News from National
Prayer for Those in Haiti
Good and Gracious God, send strength and fortitude to the survivors of the Haitian earthquake and all who are assisting them. And send peace and comfort to all those who have lost loved ones.
8 years old? How time flies! From that tumultuous beginning in 2002, when the silence around decades of abuse began to crack open, we have served as the voices calling for justice, for accountability, for transparency—for addressing the systemic, institutional failures that have so marred our Church.
YOU are the voices that from parish to parish and diocese to diocese have called us all to Keep the Faith: Change the Church. YOU are the voices that today continue to address the work needed as we reform and renew our Church.
So light a candle for yourselves, for the work before us, and for the hope it brings us all.
Help us celebrate by leaving a birthday wish, or by remembering your own VOTF experiences these past eight years.
The Voting Has Begun for VOTF National Officers
Voting for VOTF’s National election has begun so check your mailbox for your ballot! If you are interested in finding out some more information about the candidates go to www.votf.org. The nominees are: Dan Bartley, Gaile Pohlhaus, Janet Hauter, Nick Mazza, Anne Southwood and Kevin Connors.
Voting will be open for two weeks, ending at 12 noon on Monday, February 22, 2010. The results of the election will be announced on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 and the newly elected officers will take office on March 15, 2010.
From Our Members
A Lenten Resolution
By Susan Vogt
I thought I would let you know about what I’ve decided to do for Lent this year – in part because announcing it to others will help keep me committed, but also because you might want to do something similar. I’ve decided to give away one thing each day of Lent. For some this may be easy because like me, you have many extra things around your home. For others it might be inappropriate because you live in Haiti, the Congo, or on the margin of poverty yourself. It is to be in solidarity with the latter that those of us who have more are compelled to give. I’ve started a blog on my experience and invite you not only to comment on my blog but to join in this effort, if it fits your situation. Feel free to share this invitation with others.
The blog is Letting Go of Stuff – For Lent or Forever. Click: www.SusanVogt.net/blog to review it.
PS: I’ve already posted about 12 entries about “Getting Ready” for the great give-away. I’m curious about YOUR experiences.
Canada Nominates a Priest of Integrity
Reverend Daniel Vere was brought to our attention by our neighbors in Canada.
Although there is no VOTF affiliate in Ontario, a VOTF member asked if she could submit his name forrecognition as a Priest of Integrity. Among the nominees for the honor, Rev. Vere is another priest whose efforts are worthy of highlighting.
Rev. Vere is a priest in the diocese of London, Ontario, Canada. His arrival as pastor of Saint Ursula’s Church in 2005 coincided with the revelation of the sexual abuse of more than 85 young girls, the majority of whom were in his parish.
Rev. Vere had heard of the work of VOTF and decided to form a committee of concerned parishioners to support victims and their families. He sought to counsel victims and their families and urged his Bishop to do likewise. He contributed to the “Safe Environment Policy” written by the diocese and was involved in a documentary produced by Canada’s CBC entitled, “The Good Father".
Continued
http://votf.org/vineyard/Feb11_2010/integrity.html
Planning to get someone special a gift for Valentine’s Day?
If so, please consider going buying it online through VOTF. Every purchase on Amazon that originates from VOTF’s website gives VOTF a donation.
Happy Valentines Day!
Calendar
New Program Offered by BC Church in the 21st Century:
Living the Journey: Spirituality for the Second Half of Life, a day-long conference on campus Saturday, April 10, featuring Jennie Chin Hansen '70, H'08, president of AARP.
This conference, focused on life after 40, will include experts from the fields of theology, ministry, and health. Conference presenters will identify and examine the different spiritual and psychological challenges that women and men encounter as they move into the second half of life and the unique resources faith offers to make this a time of deep purpose.
Saturday, April 10
8:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Chestnut Hill Campus
Please click here to view full conference details. http://www.bc.edu/alumni/association/
spirituality/livingthejourney/photo.html
The cost to register is $45 before or on March 15, $55 after March 15; $25 for Boston College students.
Questions: Contact Jean Chisser, MA'91, 617-552-1607, jean.chisser@bc.edu or Camille Fitzpatrick Markey, MA'03, PhD'09, 617-552-4753, camille.fitzpatrick@bc.edu.
