PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate release
Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is
deeply disappointed by the reports released Monday that three
separate Catholic institutions and ten Church officials were long aware
of the sexual abuse committed by Rev. Donald McGuire S.J. (a pattern of
abuse that goes back almost 40 years) and did little to control him or
protect children from him over all those decades. Even though convicted
of abuse in February 2006, McGuire, a priest of the Chicago Jesuit
Province, remains free pending his appeal and has often been seen with
young men. He lives in a private residence in Oak Lawn, IL, completely
unmonitored. McGuire remains a Jesuit priest, and the Jesuits have not
indicated any intention of removing him.
“Again Church officials have failed to protect the most
vulnerable among us”, said Mary Pat Fox, president of VOTF.
“We call on the Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Edward Schmidt S.J., to
restrict and monitor the movements of Fr. McGuire and all other
credibly accused members of their order. Removal from ministry is not
enough. The Jesuits must accept and exercise their responsibility to
prevent abusers from striking again.”
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Press contact
John Moynihan (617) 558-5252
About Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) VOTF is a worldwide movement of
concerned mainstream Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual
abuse crisis. The group’s mission is 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. Its
goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests
of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in
full accordance and harmony with Church teaching.
John Moynihan
Media Relations
Voice of the Faithful
617 558 5252
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