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

For Immediate Release

Voice of the Faithful Supports Ongoing Prayer Vigil by Parishioners of St. Albert the Great’s in Weymouth, MA

Newton, Mass. – September 1, 2004 – Members of Voice of the Faithful are expressing their support for the actions of parishioners at St. Albert the Great’s in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Parishioners at St. Albert’s, a parish marked for closure today by the archdiocese of Boston, have been holding a prayer vigil in the church since Sunday.

“The questions that the members of St. Albert’s have raised by filing their suit in civil court are important ones,” said John Hynes, chair of Voice of the Faithful – Boston. “St. Albert’s is a vibrant community with a pastor who motivates his members to act out their Catholic faith in positive and constructive ways. The closing of this parish, like so many other parishes in the archdiocese, makes little sense. The processes devised by the archdiocese, both for closing and for appeal, have been extremely flawed. We look forward to helping St. Albert’s as they move forward as a faith community.”

“The people of St. Albert’s are demonstrating their love for their faith community formed through the inspired pastoral leadership of Fr. Ron Coyne,” said Steve Krueger, executive director of Voice of the Faithful. “Their actions represent a commitment to this vibrant parish. The flourishing community of St. Albert’s is an example of the best the Catholic Church has to offer. Regrettably, the archdiocese has been unable to respond to them and their commitment in any meaningful way.”

Last Friday, members of St. Albert the Great’s filed a law suit in civil court regarding the ownership of the church property. St. Albert’s has also filed an appeal with the Vatican, based on canon law. Members of the community have said that they will continue their vigil while both the civil and canon appeals are being considered.

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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 203 Parish Voice affiliates throughout the world.