VOTF to Bear Witness at U.S. Bishops' Conference,
St. Louis, June 19th - 21st

Dear Friends,

Next week the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meets in St. Louis on June 19th - 21st for their semi-annual conference. The bishops will be meeting in an environment not unlike last year's in some ways, and yet in a very different way in others.

Like last year, the bishops find themselves meeting in the face of the clergy sexual abuse crisis that is extending across this country in new and unimagined ways - the revelation phase continues:

• Just this week the Archdiocese of Louisville announced it is paying a settlement of $25 million to settle 243 claims of alleged sexual abuse of children by priests, religious, and employees within that archdiocese. This marks another diocese that must learn to create an environment for reconciliation and healing.
• In a new turn of events, Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien of the Phoenix Diocese reached a plea agreement with the Maricopa Count District Attorney where he admitted covering-up allegations of clergy sexual abuse. More important, however, is the fact that as part of the agreement a standing bishop will continue as bishop of the diocese but surrender some authority and be subject to civil oversight.

There are three new environmental factors this year that mark a graduation to a new phase of the crisis that confronts us - the accountability phase - which will be more difficult to gauge:

• First, the bishops will be convening this time - and for the first time - to receive an interim report by an internal but independent overseer. Kathleen MaChesney, the Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection will be reporting on the progress the bishops are making in conforming to the Revised Norms for the Protection of Children.
• Second, the bishops are convening for the first time in recent memory under the rule of fraternal accountability that was agreed upon by the bishops to ensure that the pastoral intent of the Dallas Charter would be implemented and that they would hold themselves to a higher standard than Rome had imposed on them.
• Third, Voice of the Faithful has emerged as a serious and reasonable voice for the laity in responding to the clergy sexual abuse crisis - a voice that has been sought by the mainstream and Catholic media relating to the crisis and particularly to matters of accountability and healing.

As an example of this latter point, allow me to share three recent articles with you - two by us and one on us - that demonstrate the role VOTF is playing in shaping the environment in which our bishops will be meeting next week. You should be aware of this because this is an important part of the work we are increasingly doing, and it is all possible because of you - our members who support the mission and goals of VOTF in word, action, and prayer.

• National Catholic Reporter, May 23, 20033, "A Message to the Bishops: Listen to Yogi", Jim Post, President, VOTF. http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives2/2003b/052303/052303o.htm
• St. Anthony Messenger, June 2, 2003, "Voice of the Faithful, 'Keep the Faith, Change the Church,' " John Bookser Feister. http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jun2003/Feature4.asp
• Commonweal, June 6, 2003, "VOTF: Year Two - An Interview with Voice of the Faithful President James E. Post", and interview with Jim Post, President, VOTF. http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/

You will be represented in St. Louis next week by several VOTF-National staff and two VOTF persons from our Parish Voice affiliates with interesting and divergent experiences in their dioceses of Brooklyn, NY and Phoenix, AZ.

We have committed ourselves to do two things with our bishops: engage them in dialogue and hold them accountable. We are going to St. Louis to do both. We are going to St. Louis to reach out to our bishops and let them know we understand that they are afraid of change, but that they need not be afraid of faithful laity who love their Church. We are going to St. Louis to reach out to our brothers and sisters in the pews and encourage them to shed apathy and join our mission. We are going to St. Louis to let all Catholics know we are a safe means by which to save our Church. We are going to St. Louis to give your side of the story to everyone concerned about the welfare and state of our Church. We are doing all this in order to build a stronger, more effective and healing Church for the survivors of clergy sexual abuse, for our parish priests, for ourselves, and yes, for our bishops, too.

As the story continues, let's us hope and pray that accountability and healing begin.

Keep us - and your bishops - in your prayers.

Warm regards,

Steve Krueger
Executive Director,
Voice of the Faithful

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