Contact: Jessica Lillie Ciccone, PR Director, votfpr@votf.org, (781) 559-3360, (314) 749-5188 cell
For Immediate Release
VOTF ASKS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY IN IRISH VISITATION
High Expectations Have Been Set as US Prelates Head to Ireland
June 3, 2010 – Boston – There is no question that Archbishops Sean O’Malley and Timothy Dolan have a difficult task before them. They are among the group chosen by the Vatican to investigate the clergy-abuse-ridden Ireland and develop improvements. But what steps will they take? Who will they consult? Will the NBSCCC be an active participant? Will professional laypersons in the various fields related to these problems be participants? How lengthy and thorough will these investigations be? Will a public report be issued?
Voice of the Faithful has high expectations for the panel. “We hope they will prioritize the needs of survivors for healing and develop a culture of accountability among all Catholics in Ireland,” says VOTF Ireland Spokesperson Bryan Maguire.
“There is a lot of work to be done not only in Ireland but for the Catholic Church as a whole,” says VOTF President Dan Bartley. “We call on the commission to take testimony from any members of the laity who wish to testify in public session, so that the people of Ireland have an opportunity to speak about the pain and betrayal they have suffered at the hands of the clergy and the hierarchy. No serious investigation of the Catholic Church in Ireland can be considered comprehensive without the participation of the laity. We will be watching this investigation closely to see how effective it will be. . This clerical culture of secrecy must come to an end.”
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For more information about VOTF please visit voiceofthefaithful.mystagingwebsite.com or email Jessica at votfpr@votf.org or call 781-552-3360.
Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is a lay organization formed in 2002 in response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. From its beginning in a church basement in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and VOTF now has Parish Voice affiliates across the world who seek reform within the Church.