EVENTS, ETC.

National

****David France, former senior editor at Newsweek magazine, has published a book Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Catholic Church in an Age of Scandal. David covered the clergy sexual abuse crisis for Newsweek Magazine and, in that capacity, became close with individuals within the survivor community and attended several Voice of the Faithful meetings. David is happy to speak at VOTF meetings and can be contacted through Mike Emerton, former press secretary for VOTF, at jmemerton@comcast.net. David’s book tour will include, Washington, DC; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, Il; Boston, MA.

**** From Gaile Pohlhaus, VOTF PA – “I just ran across this on canon law. It may be of interest.” http://www.archchicago.org/canon_law/one_121002.shtm.

****VOTF president Jim Post Speaking Commitments – please watch this space or check our web site at www.votf.org for details as they become available and/or changes.

January 30, 2004 Boston College, “Leading with Values: In Theory and Practice”

February 12-14, 2004, Boston College – Conference on Future of the Catholic Church “Commentary – Future Directions for the Catholic Church” (see January Vineyard for details)

March (date to be announced) Hartford, CT, “50 Years of Scandal: Where Are We Now?”

March 29, 2004, Imaging the Future Church Conference. University of San Francisco, CA, “Being a ‘Catholic Citizen’ in 2004”

April 2004, VOTF, Long Island, NY

May 13, 2004, VOTF Seacoast, MA, Newburyport, MA

Regional

EAST

****Heads up for April 16-17, 2004 - A conference with global implications, "Envisioning the Church Women Want: A Conference on Women in the Church," will be held at Boston College. For information, visit www.bc.edu/church21, or call 617-552-3489. The conference will bring together Catholic women and men of diverse experiences, interests and ages – artists, educators, activists, and those whose ministries are in families – to celebrate in ritual and story, in careful analysis and in prophetic witness, the past and future of women in the Catholic Church.

****The Lower Cape, MA affiliate of Voice of the Faithful will meet on Sunday, February 15, 2004 at 2:30 pm at the Brewster Ladies Library on Rt. 6A in Brewster. There will be a business meeting and small group discussions about our direction and events. The group currently consists of parishioners from four Roman Catholic churches on the Lower Cape. All are welcome. The Lower Cape VOTF is also interested in reaching out to victims of abuse. If you have been a victim of clergy sexual abuse and would like to participate in a support group, please contact Doug at 508/896-1589. For questions concerning the Lower Cape VOTF group, its goals and its activities, or questions regarding this release, please contact Madalyn Hillis-Dineen at dineen@gis.net.

**** Saturday, February 21, 2004 Workshop: "The Future of Religious Life in the Catholic Church," with Sr. Mary Johnson, S.N.D. 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fulton 230 Sponsor: Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, Continuing Education Information: http://www.bc.edu/irepm or 617-552-8057. A $30 fee will be charged

**** The Concord, Mass. VOTF and Winchester Area VOTF are jointly sponsoring a discussion with David France, who covered the Church scandal as a Senior Editor for Newsweek, regarding his recently published book Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Church in an Age of Scandal (Broadway Books 2004). David will be speaking at St. Eulalia's Church, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester, MA on Saturday, February 21, at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend.

**** Tuesday, February 24, 2004 Lecture: "Restorative Justice as A Model of Healing A Wounded Church Community," with Rev. Dr. Rodney L. Petersen, Boston Theological Institute. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Gasson 305. Sponsor: Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, Continuing Education Information: http://www.bc.edu/irepm or 617-552-8057. Registration required

CENTRAL

****On February 22, Father Tom Powers will speak at the 11:30 Sunday Mass Saints Faith, Hope and Charity in Winnetka, Il. There will be a Q&A period with Fr. Tom, the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church, Wellesley, MA, which is the founding VOTF parish. He will discuss the parish experience in the Boston Archdiocese as well as the rise and creation of Voice of the Faithful.

SOUTH

****Sunday Feb. 15 - VOTF and SNAP to co-sponsor New Orleans, La. Candlelight Vigil for the victims of clergy sex abuse who committed suicide. On Monday Feb. 16 at Loyola University there will be a panel discussion "Clericalism and the Abuse of Power in the Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis." Panelists include Fr. Tom Doyle; author Jason Berry; SNAP founder Barbara Blaine; former seminarian and, later, attorney for the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston Robert Scamardo; and VOTF National representatives Susan Troy and Peggie Thorp.

WEST

**** WESTERN STATES VOTF MEETING - SAVE THE DATE!!! March 27 -28. At the University of San Francisco, “'Imaging the Future Church.” Watch the VOTF Web site at www.votf-sf.org for agenda/registration information as well as speakers/participants (one of whom is VOTF president Jim Post).

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