Please send comments and inquiries to leaderpub@votf.org
Our postal address is VOTF, Box 423, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464-0002
And do visit our website at www.votf.org
HELP WANTED - see VOTF National under "Events"

In the Vineyard

"As soon as I lie down, I fall peacefully asleep,
for you alone, O God, bring security to my dwelling." Ps 4:9

What a time to be a Catholic indeed - even more so, to be involved in VOTF! In our first year, VOTF had a growth rate in excess of 100% and if we look at activity since December, 2002, we find a surge of 150%! Affiliates worldwide now number 181. The VOTF message is moving beyond the day's news and into the mainstream of broad Catholic readership in publications that include Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter and St. Anthony Messenger. What does such growth tell us about our goals, our mission and the future of our Church? For starters, it tells us that the VOTF difference is making a difference.

If Boston is any example, it tells us that VOTF goals are resonating among more and more concerned Catholics. Over 60% of respondents in a Boston Globe Spotlight Team survey hold a favorable impression of VOTF. (You can read about the questions specifically asked about VOTF, plus cross tabs by income, age, attending Mass, and other demographics.)

It tells us that Catholics continue to be moved and galvanized by injustice. http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/voices.html

It tells us that every new wave of interest in VOTF brings new heart to the needs and interests of survivors (http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/ssp.html) and to the needs and interests of our priests http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/workinggroup.html#pswg

It tells us that VOTF is a significant national player in protecting our children.

http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/workinggroup.html

It tells us that survivor Brendan Gunning, in leaving Roman Catholicism, remains our brother because his hopes are ours, too. http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/letters.html

It tells us that the effort to be in dialogue with our bishops and pastors matters to Catholics, whether successful (http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/brooklyn.html) or anticipated. (http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/krueger.html)

It tells us that being Church in communion with clergy uplifts, heals and restores. http://www.votf.org/vineyard/vineyard8/never.html

It tells us that these are the things that matter to Catholics.

And it tells us that your financial support is extending our reach and, therefore, our mission. Please continue that support. https://app.agnisoftware.org/jsp/donation/donations.html

Recently, a new member of VOTF said he was ashamed of himself for not getting involved earlier. I reminded him that the very moment he decided to act, he became a founder of yet another bright new moment in our faith journey - like our faith, VOTF is ever-new with each new voice. The conversation brought to mind the beautiful consoling words of St. Augustine's prayer:

Late have I loved you, O beauty ever ancient, ever new!
Late have I loved you
And behold, you were within, and I without, and without I sought you.
And deformed, I ran after those forms of beauty you have made.
You were with me and I was not with you, those things held me back from you, things
whose only being was to be in you.
You called, you cried, and you broke through my deafness.
You illumined, you shone, and you chased away my blindness.
You became fragrant and I inhaled and sighed for you.
I tasted, and now hunger and thirst for you.
You touched me and I burned for your embrace.

 

Peggie L. Thorp, ed.

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.

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

Working Group Progress
Protecting our Children Working Group

Our POC group and the VOTF colleagues and friends who volunteered their help at the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Conference, "Taking Action to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Strategies for Your Community," were rewarded with thoroughly researched and brilliantly presented keynote talks by Dr. Vincent J. Felitti and Jan Hindman, M.S.

Vincent Felitti, M.D., Department of Preventive Medicine of Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, drew on his work, The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, to show "a powerful relationship between our emotional experiences as children and our physical and mental health as adults, as well as the major causes of adult mortality in the U.S."

With the help of the Center for Disease Control and 18,000 volunteers (average age, 57), Dr. Felitti and his colleagues looked at eight categories of household dysfunction and childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. They found a relationship between the number of categories of dysfunction and/or abuse that the volunteers experienced as children and the health problems these volunteers experienced as adults, such as alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, job difficulties, and suicide attempts. Their "two most important findings are that adverse childhood experiences (1) are vastly more common than recognized or acknowledged and (2) have a powerful relation to adult health a half-century later." Based on the ACE Study findings, Dr. Felitti believes, "More research and training will provide physicians and others with the confidence and skills to respond to patients who acknowledge these childhood exposures." He also recommends a new paradigm that expands the role of the community in educating both children and adults about abuse of all kinds. Medical, social service, church, school, public safety organizations, families - all members of society - must cooperate to provide for the healthy growth of children, locate and rescue those who are exposed to abuse, and prevent abusers from preying upon children.

Jan Hindman, M.S., LPC, Clinical Director, It's About Childhood - THE HINDMAN FOUNDATION, Inc., warned the audience that she might shock us with her straightforward discussion of sex. She pointed out that parents, who should be the primary educators about sex, have failed because of their discomfort with the topic. As a result, generations of children have been getting their sex education (often wrong) from other children and from TV (often inappropriate for their age). If parents were comfortable talking with their children about sex, children with questions would know where to go for trustworthy information. Primarily, the message should be that sex is good under the right conditions. Establishing communication with children begins very early; as babies, children sense how their parents react to troublesome matters. Too often parents have been more comfortable punishing children when presented with awkward or unnerving situations. Punishment that fails to teach may disrupt sexual development; a child then stays frozen at that sexual stage. Parents who take the time to struggle through tough discussions give their children healthy sexual perceptions of themselves.

In her workshop, Ms. Hindman presented "Ten Commandments of Raising Sexually Respectful Children." For example, a parent whose child is making obscene phone calls needs to discover whether the child is seeking excitement or wants to taunt the other person. If power over another is the purpose, then the child needs to learn about vulnerability and how to respond to being vulnerable. Ms. Hindman's A Very Touching Book also deals with the importance of trust and communication between parents (and other responsible adults) and children. The straightforward style of both her presentation and her book shocks and humors adults into acquiring the knowledge and taking back control of what their children learn about sex and when. The message is parental responsibility for well-informed and trustworthy education of children for healthy sexual development and healthy sexual maturity.

A panel discussion, "The Myths and Realities about Child Sexual Abuse Offenders and Victims," was led by Richard Hoffman, Writer-in-Residence, Emerson College; Susan Gallagher, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Lowell; and Robert Baker, Director of Operations, Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry. The most common myth is that children are sexually abused by strangers. In reality, the majority of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrators. A poignant moment occurred when Richard Hoffman asked the following groups to stand and remain standing: (1) anyone who had been abused, (2) anyone whose parent(s) had been abused, (3) anyone whose sibling(s) had been abused, and (4) anyone whose spouse had been abused. Almost the entire audience was standing. Richard Hoffman, himself a victim, said, "Look around; you are not alone. You never have to be alone or silent again."

