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Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org,
(617) 558-5252, (617) 680-213
For Immediate Release
Voice of the Faithful Calls Vatican To Review Mandatory
Celibacy
July 2, 2007 - Voice of the Faithful, an international organization
of Catholic laity invites fellow Catholic laity, priests and religious
to
join us
in calling
upon the Holy See to conduct an ecclesial review of mandatory celibacy
for diocesan priests. We call for a serious extensive, unbiased review
to be conducted without prejudging the outcome, utilizing the insights
of theology, history, psychology, sociology, and current pastoral needs
and challenges.
“We decided to break with our past silence on this matter because
of what we believe to be a growing body of evidence linking mandated
celibacy with an institutional culture of secrecy and cover up,” stated
VOTF President Mary Pat Fox. She further stated, “We believe it
is our responsibility to speak up on this matter, and the responsibility
of the Holy See to address it.”
“Calling for this review is consistent with the goals Voice of
the Faithful has championed since its inception in 2002. We are committed
to the types of structural change in the Catholic Church needed to prevent
the culture of secrecy and clericalism that was so fundamental for the
decades of cover-up of widespread clergy sexual abuse”, said Fox.
This newly announced initiative has been under discussion for nine months
and was developed in collaboration between the Priest Support Group,
the VOTF National Representative Council, and the VOTF National Officers.
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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.
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