• Francine Cardman, PhD, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, MA. Francine is an Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Weston, MA. Her expertise in early Church history, early Church leadership, the history of Christian spirituality, and ecumenism promises to inform and energize.
  
  "Re-membering the Church" brought the entire audience to their feet and set the stage for an empowered and empowering weekend. Click here to read.

• Justice Anne Burke, former Advisory Panel member and, subsequently, interim chair of the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People. Anne is a life-long advocate for children, as well as a steady supporter of VOTF and speaker at many a VOTF meeting.

  • Speaking on “Bishop Accountability” - Click here

  • Acceptance of the inaugural Voice of the Faithful Catherine of Siena Distinguished Lay Person Award - Click here

• David Castaldi, former chancellor of the Archdiocese of Boston and new chair of VOTF Board of Trustees David was also named in 2004 by Archbishop Sean O’Malley to direct the Parish Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee in the Boston Archdiocese. He is a strong advocate for lay involvement in parish finance councils. Click here to read.

• Paul Lakeland, Fairfield University (CT) professor of Religious Studies . Paul’s book The Liberation of the Laity is a well-received call for, among other needs, structural change in leadership and authority. This book was published in 2002, when the abuse crisis was just beginning to break the surface, making it nearly as prophetic as the voices of the survivors.
  
  Paul Lakeland, author of The Liberation of the Laity, delivered the following talk for the Saturday afternoon panel discussion on "Accountability in Our Church." Prof. Lakeland addressed the segment on lay accountability. Click here to read.

• Jim Post, President of Voice of the Faithful - VOTF at the Crossroads: Where Are We Going? National Leadership Convocation, Indianapolis, IN
  July 8-10, 2005. Click here to read.

• Gaile Pohlhaus - Concluding Mass on Saturday evening, VOTF secretary Gaile Pohlhaus delivered a theological reflection. Click here to read.

Working Group Presentations

The Saturday morning Working Group panel at the Indianapolis Convocation included representatives from each of the six major working groups in Voice of the Faithful. These are the groups that put our goals “on the map” three years ago – articulating their substance, animating their meaning and communicating their respective messages. The following texts are the presentations made in Indianapolis on July 9, 2005

• Susan Troy presented the Prayerful Voice Working Group Panel - Click Here to read.

• Steve Sheehan presented the report for Goal #1 Working Group – To Support Those Who Have Been Abused - Click Here to read.

• Svea Fraser spoke for Goal #2 – To support priests of integrity - Click Here to read.