The morning concluded with a presentation of the Martha May Eliot Child Advocate Award to Frank Fitzpatrick. Frank is an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse in the early 1960s at the hands of Father James R. Porter. Frank tracked down Porter, taped incriminating phone conversations with him, located other survivors, investigated the Catholic Church's cover up, and spoke out publicly.

For more information about the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership Conference, go to www.masskids.org and click the box labeled, "Taking Action to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Strategies for Your Community."

(Ed. The Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership is a newly organized collaborative of statewide private and public agencies and recent recipient of a Center for Disease Control and Prevention grant. The Massachusetts Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership received $215,000 to identify and pilot innovative programs in three Massachusetts communities.)

Priests' Support Working Group
Reported by Svea Fraser

The Sounding Board meeting held in May affirmed the value of small group meetings between priests and laity. Meeting in a setting conducive to sharing stories (preferably around a table with some food!) offers an opportunity to build relationships and better understanding outside the parishioner-pastor roles.

We were told by one priest, who confessed to not wanting to have come that evening, that he was glad he did. The reason: it was good to sit with people who care about their Church and want to speak about their faith. This is the best thing we can do to support one another.

We hope to have one more Sounding Board before the summer begins. We encourage people to continue the conversations beyond the initial meeting. There are discussion topics listed on the website under Clergy Support. Not only does this open the door for collaboration, but it builds on our catholicity and our connection to all Catholics.

There have been some fruitful events focused on our goal of supporting our priests. In Rhode Island, a panel of five priests took part in a discussion. Three questions were posed:

  1. Clericalism: does it exist and what does it mean to you?
  2. Are you comfortable about sharing your ministry with lay members, and are you taught this in the seminary?
  3. What is your opinion of Parish Pastoral Councils and do you have one?

If any affiliate needs help or input in conducting a similar panel, please contact us through the website.

There is another way that priest-laity dialogue can be promoted - download the priest survey conducted by the Winchester, MA Area PV and use it as a tool for discussion. Better yet, do the survey in your own diocese. Directions for doing so are available on the website, and members of that committee would be willing to help you with it. The results of widespread use of the survey would be twofold: First, it serves as an affirmation for the priests interviewed and, second, it would be a rich resource of information for the bishops.

With summer coming, the SPWG working committee is not planning on meeting. Rather, we encourage a time of rest and reflection, and of course constant prayer for our faith community-for all the people of God: laity, religious, priests and bishops.

Please let us know of your efforts in support of Goal #2. Share the wealth! Increase the blessings! Thank you for all you are doing to manifest the reign of God in our midst.

Council Notes
May 22 Council Meeting

Held at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA Submitted by VOTF Secretary Cathy Fallon

Gail Pohlhaus, of Wayne, Penn., one of our farthest-afield regular attendees at Council and at the Structural Change Working Group, led the Council in a heart-felt prayer.

Moderator Maura O'Brien recognized new representatives.

President's Report
Jim Post presented his President's report in which he reviewed events since the last Council meeting, including Bishop Daily's lifting of the ban of VOTF in Brooklyn.. Several articles on VOTF will be released in the days leading up to the June Bishop's Conference in St. Louis, Mo. Early in May the Boston Globe published a poll in which 60 percent of respondents gave a favorable or very favorable rating of VOTF. The First Annual Report of Voice of the Faithful's activities will be sent to all 302 Bishops, inviting them to be in dialog with affiliates in their region. Jim Post reminded representatives that the liturgy for a Mass of Rededication is available for affiliate use on the VOTF website under Prayerful Voice. Forthcoming articles on VOTF will appear in the National Catholic Reporter ("Trust, Truth and the Catholic Church"), The Tablet, and Commonweal. Several National Policy Forum conference calls have taken place.

Susan Troy presented the Governance Committee Report. The Committee recommended enhanced support for the Council and plans for overcoming geography as a barrier to participation. The Committee addressed the issue of email voting as a goal and sought input on what effect that might have on the quality of decision-making. The Committee also called for a comprehensive review of guidelines, asking for "rules junkies" to step forward. In addition they noted the demand from affiliates for minutes that capture the nature of debates at Council be posted.

Susan reviewed the accomplishments and obstacles faced by the Governance Working Group. Areas still in need of review are updating the By-Laws and Elections. Clarification between the national and regional VOTF needs elucidation-- Job descriptions and lines of authority need to be drawn clearly, differentiating management from policy making and implementation. The SCWG is committed to improving communication, openness and transparency between the Governance Committee, officers and working groups.

Recommendations
The Governance Study Committee recommended that it be disbanded and that expanded membership reconvene the committee. The Committee further recommended the establishment of a permanent subcommittee for by-laws and elections. GSC members are invited to join.

Mary Hogan spoke in favor of an extended membership base and clarity in who is responsible to whom and for what. She felt Governance is one of the most interesting and hopeful groups. By clarifying our system of governance we can create a sustainable organization.

Steve Krueger presented a Financial Report that showed our solvency, with assets approaching $300,000. Revenue had been down during April, but accounts are running ahead of budget thanks to successful efforts of the Development Committee and two substantial gifts received.

Gail Pohlhaus announced that VOTF will be discussed at the Catholic Theologians Society meetings.

Bob Ott spoke to an article seeking clarification of the terms of office for the original steering committee members. The question will be addressed by the Governance Committee and presented at the June Council.

John MaGilligan of the Needham, MA affiliate spoke to a motion to recommend by name four priests of the Archdiocese of Boston to be considered as Archbishop of Boston. Margaret Roylance offered an amendment to the motion proposing that pastors known for their openness and pastoral skills be seriously considered for the position of diocesan bishop. The amendment did not pass by a two-thirds vote (21 voting aye, 27 voting nay, no abstentions). The main motion failed on a voice vote. President Jim Post then asked for a sense of the meeting that there be local lay input into the selection of bishops. This sentiment met with unanimous voice approval.

Gail Pohlhaus led the group in a concluding prayer after which the meeting was adjourned.

Faithful Friends
Submitted by Cathy and Bill Fallon

Ever since our Representative Council was formed last fall, e-mail notices have let members know that there are members willing and able to provide home hospitality to those VOTF members for whom the two-way drive is either inconvenient or impossible to accomplish in a single day.

