VOTF - In the Vineyard

We begin 2005 looking toward another chapter in our story, to be written alongside the new team of VOTF officers elected in December for one-year terms. VOTF has been extraordinarily blessed in the leadership provided to our young movement. We are immensely grateful to Ann Carroll and Sr. Betsy Conway for their tenures as treasurer and secretary, respectively, in 2004; and we continue our appreciation for the gifts of re-elected president Jim Post and vice president Kris Ward, now joined by our new secretary Gaile Pohlhaus and treasurer Julie Rafferty. We welcome their company and their skills.

This New Year also begins with a profound sense of appreciation and recommitment in the VOTF National office – appreciation for the heartwarming response to our year-end appeal and recommitment to the issues we first identified in 2002. With our record-breaking voter response to the VOTF national officer elections, it seems that 2005 will continue to draw both familiar and new voices into this vital community of engaged Catholics. As Jim Post says so often, “We have promises to keep.”

Among our “promises to keep” is the witness we bear in the pursuit of a healthier Church. To that end, VOTF formed a Charter Review Task Force, headed by vice-president Kris Ward, to oversee a communication to US bishops regarding proposed revisions to the USCCB Charter and Norms that the bishops had approved in 2002. Our Task Force met the January 15 deadline; we are grateful that Kris has provided readers of In the Vineyard with some background on the USCCB’s work as well as a preview of the VOTF report. This coverage appears under National News in this issue.

AND – the 2005 VOTF Convention is on track for Indianapolis, Indiana in July 2005! Contracts have been signed and we are beginning to develop a program and operational plans. If our many regional gatherings are any indication, readers and members will not want to miss this moment in the history we are making. As VOTF becomes a more prominent presence on the Catholic landscape, we are often called for lay reaction to events in our Church. One reaction is the upcoming July 9/10 VOTF convention – our second international gathering that will continue the Spirit-driven movement begun three years ago. With many new voices, new ideas and the same energy that has fueled our work all along, we will assess events that led to this bright and crowded crossroad, share what we’ve learned, and determine together the next leg of our journey. Be sure to watch your e-mailboxes and the VOTF web site for details as they emerge, as well as updates in this publication.

[YES, we are making history! Some of you might not have seen the Third Edition of A Documentary History of Religion in America (eds. Edwin Gaustad and Mark Noll). For over two decades, this text has been used extensively in colleges and graduate schools by teachers and students of American religious history. This newest edition includes generous coverage of Voice of the Faithful. Given that VOTF is barely three years old, the first edition of this documentary history dates to 1983 and Catholicism in America is five hundred years old, the message is pretty clear – we are having an impact!]

This year also begins with losses too massive to fathom in the staggering death toll brought on by the Indian Ocean tsunami. This issue’s Prayer and Reflection submission from member Jack Rakosky commemorates Childermas, so named in Old English; it is more familiar in the Latin Rite as the Feast of the Holy Innocents. It is appropriate that we dedicate this page of prayer to all the lives lost in southern Asia.

Finally, please write to In the Vineyard at pthorp.ed@votf.org. Your voice is our voice.

In This Issue:

Calendar Watch - January 6, 2002
The Boston Globe provides the first coverage of Fr. John Geoghan’s sexual abuse of the young; this story was followed by extensive reporting by the Globe’s Spotlight Team on a cover-up by the bishops of the Boston archdiocese.

[Also: the January 2005 issue of US Catholic cover story “Nothing But the Truth: The unfinished business of the sex-abuse crisis” features an illuminating interview with Justice Anne Burke, the outgoing interim chair of the National Review Board; it includes a prominent sidebar for the work of VOTF. See http://www.uscatholic.org]

July 2005 Indianapolis, IN Convention update:
The clock is ticking! As we go to press, we are six months away from Voice of the Faithful's Convention. Here’s what we know now: Dates – July 9-10; Place – Indianapolis, IN; Attendees – Catholics from far and wide; Outcome – increased energy and ideas for the road ahead. Read more.

Elections
A record number of nominations and willing candidates rewarded VOTF with the re-election of incumbents alongside a new secretary and new treasurer, giving VOTF’s executive “branch” a broader national profile.

Governance – How are we doing?
As readers know, VOTF is working toward a governance structure that will more adequately represent the national character of the movement. Both the Governance Committee and National Representative Council Steering Committee have been meeting to consider various governance structures – an update is included in this issue.

NEW***Officers Forum
Bringing more readers into the fold and more members closer to leadership might be achieved, in part, by a new Vineyard column – the Officers’ Forum. Vineyard readers are invited to pose a question each month to one or all of our new officers. [Send your inquiries to pthorp.ed@votf.org and please use “Officers Forum” in your subject line.] We will choose the question that seems most representative of readers’ interest, direct the question to the appropriate officer and publish the response to that question in the following month’s Vineyard.

Communications
You can call the VOTF office with your Council questions; and there’s a new subscriber discussion group related to Goal #2.

Office News and Needs
VOTF is seeking a National Executive Director and an Office Manager. See details.

Church Finances in the News
What appears to be significant in recent developments around the country is the growing expectation of lay people in parish financial oversight.

National Working Groups
Priests’ Support Working Group continues to learn about the challenges in this ministry; the Survivor Support Community has an almost-new resource; and National Parish Voice is winning every time they take “Aimee’s program” on the road. “I think it has the potential to do more than anything else we’ve done so far to achieve VOTF’s goals.” Find out more.

