Members of Voice of the Faithful Dismayed at Cardinal Law’s Celebration of Mass of Mourning for Pope John Paul II

Organization Objects to Cardinal Law’s Participation in Papal Conclave

April 11, 2005 – Newton, Mass. – Leaders of Voice of the Faithful expressed dismay at Cardinal Law’s participation today in a Mass of mourning for Pope John Paul II. Law, the Archpriest of the St. Mary Major Basilica, presided over one of the nine daily Masses for the late Pontiff. He resigned as Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston in 2002 after revelations that he knowingly transferred sexually abusive priests. Leaders of the lay Catholic organization are also objecting in Law’s participation in the Papal Conclave that will select the next Pope.

“Cardinal Law is a living symbol of the Catholic Church’s failures in dealing with the underlying causes of clergy sexual abuse,” said James E. Post, president of Voice of the Faithful. “We have received hundreds of messages from ordinary Catholics who are offended that he is playing such a prominent role. His visibility in the days after the death of Pope John Paul II has been a painful reminder to Catholics and to the survivor community that there is much work to do in addressing clergy sexual abuse. The clergy sex abuse scandal is one of the darkest stains on John Paul II’s papacy.”

Despite his resignation, Law is still eligible to vote on electing the next Pope. “Cardinal Law’s empty chair in the Conclave would serve as a clear and poignant message to his brother Cardinals about the gaping wound in the Church,” said Kristine Ward, vice president of Voice of the Faithful. “It doesn’t make sense in reaching for the good of the Church that Cardinal Law would go to the Conclave while the over age 80 Cardinals, such as Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, who is calling for collegiality and papal consultation - and opening the windows to all, including dismissed theologians - would be barred from this imminently important event in the Church’s life.”

Voice of the Faithful formed in 2002 in response to the disclosures that Cardinal Law, along with other Bishops in the Archdiocese of Boston and across the country, had transferred sexually abusive priests to a number of parishes over many years. The organization, which supports survivors of clergy sexual abuse and priests of integrity, and wants to shape structural change within the scope of Church teaching, has focused on creating a structure and culture of accountability within the Catholic Church. On July 9th and 10th, leaders from within the social movement will come together in Indianapolis to discuss how to achieve accountability from the hierarchy in the Church.

“The Catholic Church will heal when the whole Church – the Bishops, the clergy, and lay men and women – commits itself to creating an accountable system,” said Suzanne Morse, Communications Manager for Voice of the Faithful. “We are at an important moment in the history of the Catholic Church, where we can work collaboratively and collegially to create a responsible Church that truly lives out the mission of Jesus Christ. Cardinal Law’s appearances in the past week are a useful reminder to us all that the Church has a long way to go before we achieve the kind of accountability we need to create a healthy and vibrant institution.”

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About Voice of the Faithful: Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream 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 in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching. VOTF’s supporting membership exceeds 30,000 registered persons from 50 U.S. states, 39 countries and 210 Parish Voice affiliates throughout the world.