A few months went by with no takers. In January, an inquiry came from Brooklyn NY affiliates, asking if they could be accommodated. We happily contacted them, and have enjoyed getting to know them, and share our experiences with our international movement, Voice of the Faithful. The Fallons and the Wilsons stayed up late, burning the midnight oil on that first visit. We learned that Anne was in an RCIA program and looking forward to her full incorporation into the Catholic Church on Holy Thursday-- a reason for rejoicing in a dark season.

Shortly thereafter, we had a new granddaughter, Madeleine Sophie, born in New York City. The Wilson's offered us reciprocal hospitality, which we accepted. Our daughter, Lee, and her three-week old daughter (snug in a Moses basket) joined us for an early dinner in a Village restaurant -- before the elders went on to a wonderful concert performed by members of an a cappella choir from the Wilsons' place of worship at St. Boniface Oratory.

In May, Ed made the trek to Boston by Accela train. That evening, Council recognized and applauded Ed's key role in causing Bishop Daily to declare that, having reviewed our positions, he found that Voice of the Faithful members were, indeed, as we claimed, faithful Catholics! Bishop Daily's lifting of his initial banning of VOTF from diocesan property is one of VOTF's biggest victories to date -- one we hope that the seven other "banning" bishops will emulate.

With only a week to go before the June Council, the Fallons are dusting off the welcome mat to welcome the Wilsons back to our Representative Council to learn of plans for regional and national implementation of the born-in-Boston model for grassroots decision-making.

Goal #1 - Survivors' Support

VOTF East Notes:

****New Outreach to Survivors - The Lighthouse
Reported by Steve Sheehan, VOTF Survivors' Support Working Group

The Lighthouse, a non-denominational, non-profit resource center and office for victims of clergy abuse is the brain child of Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque and is located at 977 Bennington Street, East Boston, MA 02128

It is the first of its kind drop-in and call-in center where victims can make contact with other victim/survivors in a safe environment and hopefully will become a model for a series of such centers around the nation.

Phil and Lauren spent many months supporting and talking with victim/survivors and often wondered what God would want them to do to really help those who needed help the most. After talking with victims and advocates, they decided that what was truly needed was a center where victim/survivors could go to get the help that they required. This meant a place where survivors could congregate to support each other, where victims could call or drop in to receive advice on how to proceed to begin the healing process, and where victims could connect with advocates and other survivors in a safe environment.

The answer was an idea that is now a reality. The Lighthouse.

A store front on Bennington Street in East Boston has been converted into an office. This will be a haven for victims who have no place to turn and no one to talk to. Victims who contact The Lighthouse will find a fellow victim/survivor as their first contact who can assist them in securing the help they need (encouragement, support, belief, and therapy) through a network of volunteer survivors and advocates.

Programs to be offered at The Lighthouse include F.O.C.A.S., a program to support families of clergy abuse survivors and Beacons of Light, for individuals who might sponsor a victim to help him/her find peace on the healing journey.

The grand opening of The Lighthouse took place on June 8 - please see the next issue of the Vineyard for a report on what promises to be a groundbreaker in that The Lighthouse is the first office and resource center in the world for victims and survivors of clergy abuse. A nationally known roster of speakers and survivor support groups participated in the opening.

For information call, in Massachusetts 1(617) 567-7575; out-of state 1(877) LIGHT-22.

****Chamber Concert to Benefit Survivors
Contact Susan Jordan at spjordan@attbi.com or visit SNAP's website at www.survivorsnetwork.org

Plans are in the works for a chamber music concert to benefit SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). The concert will be held at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall, Boston, Massachusetts on Sunday, September 28, 2003 at 3:00 pm. Artists will include principals from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New England Conservatory and the Longy School of Music performing works of Bach, Schumann, Barber, Loeffler and Messiaen.

****VOTF Winchester, MA Sponsors Coffeehouse Fundraiser
Reported by Bob Morris and Steve Sheehan

On Friday, May 30, our group sponsored a "Coffeehouse," all proceeds from which went to benefit the Survivors' Appeal.

The event was well attended with nearly 100 persons coming to share in the evening's activities. An excellent dessert and beverage buffet was provided and the leftover items were sold at a bake sale on Sunday to supplement the donations received.

Many people volunteered to provide us with musical entertainment. The evening opened with a Rock and Roll performance by a group of teenagers known as Ben, Greg, and Jake on guitar and drums. Holly Foskett entranced the audience with a vocal, classical suite featuring the "Habenera" from Bizet's Carmen and "Musetta's Waltz" from La Boheme The Saint Eulalia Choir, represented by Andy (Choir Director) and Joanne Smith, Deborah Moscosco, Dan O'Brien, Rachel Dionne, Christina Hurley, Camille Abruzzeze and Regina Pontes serenaded the audience with a medley of songs and a fine piano duet by the Smiths. JD (son of VOTF member Dee Ingalls) played and sang a selection of songs featuring his own "Weekend Warrior", a tribute to American military personnel. The program closed with a lovely set of lullabies played and sung by VOTF member Stacy Kowalczyk.

The evening ended with the drawing of raffle tickets where prizes were presented to the lucky ticket holders. An exceptional raffle donation was an oil painting done by Frank Braga. The proceeds from the raffle, added to the admission and refreshment donations totaled over $1,400.00 to support the survivors of clergy abuse.

While thanks are due to many people who contributed to making this event a great success, very special thanks are due to Marge Bean, whose tireless and seemingly limitless dedication to supporting survivors has been an inspiration to all. Congratulations are also due to Joan Cote and Suzy Nauman.

****VOTF Merrimack Valley, MA Sponsors Support of Survivors Walk 2003
Reported by Stacey Quealey and Lauren Francseschi

Several of the Merrimack Valley VOTF Affiliates are sponsoring Support of Survivors Walk 2003. Walkers will gather pledges based on how many laps they can walk around the soccer field (approximately 1/4 mile per lap). It will be held at Merrimack College in Andover/North Andover, Massachusetts on June 29 from 1:00-5:00 pm. All pledges and donations will be given to the Survivors Appeal. The Survivors Appeal is a non-profit fund that was established so that financial supporters could make a "one-stop" donation. The tax deductible donations collected by the Survivors Appeal are distributed to survivor advocacy groups on an as-needed basis. For more information and to get your pledge sheet, please contact Lauren and Stacey at soswalk@yahoo.com. Contact us soon! Space is limited to 200 people!

VOICES, VOICES EVERYWHERE!