National Representative Council meeting held in Greenwich, CT on December 11. Minutes will be posted on the web site; Joe O’Callaghan, former professor of Medieval History at Fordham University, NY and early leader of VOTF Bridgeport, CT, presented what has come to be called “The Bridgeport Proposal.” It is available to interested readers on the Bridgeport, CT web site.

[The January Representative Council will meet Saturday, January 15, 2005 at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA, 10 am.]

[Correction to December 2004 entry under National News: The third diocese in the US to file for bankruptcy is Spokane, WA not Seattle, WA as stated. Apologies to Seattle.]

Regional Events, Etc.
Boston College is like that Energizer bunny – they keep on running. Now you can study (no matter where you live!) online through innovative programs available non-credit; Taizé is a prayer tradition spreading across parish boundaries. Learn more.

Affiliate News
VOTF Louisville, KY reports, “We have now met in dialogue with about half of the diocesan priests of our Archdiocese, as well as a number of order priests.” VOTF Metuchen, NJ, Winchester, MA and Cleveland/Akron, OH also report.

Obituary
VOTF lost one of its steadiest supporters with the death early this month of Bob Castagnola. Any VOTF member present in the early months of this movement will remember Bob’s voice and spirit – VOTF president Jim Post and others reflect on this memorable “companion of justice.”

Prayer
VOTF member Jack Rakosky introduces readers to Childermas along with a proposal for monthly scripture readings. Childermas is the Old English name for Children’s Mass, the name given for Feast of the Holy Innocents, commemorated in the Latin tradition on December 28. This day remembers the story of Herod the Great’s attempt to destroy the child Jesus by slaughtering Bethlehem’s male children under the age of two.

January Book Review
Common Calling – The Laity and Governance of the Catholic Church, Stephen J. Pope, ed., (Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC, 2004)

National News

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is reviewing the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Voice of the Faithful national was able to obtain a copy of the Workbook the bishops are using for the review process.

A national Task Force, chaired by national vice president Kris Ward (co-founder and co-chair of the Dayton, OH affliate) was assembled and a Voice of the Faithful national response has been formulated.

The Task Force members are Thomas Myles, a director of the Long Island, NY Voice of the Faithful Affiliate, Patricia Gomez of Acton, MA, Dr. James Jenkins,, who resigned on principle in 2004 from the Diocese of San Francisco Review Board,

Voice of the Faithful has chosen to respond in two ways: submitting its comments and suggestions in the same manner as all bishops of the United States; and announcing separate recommendations aimed at making the Charter a reality in Catholic life and seeking a true restoration of trust between the faithful and its leaders.

Voice of the Faithful joins the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops review of the Charter for the Protection and Young People in a spirit of hope that the review and revision of the Charter will result in a strong instrument for the protection of the innocent and vulnerable and the production of a great good for the whole Church and society at large.

The bishops of the United States decided when the Charter was adopted in Dallas in June 2002 that a review would take place at the two (2) years mark.

The instrument the bishops are using is a workbook with proposed revisions presented to all of the bishops for comments by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse which is chaired by Archbishop Harry Flynn, Bishop of Minneapolis.

The bishops' deadline for responses is January 15. Voice of the Faithful will meet the bishops’ deadline with the submission of a Workbook and also an announcement of its recommendations.

Voice of the Faithful called upon the bishops in November 2004 to extend the time for comment in order to allow for more laity participation in the review process. Voice of the Faithful proposed that the comment period be extended to March 1, 2005.

The work of the national Task Force was vetted through its national policy forum comprised of Voice of the Faithful leaders throughout the country. The Task Force's comments and suggestions made to the Ad Hoc Committee's proposed text and the list of recommendations were approved by the national officers.

The process for the revision of the Charter will also include a meeting between representatives of the bishops of the United States and the Vatican. Voice of the Faithful understands that this meeting will take place sometime in January 2005. In March 2005 the Administrative Committee of the USCCB meets regarding the agenda for the bishops June 2005 meeting. The proposed revisions are expected to be voted on by the body of bishops at its June 2005 meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

The February issue of In the Vineyard, posting on the national website and communications to the affiliates and full membership will contain more information on the Task Force report.

In the Vineyard was able to obtain these exclusive highlights before the report is released:

Voice of the Faithful advocates for the strengthening of the language and the intent of the Charter. Two years reflection and lived experience of the horror and sorrow of the survivors and the pain of the families and loved ones of those who committed suicide should call forth from us our best efforts to frame in words what the Body of Christ has suffered, not suffuse the situation in weak prose assigning it to history by use of the past tense.

Voice of the Faithful reiterates its strong opposition to self-reporting audits. Voice of the Faithful points to the 52 years surveyed in the John Jay Study as a stunning example of the failure of self reporting of sexual abuse by clergy.

