FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Please Contact:
VOTF Regional Coordinator, Brooklyn & Queens
Melissa Gradel
(347) 489-9106
BrooklynVOTF@earthlink.net
VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL OF BROOKLYN AND QUEENS
WELCOMES BISHOP DiMARZIO
Brooklyn, NY, August 1, 2003 -- Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) members
in Brooklyn and Queens learned today that the Holy Father has accepted
Bishop Daily’s resignation and appointed Bishop Nicholas
DiMarzio, of Camden, NJ, to lead the Diocese of Brooklyn. VOTF
welcomes Bishop DiMarzio and we offer our prayers for both Bishop
Daily and Bishop DiMarzio.
VOTF looks forward to Bishop DiMarzio’s friendship and partnership
in Brooklyn. Although in October, 2002 Bishop Daily banned VOTF
groups from meeting on church property in, he later established
a committee, headed by Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Catanello, to
meet with local VOTF leaders. As a result of that very constructive
dialogue, on April 29, 2003, Bishop Daily reversed his earlier
ban and issued a statement indicating that he had found VOTF to
be in accord with Church teachings. VOTF has over 400 members in
Brooklyn and Queens. We have established positive relationships
with officials of the Diocese and share common cause with regard
to ensuring justice and compassion for victims of clergy sexual
abuse and their families; supporting priests of integrity; and
ensuring the full participation of the laity, as called for by
Church teachings. We anticipate these efforts to continue under
Bishop DiMarzio.
We urge Bishop DiMarzio to make the sexual abuse crisis his first
priority in Brooklyn. The Diocese of Brooklyn has had its share
of complaints by those who have been abused by priests. Under Bishop
Daily’s leadership, the Diocese has been forward in working
with civil authorities and implementing new norms and policies
for the protection of children. But much remains to be done. We
hope that Bishop DeMarzio will:
1. Settle law suits brought by victims of abuse, even those that
have passed the statute of limitations. This is what he did in
Camden. As the new Archbishop of Boston, Sean O’Malley has
said, even when there is no legal obligation, we have a moral obligation
to deal justly with victims. Bishop DiMarzio’s record in
Camden makes us hopeful that he will make resolution of these claims
a priority.
2. Resolve as expeditiously as possible the status of priests
suspended based on accusations of sexual abuse of minors. These
priests and their parishioners, need closure. Every effort should
be made to gather the facts and act appropriately.
3. Work to ensure full participation of laity at every parish
in Brooklyn. This is urgent, not only in terms of healing the wounds
of this crisis but also in creatively addressing other pressing
issues facing the Diocese, including a critical shortage of priests.
We look forward to meeting Bishop DiMarzio and assure him of VOTF’s
readiness to help in these endeavors.
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