Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

Press Releases

Pope Francis' child protection panel takes another positive step?

BOSTON, Mass., Sept. 16, 2016 – Pundits were once again this week debating the effectiveness of Pope Francis’ Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, as news spread that commission members have been speaking with new bishops and Vatican offices about child protection best practices. Voice of the Faithful believes this action is another step in the slow progress of Francis’ papacy toward dealing with the clergy sexual abuse scandal, while not yet the substantial steps needed.

Pope Francis establishes commission to study women's diaconate; appoints Voice of the Faithful St. Catherine of Sienna Award recipient as member

BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 2, 2016 – Pope Francis has established a commission to study ordaining women as deacons in the Catholic Church and has appointed a recipient of Voice of the Faithful’s St. Catherine of Siena Outstanding Layperson award as a member. Among the 13 members, six are women, and four of those are lay women.

Child Victims Act sunsets within week of bishops' abuse report

BOSTON, Mass., May 25, 2016 – Recent heightened public scrutiny of Catholic clergy sexual abuse has reinforced the urgency for the Church to address the scandal adequately, according to abuse victims’ advocate and Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful.

Within only a week, the “window” in the Minnesota Child Victims act expired, even as the U.S. Catholic bishops made their annual abuse report.

Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful would welcome Pope Francis' women's diaconate commission

BOSTON, Mass., May 12, 2016 – Pope Francis may soon initiate a commission to study ordaining women as deacons in the Catholic Church, according to media reports today. Equality of women in the Church has long been an issue with Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful, which would welcome such a commission.

'Spotlight' movie receives Best Picture Oscar, and Voice of the Faithful assesses scandal

The critically acclaimed movie “Spotlight” received the Best Picture Oscar Feb. 28. The film about how The Boston Globe investigated and brought to light clergy sexual abuse of children and its coverup in the Archdiocese of Boston has brought renewed awareness to the scandal worldwide.

But many Catholics have had a heightened sense of the crisis all along. Some of those Catholics – determined to remain faithful while addressing the scandal – formed Voice of the Faithful only a couple of months after the Globe’s sensational January 2002 story appeared.

Voice of the Faithful applauds Boston Archdiocese's program for helping secure parish donations against theft

BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 8, 2015 – Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful applauds the Archdiocese of Boston’s parish “Offertory Collection Controls Initiative,” which helps make sure Sunday donations make it to the bank. The pilot project was initiated in Brockton, Mass., in July. “It’s been a long time coming – more than 25 years by my counting,” said VOTF member Michael Ryan.

Healing from sexual abuse scandal was topic for Boston College talk

BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 7, 2015 -- The U.S. Catholic Church’s primary responses to its clergy sexual abuse scandal have been protection protocols and litigation, that is, promulgating the Dallas Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and leaving litigation as the primary option for abuse survivors seeking justice.

Conspicuously absent from the Church’s responses have been programs and activities focused on healing wounds from the scandal.

Voice of the Faithful picks up where "Spotlight" movie ends

BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 17, 2015 -- Shortly after events in the just released feature film “Spotlight” end, Voice of the Faithful was born out of the anger and frustration of faithful Catholics at what had happened in their Church: the clergy sexual abuse of children and its coverup. Determined to remain faithful, but to address the wrongs, the movement supported abuse survivors and worked to reform Church structures that enabled the scandal.

Voice of the Faithful gratified by Connecticut Supreme Court ruling

BOSTON, Mass., June 29, 2015 – Voice of the Faithful, a Roman Catholic Church reform movement, is gratified the Connecticut Supreme Court has upheld a superior court ruling finding the Archdiocese of Hartford “acted negligently and recklessly” in assigning a known pedophile priest as director of an elementary school where he abused Jacob Doe, the plaintiff in the case.

Voice of the Faithful Thanks Pontifical Commission for Prompting New Tribunal for Holding Bishops Accountable

BOSTON, Mass., May 10, 2015 – The Roman Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful today thanks the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and Cardinal Sean O’Malley for presenting proposals to Pope Francis that have led to establishment of a new Vatican tribunal for judicial review of allegations against bishops involved in clergy sexual abuse of children.

At the same time, we thank Pope Francis for approving the tribunal and authorizing funding for it.

Charges against Catholic archdiocese illustrate need for accountability

BOSTON, Mass., May 8, 2015 – Criminal charges against the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, archdiocese for mishandling sexual abuse complaints once again has civil authorities forcing accountability on the Church.

Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful has long emphasized the need to hold bishops accountable for such actions. We are saddened that, once again, civil authorities have been required to do what Church hierarchy refuses to do.

Pages