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Contact: Suzanne Morse 617-680-2131, smorse@votf.org
For Immediate Release
Statement by the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council
on Fivefold Response to Parish Closings
Newton, Mass., June 4, 2004 - The Boston Area Voice
of the Faithful Council is saddened, albeit not surprised, by Archbishop
O'Malley’s decision to close 65 parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston.
Our response to this tragic turn of events is fivefold.
First, we call on Archbishop O’Malley to release to the public
a comprehensive report that encompasses all parishes selected for closure
and includes a detailed explanation of the specific reasons why each particular
parish was chosen. The people in the pews who paid to build these churches
deserve a straight answer from their Archbishop to the simple question;
“Why did you choose to shut us down?”
Second, we call on Archbishop O’Malley and his staff to be open
and responsive to legitimate appeals by concerned pastors and parishioners.
We believe that there are situations where the process identified in advance
by the Archdiocese was not in fact followed. As a result, we are witnessing
the closing of parishes which are vibrant, active, financially stable,
and have high ratings on the Archdiocesan sacramental index. We are also
witnessing the closing of multi-ethnic parishes which are providing community
and social services not available anywhere else. These parishes are truly
doing the work of Jesus; they should not be closed. Mistakes were made
during the parish closing process and they need to be corrected.
Third, many Catholics have contacted the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful
Council looking for a place to express their anger, shock, and grief about
the closing of their parish. In response, we have begun working in conjunction
with the pastors of closing parishes to organize listening sessions where
distraught parishioners can gather together, share their thoughts, and
support each other. These sessions are being scheduled in each of the
five regions of the Archdiocese of Boston.
Fourth, the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council is searching for
avenues such as deed restrictions which might help prevent, or at least
delay, the closing of those parishes which never should have been selected
for closure to begin with. In connection with this particular effort,
we are seeking the assistance of lawyers of any and all faiths to provide
appropriate legal services. If you are an interested attorney, please
email Sharon Harrington at benhar@earthlink.net.
Fifth, there is a grass roots effort underway within the membership of
the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council to identify legislative
and legal remedies which might help make the RCAB financially accountable.
This is not surprising. After all, as a result of its poor management
of the resources entrusted to it, the RCAB Corporation Sole, has lost
the confidence of the citizens of the Commonwealth. 75% of Catholics [New
York Times, November 7, 2003] want the church to be more accountable
on financial issues. While acknowledging the absolute need for separation
of church and state, our membership will, nevertheless, work with the
leaders and members of the state legislature to appropriately increase
the financial transparency of religious organizations in the Commonwealth.
//end
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.
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