The wisdom and lived experience of the survivors’ community must be sought and welcomed in the resolution of the crisis and restoration of trust in the Church

Voice of the Faithful commends the body of bishops for its announced intention not to roll back the provision of zero tolerance. This is the short-hand phrase used to mean that any priest or deacon against whom credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor are brought will be removed from active ministry in the Roman Catholic Church

Voice of the Faithful commends the bishops for the proposed addition of language in the new Article 10 which says, "The involvement of the whole Church, especially the laity, (emphasis added) at the national as well as the diocesan level, is essential to a credible and accountable response to the problem of sexual abuse by clergy (emphasis added). Voice of the Faithful heartily endorses the addition of this proposed language and looks forward to its implementation. Note: (new Article 10 differs from the original Article 10 because of a re-arranging of responsibilities in Articles 8, 9 and 10)

Voice of the Faithful commends the addition of a provision that stipulates every possible step must be taken to restore the good name of any cleric who is falsely accused.

Voice of the Faithful is disappointed in religious leaders who would propose to eliminate eloquent references to our Lord and direct text of Scripture relevant to the crisis in the proposed revision of the Charter. Voice of the Faithful advocates for the retention of all references to our Lord to remain in the preamble of the Charter.

Voice of the Faithful believes in and advocates for a major education campaign on the Charter, and that it be undertaken by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Review Board, the Office of the Child and Youth Protection, ands Voice of the Faithful.

Voice of the Faithful believes that the only way the Charter will become reality in Catholic life is to ensure that it becomes part of parish life. This means that the Charter must be readily available, easily accessible, and well distributed in parishes to current and new members, to school children, to participants in CCD, all sports, and other extra curricular activities which take place in the parish.

Voice of the Faithful will make available to its affiliates a checklist for use in determining the parish compliance with the provisions of the Charter. Voice of the Faithful encourages formation of affiliates in parishes but will be happy to provide a copy of the checklist to parishes that do not currently have a Voice of the Faithful affiliate.

Friends, it is time to develop the program, organize events, and recruit volunteers for a convocation of Catholics you will never forget! Over the next few weeks, we expect to keep you in the loop with a regular Convention Update. Meanwhile, you ask – “What can we do?” For starters, make plans now to be in Indy in July. Organize your affiliate members into working groups. And, if you live in the Midwest, please read the next item!

Catholic Contacts Wanted - Especially Hoosiers!
In preparation for our 2005 National Convention in Indianapolis on July 9-10, 2005, we are calling on other Catholic organizations as well as the many Catholics “in the pews” who are active in various ministries in our Church. The list below is not exhaustive and is geared to the Midwest (Indianapolis). We invite your suggestions and welcome volunteers to help plan this moment in Church history – contact Ann Carroll at anncarrollvotf@yahoo.com. There is a place for you!

Are you an alumna/alumnus of a Catholic school in the Midwest?
Ancilla College
Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI)
Benedictine University (Lisle, IL)
Bellarmine University
Catholic Theological Union
College of Mount St. Joseph
DePaul University
Dominican University (River Forest, IL)
Fontbonne University
Franciscan University of Steubenville (OH)
Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, IN)
John Carroll University
Lewis University
Loyola University - Chicago
Marian College
Marquette University
Notre Dame
Saint Joseph’s College (Rensselaer, IN)
Saint Louis University
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (IN)
Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, IN)
Saint Xavier University (Chicago)
University of Dayton
University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne, IN)
Ursuline College (Pepper Pike, OH)
Walsh University
Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)

Are you a member of any of these groups (or know someone who is)?
Catholic Health Association (CHA)
Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA)
Knights of Columbus (especially in the Midwest)
National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers (NSCFLM)
National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA)
National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM)
National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
National Pastoral Life Center (NPLC)

The candidates’ resumes and statements are still on the web site for those who have not been “introduced” to re-elected incumbents president Jim Post and vice-president Kris Ward, and to newly elected secretary Gaile Pohlhaus and treasurer Julie Rafferty. Election statistics follow (additional information is on our web site):

ELECTION RESULTS
A total of 1456 electronic ballots were cast.

A total of 140 written ballots were cast.

	Actual votes	Percentage of votes cast for position
President
Paul Kellen	171	10.8%
Thomas Myles	186	11.7%
James E. Post*	1,227	77.5%

Vice President
William Fallon	415	26.3%
Kristine Ward*	1,162	73.7%

Treasurer
Julie Rafferty*	930	60.8%
Margaret Roylance	600	39.2%

Secretary
Gaile Pohlhaus*	935	60.8%
Anne Southwood	261	17.0%
Rose Walsh	342	22.2%

* Winner

As with most organization, there has been considerable discussion over the voter turnout for VOTF officer elections. While the 4% response rate has been found by many similar (larger and older) organizations to be as “good as it gets,” some members were concerned about what appeared to be “low turnout.” The good news is that this election produced a 50% increase across the board – nominations, candidates and voters. To have generated that much increased interest and participation in barely three years is gratifying. In addition, we heard from dozens of members that they didn’t vote for a variety of understandable reasons – mechanical difficulty, unfamiliarity with the candidates, and a feeling of disconnectedness.

Like so much of the change we work toward, fine tuning our communication and electronic systems takes many hands, unremitting perseverance and time. Eileen Hespeler, our web manager, and Rick White, our interim Executive Director, worked through an enormously complex set of electronic and other challenges with patience and humor. The outcome is a team of leaders with broader geographical representation: Jim Post and Julie Rafferty are Massachusetts residents, Gaile Pohlhaus is in Pennsylvania and Kris Ward in Ohio. We wish all of our new officers Godspeed in the months ahead. Here they are!

