
Learn About the Crisis
Suggested Readings
Suggested Readings
?Church 21? at B.C.
?Church 21? at B.C.
 
Meetings  
Meetings  
 
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
 
Links
Links