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Press Releases

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.

Voice of the Faithful writes USCCB's NRB about Distress at Bishop Finn Ordinations

BOSTON, Mass., May 13, 2015 – Roman Catholic Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful wrote today to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Review Board, which oversees the Church’s child protection policies, declaiming its distress that disgraced Bishop Robert Finn will preside at ordinations this month in his former diocese. In doing so, we add our voices to those of SNAP and other organizations that believe public support for abuse survivors and endorsement of strong child protection policies is essential for the Church.

Here is the text of the letter:

Voice of the Faithful Applauds Vatican Acceptance of Statutes for Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

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.

Vatican's failure to hold Bishop Barros accountable disheartens Voice of the Faithful Church reform movement

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.

Voice of the Faithful Catholic returns to Hartford April 18 for 2015 National Assembly

BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 20, 2014 -- Voice of the Faithful®, a reform movement Roman Catholics that started in 2002, will hold its 2015 National Assembly on Saturday, April 18, at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford. The featured speaker will be Marie Collins, a Catholic clergy sexual abuse survivor from Ireland who is a member of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Catholics Concerned Controversial Prelate's Presence Send Wrong Message

BOSTON, Mass., Mar. 12, 2014 – Voice of the Faithful®, a movement of Catholics gravely concerned about the Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse scandal and Church structures that permit it, said today that Cardinal Edward Egan’s prominent role this Saturday in a celebration featuring a children’s choir is ill-advised considering controversial involvement in that scandal.

Movement of Catholics Motivated by Clergy Sexual Abuse Scandal Gathers for 2014 Assembly in Harford, April 5

BOSTON, Mass., Feb. 26, 2014 – Voice of the Faithful®, a movement of Catholics started in 2002 at the height of the Boston, Mass., clergy sexual abuse scandal, will hold its “2014 Assembly: Turning Talk into Action” on Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford. Registration is $80 per person, and lunch is included.

VOTF National Statement: Is Catholic Church in Ireland Backpedaling on Child Protection?

Boston, Mass., Jan. 23, 2014 -- The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland appears to be backpedaling from earlier strict stances on child protection. Voice of the Faithful® in Ireland cites two examples.

First, Sean O’Conaill of VOTF in Ireland pointed out that Ian Elliott, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland for the past six years, has alleged that “over the past four years, there has been a successive reduction in the NBSCCC budget.”

VOTF National Statement: Archbishop Nienstedt Steps Aside in Minnesota

Boston, Mass., March 11, 2014 -- Voice of the Faithful® agrees with the step Minneapolis and St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt is taking after allegations he touched a boy inappropriately. News reports say he is stepping aside while the allegation is investigated. In doing so, he is following the U.S. bishops’ guidelines for protecting children.

Milwaukee Abuse Files Released

When the Archdiocese of Milwaukee filed for bankruptcy reorganization as a way to deal with hundreds of sex-abuse claims still unsettled, it also sought to keep secret thousands of files on those cases. Last week, a day before the bankruptcy judge was to rule on that effort, the dicoese suddenly announced it would release the documents July 1. Jeff Anderson & Associates, which represents many of the sex-abuse claimants, has posted the released documents on their web site.

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