Jim Post

Kris Ward

Julie Rafferty

Gaile Pohlhaus

Members of the steering committee, governance committee, and the officers met on Wednesday, Jan. 5. Some progress was made toward a resolution of how the national membership would be represented. There are still outstanding issues under discussion. However, it was pointed out that individuals could propose amendments to whatever is the final resolution.

As a result of continuing discussion among the groups mentioned above, the steering committee has changed the allocation of the number of representative seats on the representative council with regard to each of the fourteen regions. The allocation is based on affiliates and members within the region.

The proposed allocation follows:

East 1	CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT	5
East 2	NY	3
East 3	NJ, PA	2
East 4	DC, DE, MD, VA, WV	2

Central 6	MI, OH	2
Central 7	IL, IN, WI	2
Central 8	MN, ND, SD	1
Central 9	IA, KS, MO, NB	1

South 5	AL, KY, LA, MS, TN	1
South 10	AR, OK, TX	1
South 14	FL, GA, NC, SC	2

West 11	CA, HI, NV, UT	2
West 12	AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY	1
West 13	AZ, CO, NM	1

TOTAL		26

Mark Mullaney, chair of the Executive Director Search Committee (see December In the Vineyard) advises that resumes are being accepted and reviewed for the position of VOTF National Executive Director. The following ad will also appear in an upcoming Commonweal magazine:

Voice of the Faithful, Inc. a rapidly growing grassroots Catholic lay movement formed “to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church,” and with more than 30,000 members in 200 + affiliates worldwide, is seeking an individual with strong administrative and leadership abilities for the position of Executive Director over VOTF national office functions and member services.

Reporting directly to the nationally elected President, the Executive Director is responsible for the effective management, coordination, and integration of financial resources, staff support functions and personnel, and technical systems, to ensure their alignment with the mission and goals of Voice of the Faithful, and specifically, with the national goals and priorities established by the elected leadership. He/she will do so working closely with the Board of Trustees, nationally elected officers, elected regional leadership, and a national representative council.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to provide effective leadership as Voice of the Faithful continues to evolve. He/she must have an understanding of the mission and the goals of VOTF; a track record of successful leadership in a major regional or national organization preferably non-profit; a strong financial and budgetary background; development (fund raising) experience; and a collaborative management style. The position involves working with salaried staff professionals and volunteers. It is expected that the successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic committed to the goals of VOTF.

Potential applicants are encouraged to visit here for more information. Applicants should send a thorough summary of their job history and qualifications, along with salary history and job references to Pat Myers at pat_myers@futuremanagementsystems.com or mail their information to Future Management systems, Inc. 900 Cummings Center, Suite 214-U Beverly, MA 01915.

VOTF is also looking for an experienced Office Manager. Please contact interim Executive Director Rick White at 617-558-5252.

Working Group News

Priests’ Support Working Group applauds Boston College Gasson Professor Jim Keenan’s talk “The Ethical Rights of Priests.” PSWG member Pat McNulty says, “Priests have been speaking out in the past three years, some as individuals and some in groups protesting hierarchical actions. Catholic moral theologian James Keenan S.J. poses the question: Do priests have a right to do this? His answers to some troubling questions have been addressed in this clearly written, enlightening essay. For more on this paper, please email pthorp.ed@votf.org.

Survivor Community News includes a new resource to survivor-related news – Steve Sheehan tracks e-news items daily. To join the distribution list, call Suzanne Morse at VOTF 617-558-5252.

MANY Hands, MANY Hearts Update “As a person with many years of organizing and direct action experience, I must say that, when I was invited to get involved, I was very skeptical. I asked myself, ‘What would I learn that I don’t already know? Why should I spend my valuable time on this?’ Well, I learned a great deal and I’ve become motivated to spend a lot of time working with others to bring this organizing vision into reality. I think it has the potential to do more than anything else we’ve done so far to achieve VOTF’s goals.” Dick Taylor, Greater Philadelphia Affiliate

MANY Hands, MANY Hearts is a national grassroots initiative within VOTF aimed at creating real change in the Church through direct action organizing. To date, nearly 70 leaders have been intensively trained, and 200 members have been engaged in building the foundation for the actions that will be occurring this spring.

Since the organizing training in Boston in September, 26 affiliates across the country have been engaged in 1:1 campaigns. These 1:1 conversations are helping us to identify local and regional areas of concern around which VOTF should take action. At the same time, those issues are being pooled and submitted to the National Office so that potential areas for national focus can be identified for the July National VOTF gathering and beyond. The 1:1’s are also helping us to uncover new leaders, as well as the resources of current members that will help us to achieve change.

To follow up on the work of these 1:1 campaigns, as well as to start to build regional unity and a common sense of purpose, affiliates in specific areas will gather together throughout January and February in regional summits. Together they will process their key learning, successes and challenges with the 1:1 campaigns and will obtain training about how to move forward in grassroots organizing and action.

Beginning in February and running through May, these affiliates, functioning independently and collectively, will be embarking upon action campaigns to make concrete changes in the Church.

For more information on the MANY Hands, MANY Hearts initiative, please contact Aimee Carevich at 617-558-5252 or aimee@jetesh.com.

Cathy Bern has stepped down as the Regional Coordinator for VOTF in Albany. We are grateful for the work she did in bringing the message of VOTF to Albany and hope that she will continue to be a supporter of the movement.

