Contact: Dorothy Kennedy, 508-655-5196

For Immediate Release

BOSTON AREA VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL COUNCIL OPTIMISTIC AFTER FIRST MEETING WITH CARDINAL SEAN O'MALLEY

Shared Commitment to Catholic Vision Provides Common Ground To Build Trust.

(BRIGHTON, MA) August 4, 2006 - Officials of the Archdiocese of Boston and leaders of the Boston Area Council of Voice of the Faithful met today in a spirit of openness and mutual respect to share their ideas for strengthening the Church in Boston, in the aftermath of the crises that have rocked it in recent years.

The leaders of the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council believe that today's meeting could be the beginning of a collaboration around solutions to bring all Catholics together; hierarchy, clergy, and laity, in the pursuit of the mission of the church.

"Our common bond is Jesus Christ. Our common work is the continuation of His mission. With that in mind, we hope to build a relationship of mutual trust," according to Dorothy Kennedy, President of the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council. "We had an honest exchange of views about issues that concern us."

Archdiocese of Boston attendees were Cardinal Sean O'Malley, Father Richard Erikson, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Father Robert Kickham, Secretary to the Cardinal, and Mr. Terence Donilon, Director of Communications. Boston Area VOTF Council participants at the meeting were Dorothy Kennedy, Sheila Connors Grove, Vice President, Elia Marnik of VOTF's Protecting Our Children working group, and John Hynes, founding Chairperson of the Boston Area VOTF Council.