Contact: Suzanne Morse 617-680-2131,smorse@votf.org

Voice of the Faithful Demands Financial Accounting and Master Plan for Rebuilding the Archdiocese of Boston

Leaders Question Long-term Vision of Archdiocesan Leaders

Newton, Mass. – May 25, 2004 – Local leaders of Voice of the Faithful believe Boston Archdiocesan officials owe lay Catholics disclosure of complete financial information for all Archdiocesan entities to support their decision, announced today, to close 65 parishes. Members are also calling on the Boston Archdiocesan hierarchy to explain their plan for attracting Catholics back to the pews in the wake of the Church closings and the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Voice of the Faithful leaders say they believe the absence of this financial data -- which the Archdiocese promised to provide in March -- combined with the lack of an overall plan calls into question the credibility of the Archdiocesan leaders and the vision they have for the future of the Archdiocese of Boston.

“In March, we provided to Rev. Christopher Coyne a list of financial questions that are critical to understanding the financial condition of the Archdiocese and the need for closings, we were assured we would get the answers to those questions” said Steve Krueger, executive director of Voice of the Faithful. “If the Archdiocese doesn't have the information we requested, how have they concluded that all of these closings are necessary? If they have the information, why won’t they disclose it? Archbishop O’Malley has promised financial transparency. That should include information on all of the entities owned by the Archdiocese, not just the ones they choose to show us.”

“Archbishop O’Malley and the hierarchy of this Archdiocese would have us believe this is sad, but necessary business decision,” says John Hynes, chair of the steering committee of Voice of the Faithful – Boston. “If that is the case, then they need to show that closing 65 parishes is based on sound financial data that they are willing to share with their constituents – the laity, who paid to build all these parishes. And then, as good pastoral leaders, they must demonstrate that they have a plan in place for rebuilding the Archdiocese.”

Voice of the Faithful members are sharing their mounting sadness at today’s announcement regarding the closing of several parishes across the country. Many feel that the process for determining which parishes will be closed was divisive, and that the archdiocese will suffer from the compressed and disruptive process for years to come.

“This has been a painful experience for most people involved in the process,” said Hynes. “Along with the concerns we have about the lack of financial information and the absence of an overall plan, we feel that parishes were pitted against each other. Catholics are feeling alienated and demoralized, and the Archdiocese has provided little practical guidance or spiritual leadership.”

“There has been a complete about face where vibrant parishes are threatened with possible closure,” said Betty Murray, a parishioner at St. Susanna’s, a parish on the closure list. “It is obvious these properties in many cases can be considered valuable real estate and could be easily sold for a sizeable amount of money. What is the mission of the Church? Is it no longer about spreading the Good News? The question now is why the urgency, why the sudden need for this potential revenue? We don’t understand. We have talked with many of our grieving Catholic brothers and sisters and we all share this sense of bewilderment. We deserve to be recognized and feel our concerns should be acknowledged and validated by an answer.”

“We have witnessed a closing process that had the illusion of inclusion,” said Mike Gustin, a member of the steering committee for Voice of the Faithful – Boston. “The people in the pews deserved a stronger voice in the decision-making process. It’s a shame that Archbishop O’Malley rushed through the closing process without an active Archdiocesan Pastoral Council in place to advise him.”

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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, 21 countries and 203 Parish Voice affiliates throughout the world.