We are pleased to announce that Sheila Peiffer has agreed to take on the role of Regional Coordinator in Albany. Sheila has been involved as an active member of Voice of the Faithful from the early days of our formation. Prior to moving to Albany, Sheila and her family resided in Southampton, NY, where Sheila was a director of Religious Education for 6 years. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology and a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY. When the crisis broke, Sheila played a major role in the growth of VOTF in the Diocese of Rockville Center, NY where she was a Regional Coordinator and Co-Director of VOTF-LI. Sheila is currently employed as Campus Minister of the Academy of the Holy Names.

Around the nation, there is growing focus on Church finances– from parish to diocesan levels. While the dioceses of Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Tucson, Arizona have filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code, parish finances are coming under closer scrutiny by laity. One Catholic Voice for Action, a South Florida laity group, has recently begun studying the financial books of the Archdiocese of Miami. What growing lay interest and activity underscores is that more and more Catholics are moving toward greater responsibility for our Church. Readers can track national coverage through any web browser – use Roman Catholic Church Finances in your subject line.

Interesting development in Minneapolis-St. Paul where Archbishop Harry Flynn has banned the Legionaries of Christ from working in the archdiocese and prohibited its associated lay movement Regnum Christi from using archdiocesan property or parishes for its activities. The Legionaries are also banned in the Columbus, Ohio diocese. For more of this story, click here.

VOTF Representative Council minutes are available until they are posted on the web site by contacting Gaile Pohlhaus at gaile.pohlhaus@villanova.edu

Regional Events, Etc.

****ANNOUNCING the Boston premiere of an award winning film: “Holy Water-Gate: Abuse Cover-Up In The Catholic Church” – a documentary film made its Boston premiere on January 10 at Coolidge Corner Theater, Brookline, MA. Click here. SNAP’s David Clohessy says: “I’ve seen it - it's terrific.” The more people who see it in Boston, the more likely it will be aired elsewhere. Spread the word!

**** Healing Service for a Church in Crisis: An Invitation to Catholics of Greater Boston to Come Together, Pray, and Experience the Ever-faithful Love of God. Please join us for an evening of music, prayer and reflection rooted in the Taizé* tradition. 7:00 pm, Thursday, January 20, 2005 at the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston, MA 617 742-4460 (near the Park Street T stop).

****Boston College Online Offerings: What Makes Us Catholic? -- an exploration of Thomas Groome’s best-selling book What Makes Us Catholic; this is a non-credit 4-part course, which uses the Groome text, four video segments with Professor Groome and Dr. Barbara Radtke, and facilitated discussion. January 24 through February 18, 2005. (The site will be open for exploration and an online tutorial beginning January 10; the sessions begin January 24.) Cost: $75 plus cost of book.

Registration available through January 19 at the web site (click on Continuing Education, then Distance Education) or call Maureen Lamb at 800-487-1167 x8057.

Parents Handing on the Faith -- a discussion of the challenges of raising children Catholic in today’s less cohesive, more individualistic society. Anchored by Dr. Barbara Radtke in collaboration with Professor Thomas Groome*; a non-credit four-part course using online resources and small group discussion to use everyday "teachable moments" for sharing faith. March 28 through April 22, 2005 (The site will be open for exploration and an online tutorial beginning March 11; the sessions begin March 28.) Cost: $75. Registration available through March 22 at www.bc.edu/irepm. *Readers should be aware of Thomas Groome’s essay on this subject in Stephen Pope’s recently published Common Calling, which is reviewed in this issue under “January Book Review.”

Register online at: The online courses are co-sponsored by The Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry and The Church in the 21st Century Program

Also available beginning in January is a Spiritual Direction Supervision Program. This four-part seminar will teach and develop skills of peer supervision. Register online at: (Continuing Education) or by calling Maureen Lamb at 617-552-8057, or toll free at 800-487-1167 x8057.

And don’t forget the Boston College initiative “Church in the 21st Century” – visit their web site to request your free subscription to Resources, the periodical that covers many of the papers and lectures presented in the program.

****The Daily News Transcript honors Fr. Stephen Josoma, pastor of St. Susanna Church, Dedham, MA, with its first Man of the Year 2004. Read why.

****Boston VOTF responded in an Open Letter to Bishop Sean O’Malley to the Christmas Eve arrests of parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in South Natick, MA. The full text appears under New England News on the VOTF website.

*Taizé is a town in southeastern France and home to a religious order originally founded to revive the monastic tradition in Protestantism; it is now an ecumenical community. Today the Taizé tradition might consist of music, song, gospel readings, quiet meditation and chants. While new to many Catholics in the US, this prayerful environment is drawing much interest and support.

Affiliate News

We in Metuchen originally came together, with the assistance of our Patterson affiliate colleagues, in late April of 2004 to determine if there was enough interest to establish an affiliate of VOTF for Metuchen. There was. We began monthly meetings in June 2004.

Each of us brings a strong faith, and a confidence in that faith, a confidence in our belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior. We are a diverse group of people from varied backgrounds. Among our members are cantors, lectors, Eucharist Ministers and representatives from a long list of ministries. There is a variety of reasons why each of us was drawn to this organization. However, one point on which we are unified is our desire to be better educated in terms of the Catholic Church, our Church.

So, we decided we would seek speakers and read Catholic writers in order to enrich our knowledge of our Church. We believe that we grow in our faith as Catholics with each additional piece of wisdom to which we are exposed.

