Update on Bishop Selection Initiative in Chicago Continued

Representatives of the Chicago affiliates met with Cardinal George in January  to discuss with him their plans to broaden consultations with the laity regarding his successor. They also wrote to the Apostolic Nuncio who, in reply, assured them that he would receive recommendations from any Chicago lay persons and that VOTF members are free to encourage such communications to him. They are doing this via the internet portal.

Chicago VOTF members also wrote to every pastor in the archdiocese requesting him to carry a notice about the project in their parish bulletins through July.

Face Book and Twitter announcements, made through the VOTF account, also publicize this unique opportunity. A press release for Chicago area newspapers will be released shortly.

All VOTF members should realize that the Chicago project can be duplicated in their dioceses as their bishop nears the retirement age of 75. For this purpose, the internet portal has a heading, “Upcoming Vacancies,” which lists the names of bishops at or nearing age 75 in 2012 and the diocese they head. The VOTF Bishop Selection Team will be happy to provide ongoing assistance to lay members of these dioceses, as they are doing now in Chicago. We encourage you to visit the web portal at: www.votf.org/bishop. 

Voice of the Faithful FOCUS,
June 28, 2012

Highlighting issues we face working together
                        to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

TOP STORIES

The Verdict in Philadelphia
The jury in the trial of Msgr. William Lynn took 13 days to reach its verdict, and the verdict was clear: Those charged with oversight of clergy and who did not use that charge to protect children will be found guilty of criminal behavior -- in this case, child endangerment.
 -- Highlights from Trial
 -- Shock and Grief in Msgr. William J. Lynn's Parish after His Conviction
 -- Catholics Have Rendered a Verdict

Guilty Verdict Is a Victory for Children and Catholics
Every single victim who has ever come forward, even if not involved in the trial, has kept our children protected, kept them safer than they ever would have been had the truth not been revealed. There is no amount of justice that could ever be served to the victims in the Philly AD for the years of horror that occurred, but your efforts have kept this generation of children safer from child predators.

Priest Takes Bishops To Task in Remarks to Parishioners
Many local Catholics have struggled for years with their faith and loyalty to the church in the face of sexual abuse allegations and cover ups. While it is often the topic of discussion at the dinner table, around the water cooler or on social media sites like Facebook, it is rarely addressed at the altar.

New Priests’ Group Hopes to Preserve Vision of Vatican II
This week, about 240 priests from around the country are meeting at Saint Leo University in St. Leo for the inaugural assembly of the newly formed Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. Among its goals: To be a "voice of hope" and to "celebrate and implement the visionary concepts of Vatican Council II."

Church Battles Efforts to Ease Sex Abuse Suits
While the first criminal trial of a Roman Catholic church official accused of covering up child sexual abuse has drawn national attention to Philadelphia, the church has been quietly engaged in equally consequential battles over abuse, not in courtrooms but in state legislatures around the country.

Read the rest of this issue of Focus here…

A Priest Speaks From the Heart—Outside the Clericalism Boundaries

Reviewed by Bill Casey, Co-Chair VOTF Conference

The Long Dark Winter’s Night by Patrick Bergquist reveals the voice of priest, prophet and poet. He writes as a simple parish priest who struggles to make sense of the clergy sexual abuse scandal while ministering to parishioners and native peoples in the Missionary Diocese of Northern Alaska. He draws upon the haunting experience and metaphor of the long dark Alaskan winters to confront his own identity as priest as well as the ideals, realities and culture of the Catholic priesthood.

With the archetype of the Dark Night of the Soul in mind, Bergquist writes: “When the road ahead disappears into darkness and all the familiar signs and symbols to which we have clung for security and familiarity are denied us, then and only then will we be ready to receive God’s self-communication to our souls and perhaps to the soul of the priesthood.” His voice resonates from the depths of 20 years of priestly life as he calls upon fellow priests to engage this scandal on a visceral level—to find the callings of a God who understands the full scope of human suffering through the wounds of his crucified son. 

Continued: http://votf.org/vineyard/June29_2012/heart.html