The Promises of Vatican II, Unfulfilled – My Opinion
By Edward J. Thompson
Many of us in Voice of the Faithful were young men and women during the time when the Second Vatican Council was called by Good Pope John in October 1962. John XXIII said that he wanted the council convened because it was time “to open the windows of the Church to let in some fresh air.” There was a new sense of expectation and hope in the Church then. By the late '60s, the laity in the U.S. and elsewhere started seeing some of the revisions in the liturgy with the vernacular Mass and the priest facing the people.
During the Vatican sessions, the famous document Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, was promulgated. It included an enhanced role of the laity in the mission of the church. Through its baptismal responsibility as lay leaders in the administration of the church, the laity were considered vital in the operation of the local churches. It said: “This Church of Christ is truly present in legitimate local congregations of the faithful, which, united with their pastors, are themselves called churches in the New Testament.” (L.G.26) Does Rome today generally regard the laity as leaders in the administration of the Church? Is there a continued sense of expectation and hope in the Church today. I think not.
Continued
http://votf.org/vineyard/Feb11_2010/opinion.html
Site Seeing
Pope Benedict XVI has named a laywoman undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, marking the first time in more than 20 years that a woman has served as undersecretary of a pontifical council…
http://www.uscatholic.org/news/2010/01/pope-names-woman-undersecretary-justice-and-peace-council
A police chief in Milwaukee accuses Bishop Listecki of being untruthful to lawmakers about the notification procedure for clergy sex abuse allegations in the La Crosse Diocese, where he previously served as bishop.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/83585862.html
Supporters of people abused as children by priests demanded Wednesday that Roman Catholic Bishop William Lori publicly disclose the location of former diocesan priests accused of abuse…VOTF, working with BishopAccountability.org leads the charge…
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Critics-want-bishops-to-disclose-where-abusive-349391.php
Boston Archdiocese also asked to make public names of those priests credibly accused…
http://www.enterprisenews.com/news/x690803053/Catholic-archdiocese-may-release-names-of-sex-abuse-priests-by-year-s-end
Pope Condemns Abuse…but is that all?
http://origin.newstimes.com/default/article/Pope-Benedict-XVI-condemns-child-abuse-by-priests-355930.php
A Recommendation
Kevin Connors recommends the following:
Letters to Exodus Christians by Edward Hays, Ave Maria Press, 144 pp. was reviewed favorably in the February issue of St Anthony's Messenger. http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Feb2010/Books.asp
It is said the book provides comfort and help to those who have trouble going to Church, and that practicing Catholics should consider purchasing the book and giving it to family and friends who fit this category, as they would probably not purchase the book on their own.
The book contends that one out of every ten U.S. adults is a former Catholic, and that most of them have been "pushed away" by the Church.
Kevin
Letter to the Editor
Hello: I am 74 and can give you a reason for the church's failure to stem the proliferation of pedophilia in the church.
As long as I can remember we have heard that we do not talk about what happens in the home outside of the home. As children one of the major offences was to “talk out of school.” Our families have come a long way and this is no longer the usual case. This contributed to the longevity of pedophilia in some homes. Our family was lucky in that our Mother called on her Father to help her get rid of the pedophile in our home. He came to the house and called the police and had him arrested. This ended our direct problems with him. This was general knowledge in our extended family. We knew it was not our fault and that our family stood behind us. It was not a matter of our shame. The shame was his.
The church is always years behind the world in making changes. Many of those in leadership positions still think that they can hide the horrific sins of priests and those in other leadership positions. Those who are victims will not be silent any longer. The church should be wise enough to have learned that to neglect the protection of children is a heinous action. Also perhaps those in leadership positions should be realizing that to own up to past mistakes, make amends and determine to make the necessary changes would be the smart way to handle these situations. It should be realized also that treatment is not enough for the offenders. These offenders should have no contact with any of the faithful ever again from an official position.
I am a Roman Catholic and always will be but I can tell you I feel the betrayal of my church. It is time to see my church take courageous action in this matter. I would like to be proud of the actions of those who should be my leaders. The past cannot be changed but the future is waiting for change.
Sincerely,
Mary Jane Derschan
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. |