To that end, in our July meeting, we viewed a video of a talk given by Dr. Anthony Padavano on “The History of the Catholic Church in America” and held a vigorous discussion afterward. The facts presented in this talk were eye opening to some of us. For example, we learned for the first time that the voice we are claiming today was here before – among the laity of the Catholic Church in colonial times, a little over 200 years ago.

We have hosted speakers at our September, October, and November 2004 meetings; Fathers Ed Edwards, Brennan Connelly, and Dick Rento, respectively. Each of these speakers offered his personal perspective on our Church’s history, especially the last 40 years, and also a view of the challenges we face as we move forward. Each speaker was generous and unique and each talk was followed by open discussion between the speaker and the audience.

When we have not had a speaker, we have been reading Peter Steinfels, A People Adrift: The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America. This book analyzes the arc the Catholic Church has traveled since Vatican II, and in great detail. It acts as an excellent primer for us on the events that have shaped our Church here in the United States.

As a new affiliate we are finding our way. We take strength from each other and from the flow of information we are afforded through our connection with the other New Jersey affiliates and the National organization.

The highlight of December for the Winchester Area VOTF was a lecture and discussion with noted theologian and author Fr. Donald Cozzens. Fr. Cozzens’ new book is entitled, Faith That Dares to Speak (Liturgical Press 2004). [Fr. Cozzens’ book is reviewed in the December issue of In the Vineyard.] The theme of Fr. Cozzens’ talk was that the Roman Catholic Church is the last remaining feudal system, and that its response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis was consistent with its feudal structure, namely to protect resources by secrecy and denial. The laity must challenge the feudal Church to have accountability and transparency. Voice of the Faithful must continue to have the courage to speak truth to power. Fr. Cozzens was extremely generous in fielding questions on a wide variety of topics. We are most grateful to him for traveling to Boston to speak to us.

Also in December Sister Kay Hannigan, P.B.V.M., Director of the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, and Sister Joan McCarthy, C.S.J., Spiritual Director, St. Stephen’s Priory, in Dover, MA, led our group in an Advent prayer service, “Mary’s Prayer and Ours.” This beautiful and enriching service lifted the spirits of all in attendance.

On Monday, December 6, the priests of Region IV of the Louisville Archdiocese met at St. Ignatius Martyr Rectory with four members of Voice of the Faithful. This is the ninth of twelve Regional Council groups we have met with since last summer. Prior to that, about twenty priests came to three dialogues with Voice of the Faithful at our usual meeting place. We have now met in dialogue with about half of the diocesan priests of our Archdiocese, as well as a number of order priests. Twelve members of our affiliate have participated in these gatherings but we form teams of four members for each meeting. We always meet for prayer before we go to the place of the Council meeting and for prayer and de-briefing afterwards.

Each of these meetings has been a good experience for us and, we are quite sure, for the clergy who participated. This is not to say that there weren't times when honest differences of opinion or perspective surfaced. But each meeting has ended cordially, usually with our being invited to join the priests for a meal and conversation after the meeting. Our primary purpose in meeting with the priests is to let them know we support them in their ministry. However, we also challenge them to support VOTF's other goals and to encourage members of their parishes to join VOTF.

At the end of our gathering on December 6, I asked the priests if they wanted to be famous, indicating that I'd like to take a photo that might be published. They all agreed, with some kidding about "Does my hair look okay?"

PHOTO: credit Vince Grenough - clockwise from the left: Cal Pfeiffer, VOTF member; Fr. Terry Bradshaw; Fr. Gerald Timmel; Fr. Ken Fortner; Fr. Jim Schook; Fr. John Curran, OFM; Fr. Bill Martin; Brooke Hicks, VOTF member; Margie Zoeller, VOTF member. Not in picture: Fr. Dan Lobsinger, CR and Vince Grenough, VOTF Coordinator, Louisville area affiliate.

On the second Sunday of Advent, December 5, the Cleveland/Akron affiliate hosted Fr. Tom Doyle, OP, JCD, at St. Hilary’s parish in Fairlawn, Ohio. After concelebrating Mass with Fr. Gordon Yahner, Pastor, Fr. Doyle engaged the laity in a spirited forum.

Our opening prayer was the “Advent Prayer for Children” written by VOTF Member Jack Rakosky. Jack was joined by Fr. Doyle and Sr. MaryAnn Wieseman-Mills, OP, the President of Our Lady of Elms schools. Briefly recapping his background as a noted Canonist and author of seven books on that subject, Fr. Doyle brought to everyone’s attention the Doyle-Mouton Report, which he co-authored in 1985 and submitted to the USCCB. In it he implored the bishops to intervene immediately to stop the damage done to children and their families by clerical sexual abuse. Twenty years have passed and the negative ramifications continue to plague the American Catholic Church. Dioceses have declared bankruptcy, priestly vocations have plummeted, and many laypeople are quietly leaving their faith.

Speaking in plain terms, Fr. Doyle has calculated that our Church hierarchy composes only .00042% of the Catholic population and acts as a feudal monarchy! He vigorously urged the audience to tell our Bishop to go on bent knee into the homes of the survivors.

With both victims and parents of victims in attendance, the topic of “clerical culture” was examined by both Fr. Doyle and Fr. Don Cozzens of John Carroll University who was also present.

