VOTF and Bishops Speak

From VOTF president Jim Post
One indicator of VOTF's progress in establishing an identity and presence in the life of the Catholic Church is the willingness of bishops to speak with us. Since January, local VOTF members have met with bishops in at least 20 dioceses from Boston, Massachusetts to Puget Sound, Washington.

Adding to these diocesan efforts, there is a growing national dialogue beginning to develop between VOTF leaders and a number of nationally prominent bishops.

On Friday, March 28th, VOTF secretary Cathy Fallon and I attended a speech by Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh at a conference of "Governance, Accountability, and the Future of the Church." The gathering was sponsored by St. Thomas More Chapel at Yale University. Afterward, I spoke with Bishop Wuerhl who expressed an interest in knowing how "'Voice' is doing?".

On Friday, April 4, 2003, I spoke with Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk, head of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. This meeting took place in Dayton, Ohio, the morning after Dayton VOTF held a very successful inaugural ("launch") meeting. In my time with Archbishop Pilarczyk, he encouraged VOTF to develop various "dialogue models" that would enable bishops, survivors, priests, and laity to converse in less conflicted circumstances.

Local and national dialogue between bishops and the laity is fundamental in a Church that is both local and universal. After all, our concerns for survivors, priests, and laity are shared concerns and shared responsibilities. By articulating these concerns regularly in a mutually respectful environment, our Church - laity and clergy - invigorates the gospel values we cherish.

From VOTF Board of Trustees president Dr. Jim Muller
Over twenty leaders of the hierarchy, including Cardinal George of Chicago, leader of one of the largest archdioceses in the nation, have taken the time to meet with leaders of VOTF to learn about the nature of the organization and to give their thoughts on how it can develop in a positive manner. These leaders sanctify the process by engaging loyal faithful who are on a spiritual quest to help a Church in crisis. They are true leaders of the Church, following the role of Christ, and deserve the support of all Catholics. They stand in sharp contrast to eight diocesan leaders who have chosen to ban VOTF from meeting on church property. They did so without meeting with VOTF leaders to gain a complete understanding of what they are banning nor have they made the effort to try to counsel supposedly misguided faithful and correct the errors they believe VOTF is making. Their acts reflect the same abuse of power that led to the cover-up of crimes of sexual abuse.

It is my belief that most leaders in the hierarchy seek to work cooperatively with the faithful laity who make up VOTF. Hence we expect the number of positive dialogues to increase steadily. I urge VOTF leaders to acquaint themselves with the positive discussions that have taken place, and request a series of meetings with their respective bishops. A process of discernment, in communion with inclusive members of the hierarchy, will lead to a better VOTF and a stronger church. In this light, I submit a brief summary of my meeting with Cardinal George of Chicago.

March 31, 2003

On October 18, 2002, Dr. Jim Post, president of VOTF sent a letter to all US Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals requesting their thoughts on VOTF. Cardinal George replied with a two-page letter discussing his concerns. Since I would be in Chicago in March for an American College of Cardiology meeting, I met with Chicago VOTF leaders. Steve Shimek, leader of Chicago VOTF, arranged for me to have a private meeting with the Cardinal.

Meeting in the Cardinal's office, our scheduled one-hour meeting lasted for two hours, covered many issues and permitted a unique opportunity to articulate a clearer understanding of VOTF and our roots, our collective love for the Church and our commitment to the baptismal call for full participation in the life of our Church. Cardinal George discussed candidly his own concerns as well as prospects for continued dialogue.

We ended our substantive and cordial conversation with a brief prayer.

My overall impression of the meeting is that it was very valuable, and I hope might become a model replicated throughout the country. The wise and holy leadership shown by Cardinal George on the issues is in sharp contrast to the behavior of a handful of bishops committed to banning VOTF.

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