VOTF National

National Parish Voice has identified four US regions for purposes of affiliate coordination, communication efforts and future regional definitions and representation. These are as follows:

  • WEST - Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii, Alaska
  • CENTRAL - North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
  • SOUTH - Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida
  • EAST - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island

VOTF WEST

VOTF Arizona
Reported by Sandy Simonson

Membership in Arizona's fledgling VOTF affiliate has increased dramatically in recent weeks as the agreement between Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley and Bishop Thomas O'Brien was made public. Our group now has over 100 members, up from just 38 a few weeks ago, and the number increases daily.

"We feel that the agreement, while not ideal, represents the best that could be done for the victims of abuse and to remove authority from Bishop O'Brien so that a crisis of this magnitude does not occur again. However, we feel that the Pope should not stand in the way of O'Brien's resignation, as that may be necessary to begin the healing process in the Diocese of Phoenix" stated Sandy Simonson, Coordinator of VOTF in Arizona. Catholics in Arizona were glad to see an end to the investigation and were encouraged to see Bishop O'Brien take a step toward accountability. However, O'Brien recently insisted that while he transferred priests known to have abused children and did not notify the communities impacted, he did not commit a crime. This has resulted in local outrage, with many Catholics calling for O'Brien to resign, and many more contacting VOTF to find out how they can make a difference.

VOTF in Arizona intends to push for the full release of all records associated with the grand jury investigation and a full report from the County Attorney's office. Additionally, the affiliate will request a full audit of the diocese and prepare a statement for the National Council of Bishops this month.

In other news, the VOTF Arizona affiliate has raised funds to send three local SNAP members to the national SNAP conference this month, and has made progress in gaining support of local priests, who are very fearful of negative repercussions from the diocese in aligning themselves with VOTF.

VOTF SE WISCONSIN
Reported by Terry Ryan

Former Congressman Tom Barrett spoke to the VOTF members of the SE Wisconsin Affiliate on May 20th at Gesu parish on Marquette University's campus. Barrett explained pertinent areas of judicial history and legislative history/potential as it relates to clergy sexual abuse. He described two state supreme court cases that have impacted victims' legal rights in the state of Wisconsin. He also offered a possible solution to help obtain justice for past victims: looking at clergy sex abuse as a new cause of action and making that part of the statute retroactive. Barrett especially urged VOTF to persist until they succeed in obtaining justice for victim-survivors.

Legislation to make clergy mandatory reporters and to raise the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases will be introduced in early June. While VOTF supports what legislators are doing for the future, we find it a sad commentary that the Church's position against retroactivity prevents past victims from seeking justice in the court system in our state.

On June 17th VOTF will celebrate the first anniversary of the founding of our affiliate by inviting all victims and supporters to a liturgy of healing for anyone abused physically, sexually, or emotionally. After the liturgy Fr. Michael Crosby, OFMCap, a well-known author and speaker, will address the group on "Reconciliation and VOTF: Is It Possible?"

Our Clergy Support Voice group will meet soon to select someone from the Milwaukee Archdiocese for a local "priest of integrity" award. The presentation of that award will occur during the June 17th gathering.

At the conclusion of our first year as VOTF members, we've been able to look back and feel that we have accomplished quite a bit...although there is much to be done, including membership recruitment for the future. We were the first organization in the Milwaukee Archdiocese to ask a victim-survivor to speak to a group of Catholics in a parish facility, and we recently submitted a letter asking Archbishop Dolan to convoke an archdiocesan synod so that serious issues could be discussed openly and honestly.

Although we have not received a response yet, a second reform group (CTA-Wisconsin) has echoed our call for a synod. We remain hopeful and believe that the Spirit is working in our midst, calling us all to a deeper commitment to our faith and to reforming the church that we love. We are grateful for the blessings we've received by being active members of VOTF, and we thank all of you people in Boston for lighting the fire that started this movement. Peace to all of you!

VOTF Colorado
Reported by Sheila Norris

Communication with our Archbishop: We are awaiting a response to our letter to Archbishop Chaput asking for clarification around some recent, disturbing decisions made. We are not questioning the archbishop's authority to make choices around firing; we are, however, gravely concerned about the lack of justice and compassion exercised in the making of these decisions.

Companions on the Journey Series: Last month's "companion" was a local priest whose faculties were removed and his encardenation process halted without just cause. There is no charge of sexual impropriety or abusive behavior. He is a man of God who has served in many diocesan parishes as a brilliant homilist as well as exercising a vital hospital chaplaincy ministry. There is no process of appeal in the diocese for him to seek recourse in. We are committed to supporting and walking with our brother through this difficult time.

Liturgy of Lamentations and Hope: This service will be held at an inter-faith chapel on June 25. We are creating a simple prayer service where people can voice their pain around their struggles in the Church so that movement toward healing, hope and revitalization is possible.

VOTF Central

VOTF Chicago, Il
Reported by Terry O'Connor

We are pleased to announce that a dozen VOTF Parish organizations have started meeting in the Chicago-land area. They include: Bloomington VOTF-Bloomington/Normal; Chicago VOTF-Chicago-West; Dupage County VOTF of Dupage; Gurnee VOTF at St. Paul the Apostle; Illinois VOTF-Priests of Illinois (confidential/invitation only); Inverness VOTF at Holy Family; Naperville VOTF-Naperville/Lisle; Oak Park VOTF at St. Giles; Oak Park VOTF at St. Edmonds; Palatine VOTF -Parishes of Palatine; River Forest VOTF at St.Luke's; Wheaton VOTF at Religious Education Community.

For more information, visit Chicago-West at www.voiceofthefaithful.org . Please also feel free to contact toc4186@corecomm.net or your local affiliate for any questions you may have on VOTF Chicago-land.

VOTF East

VOTF Northern New Jersey
Reported by Maria Cleary

Well, we certainly got our share of attention in NJ this past month! Archbishop Myers' critical words about Kathleen McChesney ( head of U.S. Bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection) brought over 250 people to hear her speak at our May meeting. Her talk was well-received although it was short on specifics regarding the audit. She promises, however, to come back if we invite her - and we will.

We're thinking bigger these days. Two events are on the calendar for the Fall, and we're excited! On September 27, we will be having a workshop day on the Future of Catholic Ministry in New Jersey, during which we hope to examine the clergy shortage and how our dioceses are preparing for it. On November 15, our East Coast Affiliates are joining forces to put together a major conference at Fordham Prep/University in New York City. Let us know if you'd like to jump on board as we continue in our planning phase.
(Ed. Address questions to your Regional VOTF Leaders via the website at www.votf.org or e-mail to comments@votfnnj.org. Additional info in this issue under Regional Events.)