VOTF members John Randell of St. Hilary’s and Ed Friedl of St. Paul’s in N. Canton, OH are to be commended for their valuable assistance in planning and coordinating this forum.

January 2005 Book Review

Common Calling – The Laity and Governance of the Catholic Church
Stephen J. Pope, ed., (Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC, 2004)

It would be hard to find a better compilation of current thinking about the state of Catholicism than what Stephen Pope offers in his recently published Common Calling – The Laity & Governance of the Catholic Church. The essays move from the early Church to the emergence of Voice of the Faithful, with a stop in the Baptist tradition and an invaluable, concise tour of feminist theology, in between. To cover so much in fewer than 250 pages is a credit to Pope’s own understanding of these times. He has selected thinkers who have been working this ground most of their adult lives, in one way or another. Their collective vision is both clear and complex. Their message is our “common calling.”

The book is divided between considerations of the historical and contemporary perspectives. That the two somehow complement each other is not by editorial design – it is how our history has emerged; this organic development endorses the very idea of a “voice of the faithful” and, in one essay, our own Jim Post tells that story convincingly.

Pheme Perkins, a professor of the New Testament, establishes at the outset the roots of competing views of church governance. “For some, strengthening the community of faith means investing those who hold ecclesiastical offices with an authority that derives from the awe-inspiring divinity of Christ.” For others, it requires “local churches to develop a Christian maturity that can discern how God is working in their particular contexts and respond accordingly.” Both were at play in the early church. By the third century, Francis Sullivan, S.J., tells us that participation of the laity in church decision making is incontrovertible. It is unclear in these early essays, however, if these lay decision makers included women. Francine Cardman takes up this concern matter-of-factly in making a strong case for the place of the laity (all of us) in “handing on” the faith: “As both second-century doctrinal developments and fourth-century doctrinal conflicts show, apostolicity is an attribute of the whole church – of all believers, not just the bishops. The faith that comes to us ‘from the apostles’ comes from laywomen and –men as much as (or perhaps more than) from clergy.”

Michael Buckley notes the “crisis of leadership” that marks the contemporary church but in ways we haven’t heard so often. His four proposals for restoring confidence in church leadership are drawn from the first millennium of church development: “Restore to local churches – and hence to the laity – a decisive voice in the selection of its own bishop”; “The church should restore the enduring commitment of the bishop to his see” (that is, bishops cannot “see shop,” moving from one diocese to the other); “...restore or strengthen episcopal conferences and regional gatherings of local bishops”; “…counter the present excessive centralization within the church” of certain institutions that may once have served a purpose but should be “reconsidered and perhaps even abolished.” Buckley adds, “I think of such institutions … as the College of Cardinals, the office of papal nuncio, the appointment as ‘bishops’ in the Roman Curia of those who have no local church they administer ….” He concludes that these proposals are both ordinary, in that they reflect the first millennial church, and radical, in that they represent, now, a correction, “even a reversal.”

It is tempting to ask, as R. Scott Appleby does, how did we get here? His essay, “From Autonomy to Alienation” looks at the history of lay trusteeism from 1785 to 1860 and the docility of the laity in the immigrant church, all the way to the long pontificate of John Paul II, which “has not been kind to lay ministry in the United States.” Appleby’s essay leads into Terence Nichols analysis of the difference between a “command hierarchy” and his proposed alternative – a “participatory hierarchy.” Lest readers think the “D” word is being employed, Nichols concludes, that a participatory hierarchy “is not the same as a democratic church. In a democracy, authority is vested with the people….In a Catholic participatory hierarchy, authority is vested in the bishops and the pope, but also in the priests, the theological community, the religious, and, the people. The Spirit acts simultaneously at many levels.”

Lisa Sowle Cahill’s “Feminist Theology and a Participatory Church” is a must-read for any serious discussion of lay involvement in the future of the church. Indeed, it is hard to fathom how reform-minded Catholics will get anywhere without understanding what feminist theology is and what it isn’t. One of the more compelling lines written in Common Calling belongs to Cahill: “At the heart of the feminist Christian vision is neither complaint nor criticism, but hope – hope that change is possible and that justice and love can be realized more completely in society and in the church.”

There is no essay in these pages not worth an evening’s (or many) discussion. John Beal’s lively analogy of the “Perfect Storm” and the gathering elements in our Church today, S. Mark Heim’s relevant perspective from the Baptist experience, Mary Jo Bane’s brilliant understanding of “Voice and Loyalty in the Church” (“A loyal voice…is attentive to revelation and respectful of tradition but also confidently prophetic and visionary and as radical as the voice of the One who lives in the church forever”) and Tom Groome’s argument for “reclaiming the family as the religious educator” are companions on the journey Catholics share. The discussion is informed, lively, ongoing, inclusive and inviting.

Jim Post’s “The Emerging Role of the Catholic Laity” rightly concludes Pope’s assembly of voices, along with Ladislas Orsy’s “The Church of the Third Millennium: In Praise of Communio.” Voice of the Faithful has emerged from and with all of the above – Post’s chronology of events is a recap of a moment in history when thousands of Catholics determined that two millennia of Christianity would not be lost on our watch. We would, as Orsy notes, live this faith in this time knowing, “The one Spirit of Christ is holding many individuals together.”

