Breaking News from VOTF
VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL CALLS ON CASTRILLÓN HOYOS
TO REPUDIATE HIS POSITION ON REPORTING SEX ABUSE
VOTF Also Applauds the Pope’s Acceptance of Moriarty Resignation
April 22, 2010 – Boston—Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos is the latest Catholic bishop to reveal that his understanding of how to prevent child sex abuse in the Church is flawed. Castrillón Hoyos set aside plans to preside at a pontifical Latin Mass in Washington, D.C., in the wake of news reports that in 2001 he applauded Bishop Pierre Pican of Bayeax-Lisieux for refusing to report an abusive priest to the civil authorities. Click here to read the full release.
National News
Certificate of Accountability
Help us break through clericalism and promote transparency and accountability with this one simple step: send a Catholic Certification of Accountability to your diocese the next time you return a donation envelope. The certificate prints out on your home computer, and there are extras to pass to friends. Change in the Church begins with us. Today.
More and More Priests
of Integrity...
Following are two stories about priests of integrity. Both are priests who have chosen to speak out against the abuse and the cover up that is taking place in our church. With all the media coverage of abusive priests, it is important to acknowledge the courage and honor of these priests who are speaking out.
Father James Scahill is the pastor of St. Michael’s parish in East Longmeadow MA. In 2004, Voice of the Faithful honored Fr. Scahill with our national Priest of Integrity award. He continues to support survivors and has called for all bishops to repent their roles in any cover-ups. Recently, at Sunday Masses in his parish, Fr. Scahill repeated this call; you can hear his comments about those homilies here.
Fr. Scahill’s courage has reportedly led some Catholics to demand that his bishop defrock him. Recently we asked our members to please consider writing two brief letters of support for Fr. Scahill: one to the bishop in Springfield, and one to Fr. Scahill himself. Their addresses are below:
Most Rev. Tomothy A. McDonnell, 76 Elliot St., P.O. Box 1730, Springfield MA 01102-1730; Fax 4520804. Email addresses are TMcDonnell@diospringfield.org or M.Dupont@diospringfield.org (Diocesan Media Person)
Rev. Father James J.Scahill, St Michael's Parish Office, 128 Maple St., East Longmeadow MA 01028 (parish secretary email address is pbaran@charter.net)
Father Mark Horak, SJ, is the pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Washington DC. In a recent Sunday bulletin Father Mark discussed possible causes of this crisis and provides some interesting information.
http://www.trinity.org/sites/default/files/file/
Communications/Bulletin/2010April%2018Bulletin.pdf
Open Letter to the Bishops by Hans Kung
On Friday, April 16, noted theologian Hans Kung published an open letter to all bishops calling, among other things, for a new ecumenical council. The step was one of six Kung outlined as a response essential for the Church to recover from the current scandals and crises.
In the letter, Kung also says the “worldwide system of covering up cases of sexual crimes committed by clerics was engineered by the Roman Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Ratzinger (1981-2005).”
Here is a link to the text of that letter, which was published by IrishTimes.com on Friday, April 16: Open Letter to Bishops by Hans Kung
Voices in Action
VOTF Cincinnati
Submitted by Kathy Weyer
VOTF Cincinnati co-sponsored a Cincinnati Blue Ribbon Vigil of Hope event to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month. More than 50 people attended - not too bad for our first try. VOTF Cincinnati plans another vigil next April-- with wider support and involvement of other organizations in the community.
To read coverage by a local Cincinnati station, click here.
http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Groups-Gather-To-End-Silence-On-Child-Abuse/_ErONMaQDUKOtHf6qpsHmw.cspx
Members in the News
Anne Southwood in Boston.com...
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2010/04/18/
progress_in_pews_but_little_in_church_hierarchy/
John M. Kelley had the following comment posted on Boston.com in response to the article on Father Scahill...
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/
2010/04/12/east_longmeadow_priest_calls_for_pope_to_
resign_over_coverup_of_clergy_abuse/
Loretta Kilby from Wilmington Delaware had the following letter posed on Delaware online.
Catholic Church's scandal can't be swept under rug
In the March 20 letter "Catholic Church should fight to end Md. abuse
limitations", the writer makes a very valid point.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington should not be a "force for resistance" to
changes in statute of limitations laws. They should be out in front
encouraging all to seek justice for the abused.
It is becoming more and more obvious that the Church is more interested in
covering up the scandal than in taking responsibility and being accountable
for its actions and inactions.
The bishops seem oblivious to the harm they are doing to the faithful
believers, as well as to the abused. What will it take for them to
understand that this problem will not just go away quietly?
Making Sense of the Chaos
Submitted by Janet Hauter
With headlines filled with continuing news about the Vatican's denial of culpability while cases continue to emerge across the globe, it is difficult to steady the mind in the face of competing stories and agendas. Perhaps a step back would help.
