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Message from VOTF president Jim Post
WHO WE ARE: RESULTS OF
A STUDY OF VOTF AS A SOCIAL MOVEMENT IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
On Sunday, October 23d,
Catholic University of America researchers William D'Antonio and Anthony
Pogorelc presented the results of a two-year study
of VOTF members as part of their continuing research on VOTF as a social
movement in the Catholic Church. A crowd of more than 400 participated
in a symposium that was sponsored by the Boston College Church in the 21st
Century
Center.
Bill and Tony described
the demographics of VOTF members, including age, Catholic education, and
active involvement in Church ministries. Six nationally
known experts in
the sociology of religion field --Professors Nancy Ammerman, Michelle
Dillon, Mary Hines, Fr. Robert Imbelli, Robert Gamson, and John McCarthy--
analyzed
this data through their expertise and offered observations about the
significance of the data.
For me, three questions
were answered:
- Who Are VOTF
Members? Based on their Catholic education, current faith practices, and involvement
in church ministries, VOTF members are
deeply connected to their faith. As Professor Nancy Ammerman commented, "VOTF
is as Catholic as it gets."
- Do Members
Understand VOTF's Purpose? The thousands of members who were surveyed display a clear
understanding of VOTF's mission
and goals.
VOTF
has a clear mission and has steadfastly adhered to its three
goals. It needs to improve its communications, according to Fr. Robert
Imbelli,
but has already
effected a shift in the way the Church (clergy and laity) understand
the importance of sexual abuse and the need for reforms.
- Will VOTF Succeed? The experts pointed to the need for VOTF to build a more diverse membership
base, citing the age and
ethnic statistics
of the
study. (VOTF leaders agree with this observation.) Prof.
John McCarthy analyzed sources of strength in VOTF membership and
identified many
opportunities for VOTF to engage more members in tasks that
can help advance the movement.
VOTF can succeed as a social movement within the Catholic
Church, the experts agreed, but it must respond to new needs
and new
realities if it is to
do so. That is a challenge we face together, as a community
of committed Catholics,
as VOTF enters the next phase of its role in the life of
the Church. How we respond is up to us!
The full Executive Summary,
charts and graphs is available
here. (PDF format)
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