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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL CALLS FOR IMPARTIAL SURVIVOR
TO BE NAMED TO BISHOPS' SEXUAL ABUSE REVIEW BOARD
Only Way That Board Can Gain Credibility, Insists Lay Group
BOSTON, MASS., August 1, 2002 An additional
and impartial survivor of sexual abuse by clergy must be appointed
to the National Review Board monitoring the compliance of Catholic
bishops to new policies for disciplining sexually abusive priests,
say leaders of Voice of the Faithful, a fast-growing organization
of lay Catholics.
The composition of the National Review Board as announced by Oklahoma
Governor Frank Keating has generated concern about the Board's perspective
and balance. Voice of the Faithful is particularly disturbed by
the absence of any members from SNAP, Linkup or other victim support
groups. "These groups met with the bishops in Dallas," said Voice
of the Faithful spokesperson Kathi Aldridge, "and they will bring
an authentic perspective to the Board's membership. Currently, the
only victim member is a former priest and archdiocesan employee,
which creates a perception of partiality and conflict of interest."
Voice of the Faithful has previously called for "vigorous enforcement"
of the bishops' publicly stated commitments. "Vigorous enforcement
requires effective, credible mechanisms," said James E. Post, president
of Voice of the Faithful. "The Keating Review Board's credibility
and potential effectiveness are hobbled by the lack of survivor
representatives."
Keating's Review Board announced that it will invite one more member
to serve. Aldridge commented, "Voice of the Faithful considers it
imperative that a survivor who has no paid or appointed position
with an archdiocese be selected. This is the type of transparency
that will build the credibility of the Review Board."
Aldridge continued, "Without the appointment of a survivor from
SNAP, Linkup or a similar survivor group, we will see this as another
Board set up and appointed by the bishops and their committees without
input from the laity. In order to bring about real healing, there
must be transparency, respectful inclusion of those abused and collegiality
in developing solutions."
Voice of the Faithful is a Boston-based organization of concerned
Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis.
The group's mission is 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. Its goals
are to support victim/survivors of abuse, support priests of integrity,
and shape structural change within the Catholic Church. VOTF's supporting
membership exceeds 23,000 registered individuals from more than
40 U.S. states and 21 countries throughout the world.
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