Contact: Jessica Lillie Ciccone, PR Director, votfpr@votf.org, (781) 559-3360,
(314) 749-5188 cell
For Immediate Release
VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR MORE LAY INVOLVEMENT IN REBUILDING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
May 19, 2010 – Boston – Voice of the Faithful will mark the occasion of Pentecost, this year on May 23rd, by encouraging lay Catholics to participate fully in the rebuilding, governance and guidance of the church at all levels.
Pentecost is the traditional day that celebrates the birth of the Christian church by the power of the Holy Spirit 50 days after the first Easter. VOTF members across the country will promote the call to lay responsibility and involvement in church ministries, operations and management in their own parishes and in neighboring parishes.
“We believe firmly in lay women and men taking active responsibility for re-forming the Catholic Church,” stated Daniel Bartley, president of Voice of the Faithful, the Boston-based church reform group that emerged in response to the 2002 sexual abuse scandal. “After all the Church has been through, Catholic lay people are determined to be part of the solution. The sexual abuse problem is real. Progress has been made. There is plenty more to do, and lay people are stepping up.”
The key to the May 23 rallying action is a simple guide with ideas for immediate and sustained lay involvement in Church affairs. The guide is a leaflet that VOTF members will distribute to those attending services Pentecost weekend.
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For more information about VOTF’s campaign email Jessica at votfpr@votf.org or call 781-559-3360