Voice Of The Faithful Views Recent Changes
To U.S. Bishops' Charter As Weakening Position Of The Laity
Counterproductive Group Bannings Must
Be Lifted - Catholics Must Unite
Washington, DC - November 10, 2002 - Voice
of the Faithful (VOTF), a group of over 25,000 mainstream lay
Catholics formed in response to the Catholic Church's sexual abuse
crisis, today addressed the limitations contained within the Vatican's
revised Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
and exposed the illogical, counterproductive, and hurtful actions
of some U.S. Bishops who banned VOTF meetings from Church property.
Among top concerns conveyed, founding member Susan
Troy, leader of VOTF's Prayerful Voice Group, called for the active
participation of lay review boards to assist in determining credible
allegations of sexual abuse.
"This current revision
significantly reduces the laity's role by limiting us to simply
'advising the bishop in his assessment of allegations of sexual
abuse of minors…' rather than actively participating in the 'assessment
of allegations' as outlined in the June Charter."
Troy also articulated the need to complement the
Norm's fair and due process for accused priests with equal rights
for victims. "We need a comprehensive system that brings justice
and accountability to all," Troy added.
Additional Charter issues of concern to VOTF include:
-
VOTF supports fair and due process for priests, but opposes
the absence of due process for the bishops whose roles too
often perpetuated the scandal and cover-up;
-
VOTF opposes the 10-year statute of limitations for reviewing
sexual misconduct;
-
VOTF decries the absence of a directive requiring bishops
to share information pertaining to the sexual abuse of a
minor or young person with civil authorities.
VOTF representatives also came to Washington to
address obscure and slanderous remarks made by several U.S. Bishops
as they articulated their reasons for banning VOTF from using
Church property.
Stressing the counterproductive nature of recent
VOTF bannings, Interim Executive Director, Steve Krueger called
this tactic, "a subtle form of excommunication that delegitimizes
ecumenical dialogue and hurts all Catholics."
During his presentation, Krueger also pointed out
that the bishops are not aware of who they are ostracizing, since,
in many cases, these same bishops refused to meet with VOTF. "The
same people who are being banned and called 'anti-Catholic' are
also the Sunday school teachers, the choir leaders and ministers
who are routinely praised for their love of the Church."
Currently, VOTF is banned from using Church property
in Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and in parts
of Massachusetts.
Wrapping up the presentation, Svea Fraser, leader
of VOTF's Priests' Support Working Group, said, "The Holy Spirit
is moving throughout the land, drawing people from complacency
and setting hearts on fire for a renewed Church."
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