For another articulate consideration of the state of our Church, read Fairfield University professor Paul Lakeland’s paper “Understanding the Crisis in the Church.” It is available here in PDF format.

Officers’ Forum

Please send your questions to pthorp.ed@votf.org and please include your name and where you are from.

This months question comes from Marianne Grisez:

“My question for the new officers: How can we interface with national organizations that may support VOTF so we can gain a wider audience? After eighteen months in the Sacramento area, our core group is small. Can we tap into folks from Pax Christi, Call to Action, Associates of religious groups, Sojourners, and others?”

RESPONSE FROM VOTF PRESIDENT JIM POST:

This is a question that comes up frequently and I welcome Marianne’s interest.

Members often wonder about our criteria for collaborating with other groups and organizations that are seeking change in the Church. Since our earliest days, we have wrestled with this question. We have been guided by two realities of life in the Catholic Church. First, there are many different groups of organized Catholics who range across the spectrum from very traditional to very progressive. Collaboration with some could mean disaffection from others. Second, our own membership is diverse, and members have a wide variety of views on the many issues that swirl around our Church in 2005.

For these reasons, we have defined, and tried to adhere to, a few basic principles. First, our primary focus is on the sexual abuse crisis. This is an issue on which people of all political views agree: Our Church has been badly wounded by the perpetration and cover up of such abuse. In this respect, we can, and have, worked with a diverse range of Catholics who want justice for survivors and safe environments for children and adults today and into the future.

Second, we are willing to talk with any Catholic, and any group, about how to ensure this tragedy is never repeated. Other groups represent a range of views as to what must be done, but our principle is that we are not calling for doctrinal changes. We believe that the human administration of the Church can be improved – and must be improved – so all Catholics can say with confidence and trust that sexual abuse in our Church will never happen again. Again, this is practical, not doctrinal, in character.

Third, we have called for structural change that will enhance the role of the laity in the governance and guidance of the Church. Why? To heal a wounded Church in the spirit of Vatican II. How? By using the talents of every baptized member of our faith and treating each bishop, priest, and lay woman and man as equal members of the body of Christ.

These principles have served Voice of the Faithful well, and I expect they will continue to guide our activities and relationships with every organization of Catholics."

Jack Rakosky offers this background on the Feast of the Holy Innocents or, as Old English called it, Childermas. The Feast commemorates the story of the children killed by Herod as he swept Bethlehem of its youngest male children in his quest to destroy the child Jesus. Jack’s idea is to propose suitable readings for the next few months In the Vineyard. We share Jack’s contribution in dedication to the incomprehensible number of lives lost in the Indian Ocean tsunami.

One source of inspiration for this service was the annual Anglican Service of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast by the BBC each Christmas eve. Rather than choosing nine (or more) hymns to complement the lessons, the Byzantine tradition of a Canon based upon nine Canticles using both the Old and New Testament texts suggested itself. Rather than following the Byzantine tradition of poetic texts inspired by nine standard Canticles, more freedom was used in choosing the texts of the canticles and in paraphrasing those texts for contemporary life. Like the Byzantine poetic tradition, these texts are meant to be a rich meditation upon the experience of childhood as portrayed in scripture, both its beauty and its tragedy.

The service is meant to be a foundation framework. Prior to each lesson, there should be a brief news article depicting some contemporary situation of children. For the first seven lessons these should be about the plight of children and adolescents, whether it be physical abuse, sexual abuse, sweat shop labor, AIDS, or other threats to children. For the last two lessons, children and adolescents are shown as exemplars and role models. The news articles might be accompanied by large posters, slide projections, or videos. Some of these might remain during the following lesson and canticle.

After each lesson, a choir might perform some musical piece. In the choice of music the choir director might consider that some greater effect might be achieved by placing an idyllic piece of music against the stark reality of life depicted in the news article. As with Christ’s Passover, it is best to maintain the unity of the Passion and the Resurrection.

In keeping with the spirit of the service and another tradition, the lessons and prayers and other activities should be led by children and adolescents.

While this service is most suitable for the period between Christmas and the Sunday after Epiphany, it may be used at other times of the year as suggested by the Armenian tradition. This Service, in the form of one lesson and Canticle per day, may also be used as a Novena by groups, families and individuals. This is again in accord with a tradition of beginning a Novena on Holy Innocents and ending on January 5th the eve of Epiphany.

Finally I wish to thank John Seryak for suggesting that Voice of the Faithful do something for the feast of Holy Innocents.

NINTH READING

Since the ninth reading uses the Canticle of Simeon, it is very appropriate for January through Candlemas on February 2nd.

A reading from the Gospel of Luke: Jesus says the Kingdom of God belongs to children. Luke 18:15-17

CANTICLE OF SIMEON LUKE 2: 25-34 Response after each verse: A light of revelation for the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let the children come into your Kingdom!
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, inspire your people to bring the Kingdom to all our children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, help us to remove all that prevents children for experiencing your touch.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, help us rebuke all those who abuse and harm children
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, bring our witness for children into the temple courts.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let our witness for children cause the rising and falling of many.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, let our witness for children be a sign to reveal the hearts of many.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, we await the consolation of seeing the well being of all the children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, we await the safety and salvation of all the children
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.

Spirit of God, inspire us to become as little children for the sake of all the children.
R. May we receive into our arms the light of your revelation and glory of your people.