Press Releases

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.

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.

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.

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, a worldwide movement seeking redress for Catholic clergy sexual abuse and a Church that pays attention to lay voices, has named Priscilla Conwell Deck, Ph.D., of Beverly as its new development director. She has more than a decade of experience fundraising for Boston-area nonprofits.

BOSTON, Mass., June 15, 2015 – The Roman Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful hopes the resignation today of St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt signals the Church is continuing to turn the corner on holding bishops accountable for covering up clergy sexual abuse.

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.

BOSTON, Mass., May 8, 2015 – Roman Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful applauds today’s promulgation of the statutes governing the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Established at the height of publicity surrounding clergy sexual abuse in the United States in 2002, VOTF considers this step significant because it ratifies the Commission’s independence from Curia-controlled offices and because the statutes were written by the Commission members themselves.

BOSTON, Mass., Mar. 31, 2015 – The Vatican’s recent statement that the Congregation of Bishops has found “no objective reason to preclude” Juan Madrid Barros’ appointment as bishop of Osorno, Chile, is extremely disheartening to Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful, especially in light of the promise of Francis’ papacy for a more accountable, collegial Church.