It may be helpful to review William Bridges model which distinguishes “change” from “transition” to gain a sense of sanity. He states that change is both external and situational: more global disclosures of abuse, the Vatican’s defensive posture and a very disillusioned laity are some examples.
Continued: http://votf.org/vineyard/April23_2010/chaos.html
Support the Victims, Not the Bishops
Submitted by Joseph F. O’Callaghan, Former Chair and Daniel B. Sullivan, Co-Chair, Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport
The bishops of the Catholic Church in Connecticut have once again raised a hue and cry against legislation pending in the Connecticut legislature that they perceive as an attack on the Catholic Church. Perhaps they perceive it that way because of their guilty consciences.
House Bill 5473 would eliminate the statute of limitations pertaining to sexual abuse of a minor in a very limited number of cases. It permits a victim who is older than 48 to sue ONLY if another action has already been filed within the period permitted by the existing statute, and that alleges substantially similar abuse by the same person and liability by the same defendant. The victim’s attorney must also have a good faith belief, after reasonable inquiry, that his client was abused as a minor.
Continued: http://votf.org/vineyard/April23_2010/5473.html
Voices of the Social Gospel, American Women Religious
Submitted by Ed Thompson
Most of us have a favorite nun. I have several. In my experience, these inspiring women lead lives of self-sacrifice and absolute dedication to their work. The news reports about the Vatican investigations prompted me to write what I know about them. Then the recent health care debate showed the depth of their commitment to the poor when many of the sisters supported the legislation that would cover 32 million uninsured.
Continued: http://votf.org/vineyard/April23_2010/women.html
Calendar
VOLUSIA VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL
A special event at 2 P.M., Sunday, April 25, 2010
At the Ormond Beach Public Library
Toni and Joseph McMorrow, area leaders of SNAP (the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) will address the next meeting of Volusia Voice of the Faithful in the Ormond Beach Public Library at 2 P.M. on Sunday, April 25. Mr. and Mrs. McMorrow's own son was molested as a student in the Washington, D.C., area. Reviewing their dealings with church leaders, the couple will discuss the long-term trauma endured by those abused by clergy and others entrusted with the care of children.
NJ VOTF Invites you to hear and see Kathleen MacInnis Kichline, “Empowering Women to Find Their Story and Voice in Scripture”
May 15, Saturday—9:30 AM at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 100 Harter Rd., Morristown, NJ
Details: http://votf.org/vineyard/April23_2010/volusia.html
On Tuesday, May 11 at 7 P. M. the Scituate and Weymouth Affiliates of Voice of the Faithful will present best selling author and Boston Globe columnist, James Carroll. Mr. Carroll will present and sign his latest book, Practicing Catholic. This event will be held at St. Albert the Great Parish Hall, 1130 Washington Street, Weymouth.
James Carroll is the author of ten novels and six works of non-fiction, including the National Book Award winning An American Requiem, the New York Times bestselling Constantine's Sword (now an acclaimed documentary), and House of War, which won the first PEN-Galbraith Award. Carroll's column appears weekly in The Boston Globe. His writing and his long work toward Jewish-Christian-Muslim reconciliation make him a leading voice on the problem of religion and violence—the subject of his current work-in-progress. James Carroll is Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Suffolk University in Boston. In Practicing Catholic, James Carroll, a former priest, finds meaning in his personal story and delivers a loving critique of the Church while offering an incisive vision for renewal.
The event is free, but donations are appreciated. Practicing Catholic will be available for sale at the event and refreshments will be served. Please join us for an engaging evening with James Carroll! All are welcome!
Site Seeing
Opinions on House Bill 5473, the proposed Connecticut legislation that extends the civil statute of limitations on seeking redress after the sexual abuse, assault or exploitation of a minor.
http://blogs.courant.com/susan_campbell/
2010/04/more-invective-against-a-conne.html
Munich Vicar General says he was fall guy
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/munich-vicar-general-
reportedly-says-he-was-forced-take-fall-cardinal-ratzinger
Pope can’t escape crisis
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/crisis-hangs-over-pope-malta-volcanic-ash
Interesting story on SNAP
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/
religion/story/
B6E6C1F7F340E6BF862577080013496E?OpenDocument
Letters to the Editor
Harry Truman had a sign on his desk: The Buck Stops Here. I think the Pope should have the same sign. His resignation would be a witness to the responsibilities of the hierarchy regarding the flock.
Ray Berthiaume, Memphis, TN
Questions, Comments? Please send them to Siobhan Carroll, Vineyard Editor at Vineyard@votf.org. Unless otherwise indicated, I will assume comments can be published as Letters to the Editor. |