We sponsored a Thomas Merton retreat, led by Fr. Patrick Collins from Michigan, and we continue to meet on Saturday afternoons for prayer at our little chapel in Whippany. Please know that, at those times, we pray together with all of you, our VOTF brothers and sisters from whose faith and passion we draw our strength. Blessings from the Garden State.

VOTF Brooklyn, NY
Reported by Melissa Gradel

Brooklyn VOTF was very pleased to welcome Anthony Massimini as the guest speaker at our May meeting. Massimini is the author of The New Dance of Christ, Discovering Our Spiritual Self in a New, Evolving World. He attended the first session of the Second Vatican Council, lectures widely on contemporary spirituality and is a frequent advisor to VOTF. Dr. Massimini gave an impassioned talk about the role of the laity, and relationship of the laity and the hierarchy, as defined by Vatican II.

Our membership has grown to 400 in the Diocese and, with the ban lifted (LINK to Consecrated in Truth) June meetings are planned at several parishes!

VOTF Bridgeport, CT
Reported by Joseph F. O'Callaghan

Looking back at the work of our group in the past year, we note some of the work accomplished:

  • Reflection on Lumen Gentium. Despite Bishop Lori's repudiation of the hand we extended to him to help in restoring the good image of the Church, we have done many things. We have studied Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, with particular attention to the first four chapters on The Mystery of the Church; The People of God; The Hierarchical Structure of the Church; and The Laity.

  • Reflection on the Crisis in the Priesthood. We have listened to short presentations on the crisis in the priesthood with particular attention to the issues of celibacy; the aging and the shortage of priests; homosexuality in the priesthood; and the question of women priests.

  • Three Groups reflecting on the Three Goals. Breaking into smaller groups, we have reflected on the three goals of Voice of the Faithful

  • Support for Survivors. We have listened to David Cerulli, Buddy Cotton, Linda Allegretti and representatives of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) and have offered our help to them especially in organizing a Connecticut chapter. The St. Paul Affiliate also hosted a meeting of Survivors First.

  • We continue to reach out to priests of integrity.

  • Incorporation. We have established a Steering Committee or Board of Directors, drawn up a constitution and by-laws and we have incorporated Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport as of February 28, 2003 in order to be a continuous instrument for making our views known. We are awaiting recognition from the federal government as a non-profit tax exempt organization.

  • Voice of Compassion - Bridgeport Fund. We have established the Voice of Compassion - Bridgeport Fund as an alternative means of financial support for the charitable and educational works of the diocese. We do all these things because we, as members of Christ's Body, the Church, are responsible for its well-being.

  • Conference at Fairfield University. Last month we held a conference "Crisis in the Church: A Workshop for the Laity" at Fairfield University. Paul Lakeland who arranged the use of Fairfield's facilities gave us a stimulating discourse in the morning. Two successive panels were held in the afternoon. David Cerulli from SNAP, Peggy Fry, from St. Jude in Monroe, and Eleanor Craig Green of Westport spoke about their experiences of being abused by priests. Jim Butler, and Joe O'Callaghan addressed the question of the parish pastoral council and diocesan pastoral council, respectively, while Mary Jane Range commented on the issue of financial accountability on the parish and diocesan levels. The day closed with a moving liturgy celebrated by Fr. Jim Bowler of the Fairfield community.
We have gained an understanding of the Fear Factor. Over the last eleven or twelve months we have learned a great deal from the presentations and discussions. We have learned about the impact that FEAR has upon the Catholic people and the clergy. Fear of retribution here and now and in the next world has deterred many good people from joining us.

We note a persistent determination to work for the renewal of the Church. Despite the efforts of Bishop Lori and his spokesman, Joseph McAleer, to blacken our reputations and to cast us as not quite orthodox, we are determined to continue our work of renewing and reforming the Church.

(Ed. For a more detailed chronology of the VOTF Bridgeport, Conn. 2002-3 year, please contact the coordinator on the website at www.votf.org under Parish Voices.)

VOTF Winchester, MA
Reported by Bob Morris

On Monday, May 12, our group commemorated its first anniversary (and 45th meeting overall) with an appearance by Father James Keenan, Professor of Moral Theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge. Fr. Keenan spoke about the characteristics of hope - a quality we all need as we continue upon the marathon that we started last year. Fr. Keenan also spoke about his desire for collaboration between VOTF and the Boston Priests' Forum.

On Saturday morning, May 3, our group sponsored "Parish Voices Gathering," a meeting attended by about 60 members of Parish Voice groups in Gloucester, Topsfield, Reading, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Hingham, Westwood, Boston, and other locations from eastern Massachusetts. Mary Ann Keyes, Parish Voice Director for VOTF, was in attendance and spoke to the group. VOTF Vice President Ann Carroll also attended. The series of workshops on issues such as "What Works, What Doesn't", "Dealing with Bannings," and "Membership - Building and Retaining," sparked some lively discussions and a general desire to ensure that this type of sharing and collaboration continues on a regular basis.

On Thursday, May 8, an article in The Boston Globe's NorthWest section focused on our group, as well as groups in Chelmsford and North Andover. The article emphasized that many VOTF members have long been active in the Church as CCD teachers, Eucharistic ministers, members of Parish Councils, etc. The article also highlighted the commitment, dedication and spirit that have been the hallmark of our group, and so many other Parish Voice groups in the Boston area and nationally.

VOTF Northampton/Springfield, MA
Reported by Ann Turner

At our next meeting in early June, our group will meet to discuss "A Genuine Role for the Laity?" - how the laity can participate in the pastoral planning process. The recent diocesan film on forming pastoral councils will be shown, and discussion will focus on how the laity can be active participants in Church governance. We will also explore how VOTF can help promote more lay involvement.

Also on the agenda: Working groups are being formed to focus on the goals of Voice of the Faithful; support of priests, support of victims, and working for structural change.

We are trying to move into a more action-oriented phase of our organization, with working groups forming and having their own separate meetings.

Books for Your Short List

The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church by Paul Lakeland - What have the laity been doing lo these many years? Professor Lakeland offers a unique theological reflection on the state of the laity in a scholarly and readable narrative that moves from "How We Got To Where We Are" to "Where We Go From Here." Lakeland considers the thinking and impact of key theologians on Vatican II and its aftermath and looks closely at the two priesthoods of clergy and of laity. He finds that the present condition of the laity is one of "structural oppression" and considers how this condition might be overcome.

Lakeland's study furthers an understanding of the documents of Vatican II as these pertain to a postmodern age and optimistically illumines prospects for a healthier Church. Professor Lakeland is professor and chair of the Dept. of Religious Studies at Fairfield University, CT (Link to talk in Mass.) He was the keynote speaker at the June 5, 2003 Boston, Mass. conference, "Awakening to the Spirit, Envisioning the Future."

Sacred Silence by Donald Cozzens - The author of the best-selling, award-winner The Changing Face of the Priesthood continues to shatter the silence around Roman Catholicism. In Sacred Silence, Cozzens extends an invitation to understand the Church culture that harbored clergy abuse of children and its cover-up. He observes a feudal Church in anxious struggle with the modern world and dependent on denial, legalism, control and secrecy. His insights rest on "honest, humble dialogue about issues facing the priesthood and the Church itself" without which the very mission of the Church is threatened. Cozzens' own priesthood informs his compassionate voice and adds much-needed depth to an understanding of how best to support this struggling ministry.

The book's dedication also informs - "In memory of Bishops P. Francis Murphy and Raymond A. Lucker. Men of faith and courage who dared to break the silence." Fr. Cozzens is a visiting associate professor of Religious Studies at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio.

Events, Opportunities & News

VOTF National

National Parish Voice has identified four US regions for purposes of affiliate coordination, communication efforts and future regional definitions and representation. These are as follows:

  • WEST - Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii, Alaska
  • CENTRAL - North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
  • SOUTH - Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida
  • EAST - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Rhode Island

Help Wanted - We are in need of reporters to cover various events in the ever-growing VOTF world: national news updates, such as bishop dialogue around the country; events/ talks coverage - upcoming and recaps; Council reporter. No meetings required.

VOTF National Meets with Orthodox Christian Laity
On June 4th, VOTF hosted a meeting with a delegation of board members of the Orthodox Christian Laity. OCL is a membership group dedicated to laity involvement in the life of the Church. VOTF president Jim Post had been working with George Matsoukas, OCL executive director, to shape the agenda for this meeting.

OCL was drawn to VOTF because of the VOTF commitment to justice for survivors and to the advancement of laity participation in the life of the Church. The OCL delegates were warm in their praise of VOTF achievements and encouraging in the feedback they brought from five states (DE, IL, CA, MD, OH, FL).

The theme of the meeting was "grassroots ecumenism." The goals were to explore how laity involvement can be nurtured in the Catholic Church and to draw from each other's experiences in this effort. VOTF and OCL agreed to continue the conversation.

VOTF National in St. Louis, Mo. for USCCB Conference, June 2003 - STEVE COPY

VOTF East

The Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College is offering several courses through its summer program, which might be of particular interest to the members of VOTF. For more information call 617 552-8440 or 800-487-1167, e-mail irepm@bc.edu or visit www.bc.edu/irepm.html. Among the courses being offered is "The Parish as Covenant: A Call to Pastoral Partnership."

Mass of Rededication and Reconsecration, Chestnut Hill, MA - Members and friends of Voice of the Faithful filled St. Ignatius Church in Newton, MA for a liturgy of re-dedication and re-commitment on Tuesday, May 23, 2003. As people entered the church, they were anointed with oil as a sign of their service and commitment to our God and to the healing of our Church. Following the gospel, Fr. Ken Loftus, our presider, opened up the homily to all members of the community inviting thoughts on the readings, the homily and/or the crisis we face as Church. The reflections shared were touching and profound. Adding to the joy and reverence of the liturgy were the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble. St. Ignatius' talented and generous musicians sang beautifully the songs carefully chosen for this service. Together we prayed a common prayer of re-dedication and re-committed ourselves to God and to each other in the great work of bringing about God's reign in our Church and in our world. Sr. Betsy Conway
(Ed. Read the moving reflection by the videographer at this Mass - LINK)

Well-known writer Paul Wilkes is directing "The Boston Pastoral Summit," October 6-8, 2003, at the Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA. This summit will feature a workshop by Jim Post and Voice members on the organization and where it is going; another workshop on "Broken Pastors/Broken Congregations" that will feature Father Walter Cuenin and a Protestant counterpart, each talking about what churches can do to recover from the brokenness of clergy sexual abuse (and other abuse by clergy); a morning gathering, by interest group, that will be devoted to an open forum on VOTF. Additional information as well as preview audios and videos can be accessed through www.pastoralsummit.org.

VOTF Central

Chicago, IL VOTF Action for Renewal/Voice of the Faithful is supporting a series of discussions of interest to Catholics. The second meeting focused on the role of the bishops in the Church crisis. The program, "Journey to Integrity," is ongoing and informal. It is held at St. Thomas Becket Parish Hall, Mt. Prospect. For information about future gatherings, call 847-690-9970. Terry O'Connor

A message to America's bishops: Listen to Yogi
By JAMES E. POST

American bishops probably don't read the scholarly literature in organizational science. But an issue of the distinguished journal Organizational Science titled, "Trust as an Organizing Principle," is a "must read" insofar as it describes "accumulating evidence" of the pivotal role of trust to institutions like the Catholic Church.

Trust generates two types of benefits. It produces direct effects on the performance of individuals and units. High levels of trust enable better communication, negotiation, and personal relations; low levels of trust make organizational life more difficult and costly. Trust also generates indirect effects, creating or enhancing conditions that are conducive to achieving goals. A "high trust" environment is more conducive to achieving success while a "low trust" setting impedes success.

The Catholic Church has become a "low trust" environment and provokes the most serious, pressing questions. We all want to know:

  • Have all the "secrets" have been discovered and revealed?
  • Can we believe that new child protection policies will be vigorously implemented?
  • Can we trust our bishop?

I recently asked a group of 200 parishioners if they believed we had "hit bottom" regarding news of pedophile priests and church cover-up. The answer was a resounding "No!" Many believe there are more secrets to be revealed. We do not believe that our bishops have "told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." We do not trust them. How can it be otherwise?

Trusting another person is a "leap of faith" that involves a risk. In today's church, that is a difficult leap for many to take. There is a profound -- and lingering -- sense of betrayal. A recent Gallup poll shows the precipitous decline in public confidence in bishops. How can it be otherwise?

The costs of distrust are high to individuals and institutions. Expectations must be verified, often at great cost, creating a constant game of testing one another. (Recall Ronald Reagan's famous comment on Soviet disarmament, "Trust -- but verify.") And there are emotional and psychological costs -- anxiety and frustration replace confidence and assurance. All of this is at work in today's Catholic Church.

Organizational science recommends that administrators employ a form of "open book management" to build trust. John Case, a successful business writer, has written that open book management is reducible to one big axiom: Treat people like adults. This is good advice for Catholic bishops.

American laity are among the best educated in the history of the world. The refusal of some bishops to engage in a dialogue with the laity is self-defeating. And the continued failure of some bishops to disclose financial information is absurd and damaging. A large number of Catholic lay women and men are business professionals with the aptitude -- and desire -- to read and understand financial materials. Public audits of parishes and diocesan financial affairs are essential to restoration of trust and confidence.

As long as Catholic laity are treated as second-class citizens by bishops, the trust gap will widen. As that oft-quoted wise man, Yogi Berra, said, "If you do what you've always done, you're gonna' get what you always got." This, too, is good advice for bishops.

The administration of the American Catholic church has failed miserably. Performance is lagging in every significant area: Regular attendance is down; donations are down; the morale of priests is down; the spiritual state of the laity is in disarray; many young people are leaving the church or viewing it as irrelevant to their lives. If America's bishops were chief executives of publicly held companies, many would be out of a job.

The bishops are facing a yawning "trust gap" between expectations and performance. Leaders cannot lead if followers will not follow. Restoring trust among the laity, priests and bishops is essential. When the history of the Catholic Church in the 21st century is written, historians will rightly look at the role of trust as the keystone to all that follows.

"Bishops," we plead, "listen to Yogi!"

This article appeared in National Catholic Reporter, May 23, 2003. It is reprinted with permission, National Catholic Reporter (www.NCRonline.org)

Consecrated in Truth
No Longer Banned In Brooklyn

Reported by Melissa Gradel, Regional Coordinator, VOTF Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn is the first Diocese in the country where VOTF meetings were banned on church property and then permitted. Many have asked how we succeeded in persuading Bishop Daily to change his mind, and what might be learned from our experience.

The six months that VOTF meetings were banned from parishes and other diocesan property was a painful period for us. We were angry, but didn't know how to make ourselves heard. Relationships with pastors were strained. Some of us felt like pariahs in our own parishes. Sometimes we were uncertain if our actions were wise, or if we would do more harm than good.

Fortunately, Bishop Daily established a committee of representatives of the Diocese to meet with local VOTF leaders, and ultimately, on their advice, reversed his decision. A priest I know says this is the first time he has ever heard of a bishop changing his position on anything as a result of consultation with the laity. How did this happen? What could possibly have brought about this change?

I have shared thoughts about how we prepared for the meetings, what we did, and what we thought worked with some of the other VOTF leaders and those dealing with various situations with their bishops. Perhaps our experiences will be helpful to them, but each situation is different because each bishop is different - and the VOTF members are different, too. But I think the main reason we succeeded here in Brooklyn is the same reason that VOTF is becoming such a powerful force in the American Church: we told the truth.

To be sure, we were very fortunate that Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Catanello and the others on the diocesan committee were willing to listen to us. Without that willingness, we could have done nothing. But once we were able to sit down with them, we tried as best we could to tell the truth.

The first meeting, held in late January, began with prayer. This was followed by a round of introductions in which each person spoke about why they were participating in the meeting. It was like a "listening session." Each person spoke of his or her love of the Church, and feelings of sadness, anger, shame, heartbreak over the prior year. There were eleven people - five on the diocesan committee and six local VOTF leaders - and each spoke 5 to 10 minutes. It took a long time, but it turned out to be key. It established common ground: we are all Catholics; we are all outraged and revolted by the abuse of children; we are all mystified and angry about the apparent cover up of these crimes by some bishops; we are all concerned about due process for accused priests; we all want to help the Church heal.

Then, we answered their questions. We told the diocesan committee about VOTF. We told them what we were concerned about in our diocese and what we hoped to accomplish. And they believed us.

Bishop Daily's April 29 letter, explaining to priests and deacons of the diocese that he had decided to permit VOTF meetings, acknowledges the need for new forms of collaboration between laity and clergy. Although the ban should never have been imposed in the first place, I believe this incident gave us an opportunity to model those new forms of collaboration.

They say it takes two to tango, and those in unhappy relationships are often advised to try changing their own behavior, rather than wishing (or demanding) that their partner change. We cannot change the hierarchy by force, but we are in relationship with them, so we can change our own stance toward them. We must overcome our own fear. We must confront injustice with truth. We must not be silenced. We must raise questions. We must speak from the truth of our own lives. Perhaps the structural change we seek will start - has already started - in our hearts. And as we change, sometimes a bishop will surprise us by changing in response.

These words leapt out at me from the Gospel last Sunday:

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth
As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
(John 17:17-19)

If we have the courage to keep telling the truth, we will change the church and keep the faith.

(VOTF Brooklyn, NY is happy to answer any questions others might have about bishop dialogue at mgradel@votf.org.)

Letters to the Editor

"After much soul searching, and after years of my abuse as a child by 2 priests (at several different times), I have decided to leave the Catholic Church, once unthinkable but now most reasonable. I had some hope for change as this disgusting reality became more and more extensive, but I will no longer belong to a Christian organization that preaches the love of Jesus Christ on the one hand, and then not only allows but fosters continued sexual abuse of children (by reassignment and denial) on the other.

At first I thought I could accommodate myself to the inconsistencies and lies of the clergy and just keep on with my faith. Then I realized a faith promoted by evil men can not be true faith. Thus, here's my resignation.

I am amazed and disappointed by the numbers of American Catholics who continue to drop their envelopes in the baskets every week after the orgy of sexual abuse by Catholic priests around the world has received so much attention. I decided I will not be a sheep, following the orders of the good fathers as my immigrant parents did. I have total control over my belief system, and my personal salvation. The Roman Catholic Church plays no part in either.

I see little hope in the Roman Catholic Church for its good and honest practitioners who must crave the day when they can pray at mass without having to ignore the criminal and immoral activities of their ordained priests.

I have found community and familiar, comfortable ritual in the Episcopal Church, and, lo and behold, discovered that more that 20% of that church's new members in the last 18 months are former Roman Catholics.

Lastly, if you believe that any single male member of the hierarchy will ever give up the control and the power they have given themselves through the centuries, you are completely ignorant of not only human nature, but also of the degree of greed and denial these power mongers are capable of. The most you can hope for are crumbs. History has proven that.

You can bet that should these child abuse crimes have been as rife in any other religion, Roman Catholics would shake their heads and blame the problem on the belief system and practices of these religions. How come no one is doing that when it comes to RC?

Power. This is what the Church has built over centuries, and which they will not give up, no matter how vocal your group is. The only way to change the organization is to stay away in droves, and let the envelopes be returned to the parishes empty."
Brendan Gunning

"After attending Mass yesterday, and listening to the homily, it occurred to me that one way to reach all church leaders' attention quickly and abruptly is this: On a particular Saturday/Sunday, all Catholics in America who give donations of money should withhold their hard earned gifts. This should be a concerted and timed withholding of funds. Perhaps the "powers" would then come to believe that change is necessary."
Roberta Monson

"Just read Jim Post's article in the National Catholic Reporter (link). Kudos for a brave President!!

Enjoyed the May Newsletter! Lots of good work going on. I am humbled to be part of this wonderful organization. Svea Fraser's account of her trip to Australia was most interesting and certainly has had an impact.

Two weeks ago I attended the meeting of the VOTF in Sidney at the Saanich Peninsula Parish. The meeting was attended by 24 people. They now have a coordinator, Els Welle. The Saanich Peninsula Parish includes Our Lady of Assumption as well as St. Elizabeth's Church.

There were 24 in attendance. The work at hand is to be involved in the selection process of a new pastor upon the retirement of Father Jack next year. Apparently the bishop has agreed to meet with VOTF to discuss viable candidates for this parish.

There was a good discussion and plenty of information about VOTF. It was decided that the group would obtain copies of the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity as a start to further discussion and meetings. I was asked to close the meeting with a prayer. My eyes fell upon Jim Post's final words to St. Ignatius' Parish and so I read them. They all loved the image of a smile on Jesus' face. Father Jack had just presented the VOTF with a picture of the laughing Jesus, now located with announcements of VOTF activities in the church foyer."
Mary Ann Gervais

I NEVER EXPECTED TO FEEL THIS WAY

Like most people born on the North Shore, I grew up Catholic. Seven years in Catholic school, church on Sunday, confession, plaid skirt, knee-highs, and visions of being the May Queen. My grandmother prayed three rosaries a day and believed French kissing was a sin. Catholic School repressed my individuality. Sr. Agnes disapproved of my red shoes, purple lip gloss, and certainly when I rolled my knee-highs down to my ankles alien-style. Sr. Hiltruda informed me that I was a "freak of nature" followed by "I don't like you, but I love you." In those seven years, Fr. MacLaughlin never said a word to me outside the confession box. I actually believed God reserved a spot in hell for me because I shared my communion with a girl who hadn't made her First Holy Communion yet. Church bored me beyond belief and I hummed the hymns in my head to pass the time. Being Catholic did not support me as a child and I remain bitter. When I graduated from parochial school in 8th grade, I packed away my rosary beads and kissed Catholicism good-bye. Since then, I've evolved from a uniformed girl in knee-highs to a spiritual urban hipster who embraces all of humanity (if I do say so myself).

I came to the Mass of Rededication to work. I'm a videographer and was hired to record the Mass. For the past year now, I've been recording and editing footage from different events in response to the crisis, including the Solidarity March shown at the first VOTF conference. I recently committed myself to producing a full length documentary on the crisis, a project I hope will be an instrument of healing for survivors, hurt Catholics and anyone who has been affected by what has happened. Recording the Mass of Rededication was not part of the documentary, although I was very interested in witnessing the event.

I did not intend nor want to work on this documentary. I was hired multiple times for small projects. Obviously, the subject matter is of great importance and I felt honored to be given the opportunity - more importantly, the trust. But there was the whole "Catholic" thing, the bad taste in my mouth, the salt in my wounds, the "common" folk sitting in rows while one big important male preached from the front. And where was the voice of the children?

Over the course of this year, I softened. I began to feel connected, compassionate, and committed. The words of one survivor will change you forever - that's what happened to me (and it wasn't just one survivor, it was many). I know how much being Catholic hurt me as a child and my trite complaints are pale in the shadow of what survivors have endured. Also, I couldn't believe the number of Catholics devoting incredible amounts of time and energy to supporting survivors. Catholics who were not victimized and who did not have family members who were victimized - Catholics who were simply ordinary people committed to creating extraordinary changes.

It became obvious that the events I had been documenting would weave into a story that could benefit many people. Since I began working on this documentary, my life has been graced with many gifts and opportunities. In a few short months, I had support from advocates and survivors, donated office space, approval from the Center for Independent Documentary, and three incredible interns. I knew from the events unfolding I made the right decision and that spirit flowed through me, but I felt something was missing. In my 29 years, I've never once felt devoid of spirituality, but when I kissed the Church good-bye, I must have left Jesus behind too because that's what was missing.

How could I possibly be working on a documentary about the clergy sexual abuse scandal without connecting with Jesus?

Reluctantly, I included Jesus in my prayers for the first time of my own volition and not because it was what I was supposed to do. I prayed to Jesus because I wanted to and believe me when I tell you that it was not easy. It's even harder to share it with you now. I prayed to feel the love of Christ within me and that my work would be an instrument of His will. I prayed that I use my will with a clear intent for the benefit of everyone concerned.

The connection began on Good Friday. Again, I was working, this time on the documentary. While I was recording the Stations of the Cross at the Chancery, I began to feel heavy, tired, emotional, and even tearful. I went home and cried. I spent the rest of the day in a quiet solitude. I called a friend who is also a teacher and asked how I could connect with Jesus. She told me to pray.

While I was recording the Mass of Rededication, I began to feel a beautiful energy within the room. I was resistant to this feeling because I still do not like church. When I pray in a group, I prefer sitting in a circle. I began to accept that everyone in the church was there because they wanted to be there, they believed in the importance of their actions, and they share a vision for the future. Someone wept and a wave of emotion flowed through me. I was no longer just working. I was part of something much greater than me and I could feel this very clearly. I felt Jesus in the room with all of us and I was grateful. I received communion for the first time in over ten years.

My prayer now is to integrate a relationship with Jesus into my daily walk and my work, to join my walk with my work. I'm honored to be part of this transformation, to contribute in what I hope is a meaningful way, and I thank all of you for your continued efforts.