For Immediate Release

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED AT
WORCESTER DIOCESE'S SUBPOENA DECISION

Latest Tactic by Catholic Church Will Inflict
Additional Pain on Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Newton, Mass. - September 23, 2002 - Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), a group of over 25,000 lay Catholics formed in response to the ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, expresses its deep disappointment regarding the Catholic Diocese of Worcester's subpoena demanding the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) to release the names of every person who has asserted abuse by any priest in the diocese.

"This latest tactic by the Worcester Diocese is disturbing, and will only serve to inflict more pain on the survivors of sexual abuse," said Jim Post, Voice of the Faithful president. "VOTF continues to value its collaboration with SNAP as a primary means to assist survivors."

For more information regarding VOTF, please visit our web site at www.votf.org or call our home office located in Newton, Mass. at 617-558-5252.

About Voice of the Faithful
Voice of the Faithful (www.votf.org) is a Newton, Mass.-based organization of concerned 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. VOTF's supporting membership exceeds 25,000 registered individuals from more than 40 U.S. states and 21 countries.

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