Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org ,(617) 680-2131

For Immediate Release

VOTF withdraws from Call To Action conference.

Dear Friends,

It is with deep regret that Voice of the Faithful must withdraw from the Call to Action Conference this week. We had a productive association last year with CTA. And back in the Spring when we agreed to participate in the conference this year we were focused on the goals we have in common. Since that time VOTF's participation in the CTA conference has been discussed on and off the list serves. These discussions along with recent newspaper articles highlighting the women priests' planned celebration of the Eucharist, and more media attention expected in the coming days, has led the Officers to this decision. VOTF withdrawal means the national office will no longer lead a Friday seminar nor provide an informational exhibit booth during the conference.

We are a mainstream, centrist, Catholic lay organization with our mission and goals focused on working within the Church to gain the laity a voice in the governance of the Church, supporting survivors of clergy sex abuse and priests of integrity. Our obligations to our membership, to survivors and to priests of integrity require us to maintain our sense of purpose and not to be associated with issues that challenge church doctrine and go against the teaching authority.

As we have recently with Future Church on the vibrant parishes initiatives, our hope is that we can collaborate with CTA and other church reform groups on issues where we have common ground. This requires a very delicate balance. We will continue to seek that balance and common ground.

Sincerely,

Mary Pat
Mary Pat Fox
President, 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 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching.