News from National
Voice of the Faithful® 10th Anniversary Conference
2012 marks a significant milestone for Voice of the Faithful® members, volunteers and supporters, who have been working for 10 years to Keep the Faith, Change the Church. To help mark our decade-long commitment, we are gathering this September for a 10th Year Conference. Join us to Celebrate our mission, Rejuvenate our commitment and Accelerate our work.
The conference takes place Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15, 2012, at the Marriott Boston Copley Place Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Click here now for information and to register.
Interested in seeing the Agenda? Click HERE
Conspiracy Memo in Priests’ Case “Shocking”
A newly discovered memo proves Philadelphia archdiocesan officials engaged in a conspiracy to cover up clergy sexual abuse in 1994. The memo also proves VOTF’s long-held contention that Church hierarchy have covered up clergy sexual abuse to protect the Church’s reputation and assets at the expense of child victims.
Read VOTF’s full statement here...
Irish Christian Brothers Abuse Victims Can File Claims Only until Aug. 1, 2012
The Irish Christian Brothers face hundreds of law suits resulting from thousands of allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children. With headquarters in New York, ICB filed for bankruptcy there last year. The court ruling set a deadline of Aug. 1, 2012, for anyone abused by a Christian Brother or at a Christian Brother school to file claims against the order. After this Aug. 1, survivors no longer will be able to hold ICB accountable for perpetrating, facilitating or covering up child abuse. You can read the court order here and click here for a list of ICB schools.
Voice of the Faithful Focus,
March 9, 2012
Highlighting issues we face working together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church.
Vatican Overrides Bishop on 13 Cleveland Church Closings
In a rare instance, the Vatican has reversed a U.S. bishop and taken the extraordinary step of overruling the closing of 13 parishes by the Cleveland Diocese.
-- FutureChurch’s Statement on Vatican’s Decisions
The Archbishop of Dublin Candidly Speaks Out
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland, spoke out on American television’s 60 Minutes with candid remarks on the sexual abuse crisis in Ireland. The crisis is not over and will never be over, Martin said, as we must never give up being diligent about protecting our children. He was clearly moved when talking about meeting 8-year-olds and realizing they were the age of many children who suffered abuse.
-- Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes (Click on Video or Script)
-- Catholic Church at ‘Breaking Point’ over Abuse
Maryknoll Votes on Bourgeois' Dismissal from Order
Priest says general council split on decision
The leadership of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers has voted on whether they will dismiss Fr. Roy Bourgeois, a longtime peace activist who has come under scrutiny for his support of women's ordination, from the order. While the outcome and timing of the vote is unclear, the order's communications manager confirmed with NCR on Wednesday it had taken place; hence the next chapter in a very sad story.
SNAP Leader’s Deposition Made Public
The transcript of the court ordered deposition of the director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) reveals that attorneys defending clergy accused of abuse cast a wide net in their inquiries, seeking information about how the group handles phone calls with clergy sex abuse victims to how it files its tax returns. David Clohessy, SNAP Executive Director, continues to be interrogated
Philadelphia’s Clerical Culture is Deeply Troubling, Led by Archbishop Anthony J. Bevilacqua
Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua, in an attempt to cover up suspected predator priests, is alleged to have destroyed a list identifying them in 1994, demonstrating a tightly wound clerical culture unparalleled in this country. The Philadelphia cover-up is a major case of sexual abuse which appears to becoming even more intricate as time goes on.
-- Inquirer Editorial: Couldn’t Shred the Truth
-- 12 Jurors Seated for Landmark Catholic Priest Abuse-Child Endangerment Trial in Philly
-- A Deep Look into Philly’s Clerical Culture
-- Judge in Priests Case Won’t dismiss Case against Lynn
-- Monsignor: Philly Cardinal Shredded Abuse List
-- Philadelphia Priest Says Cardinal Ordered Abuse List Shredded
-- Pennsylvania Priest Faces Trial on Child Abuse Cover-up
-- Judgment Day Is Approaching for Archdiocese’s Facilitator’s & Enablers
-- Pushing the Limit: Examining the Legislative Battle over Statute of Limitations in Sex Abuse Cases
Read the rest of this issue of Focus here…
Affiliate Leaders Take Note!
Looking for ideas for affiliate meetings, discussions, etc.? Boston College's website for the Church in the 21st Century: www.bc.edu/c21 is a great resource. You can subscribe (free of charge) to their semi-annual magazine which is full of great articles. Church21 sponsors many excellent speakers each year and you will find both podcasts and webcasts of their talks on their website. If you see one that you would like to use at a meeting, you can contact the Center and request a DVD.
The mission of Church21 is to be a catalyst and resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church in the United States. It was formed in 2002 in reaction the Church sex abuse crisis.
The Church in the 21st Century Center focuses on four major areas:
The Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Calendar
North Shore –Seacoast
ADULT EDUCATION AND FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM
Reverend John Baldovin, S.J., Ph.D., Professor of Historical and Liturgical Theology at Boston College, will speak on the topic, Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy, at St. Mary’s High School, Connell Center, 35 Tremont Street, Lynn,MA on Sunday, March 11, 2012 from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. This lecture is one in a series of presentations sponsored by the North Shore – Seacoast Affiliate of Voice of the Faithful in collaboration with Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Father Baldovin will discuss how the main lines of the liturgical reform and renewal marked by the Second Vatican Council have or have not been implemented and address how they are in peril today. Prior to Father Baldovin’s presentation, attendees are asked to reflect upon their observations about the liturgical changes that were implemented in Advent 2011.
Suggestions for further reading:
Baldovin, John F., S.J., Bread of Life, Cup of Salvation: Understanding the Mass, (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2003)
_______Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics, (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2008)
Reverend John F. Baldovin, S.J., received his Ph. D. in Religious Studies from Yale University in 1982. He has served as Advisor to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy, was a member of the Advisory Committee of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, and was a member of the Council of Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission. He was President of the North American Academy of Liturgy (1990 –1991), of the Societas Liturgica (1999 – 2001), and of the International Jungmann Society for Jesuits and the Liturgy (2009 -2010). Father Baldovin serves on the Board of Trustees of The College of the Holy Cross and of Fairfield University. Father Baldovin has published and lectured widely. His previous appearances in the VOTF Faith Formation Series were very well received.
If you have any question or would like more information regarding Voice of the Faithful or the Faith Formation Program, please contact Eleanora Paciulan at 978 462-4882.
Paulist Center in Boston
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, author of the acclaimed Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church who served for seven years addressing clergy sex abuse in Australia, speaks Sunday, March 25, after the 6 p.m. Mass, on the topic "Challenge to People of Faith: How Does One Reconcile Disagreement With the Institution and Remain Catholic?" For details, print the flyer
Both events are at the Paulist Center, 5 Park Street, Boston MA 02108. Both are free (good-will donations are requested).
Chicago Event
Bishop Geoffrey James Robinson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sydney, Australia, will be giving a talk titled “Where are We Now? Religion in the 21st Century” on Wednesday, March 28 in Chicago Illinois. For details, http://votf.org/vineyard/March9_2012/now.html
Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport proudly announces its 10th annual conference on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Fairfield University's Oak Room. The conference, entitled "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church", features Bishop Geoffrey Robinson of Australia as keynote speaker. His topic is "Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus". Co-sponsored by Fairfield University Center for Catholic Studies, the conference will open at 8:30 am for registration, called to order at 9 am and close at 1:00 pm. The cost is $35, which includes brunch. Reservations may be made by sending a check made out to "VOTF March 24 Conference". Please include your name, address, and email, and send to:
VOTF- Bridgeport, 191 C Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840.
For further information, please see our website, <www.votfbpt.org>, or call Jamie Dance at 203-801-9532.
SNAP in Worcester
A SNAP monthly support group meeting is starting in Worcester, MA. These meetings are open to survivors, family members and supporters. These meetings are a safe and confidential place for survivors to share their feelings and experiences.
The meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month beginning on April 26. Meeting time is 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Comfort Inn. For details you can contact Dave O'Regan at 434-446-6769 or worcestersnap@gmail.com
Questions, Comments?
Please send them to Siobhan Carroll, Vineyard Editor at Vineyard@votf.org. Unless otherwise indicated, I will assume comments can be published as Letters to the Editor. |
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