Voice of the Faithful - November 13, 2004 Conference Worcester, MA

As the crisis in the American Catholic Church nears the end of its third year, it is becoming clear that the road to reform and renewal is long and bumpy. Last February, at a press conference announcing the release of the John Jay report, which documented over 4,000 ordained abusers and more than 10,000 victims, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Wilton D. Gregory remarked, “The terrible history recorded here today is history.” As many of us realized at the time, that was an inappropriate characterization. At best the John Jay report was only one short chapter toward a full description of the still-unfolding first major Church crisis in the twenty-first century. History is a branch of knowledge dealing with past events, but those events and their unbroken remnants and consequences are still very much a part of the present, leaving any accounting of the events incomplete and unsatisfied. There is much more to be experienced, much more to be told, much more to be repaired.

This Conference looks at one major question asked by many followers of Catholicism worldwide in the wake of this devastating betrayal of trust by religious leaders: how can the Church renew itself? What must the bishops do? What part must priests play? What more will be required of the laity? Is each group aware, motivated and prepared to do what must be done? This Conference will address these questions honestly and with wisdom and experience, and with guidance from the Holy Spirit. And we will conclude with a liturgy of hope, healing and renewal. Come join us.

This site provides information about conference registration, invited speakers, session titles, directions to the Centrum, and nearby facilities for food and lodging.

You can register for the Conference on-line, or print out the registration form and send it to the address on the form. Registration is $45 and includes a box lunch. Please consider donating to the support of the conference, whether you register or not, by using the donation section on the registration form.

Mark the date, Saturday, November 13, 2004, and the time, 8:45 AM to 5 PM. Bring your family and friends and Parish Voice associates. Come together with us and become more informed about the future Church. Be counted among American Catholics who gather on this date to ponder the struggle for renewal, and the journey to restored trust in our beloved Church.

NOTE: Some older web browsers may present technical problems in completing the on-line registration form. If so, please print the form, complete it and mail it to the VOTF address shown on the form.

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Presented by New England Voice of the Faithful Affiliates in cooperation with Voice of the Faithful, Inc.