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Voice
of the Faithful Focus – A brief update
highlighting both a problem in our church and
some progress being made as we work together to Keep
the Faith, Change the Church.
PROBLEM: Joseph
Smith, the former chief financial officer of the Diocese
of Cleveland (OH) was
recently indicted
for receiving $784,000 in kick backs during his term
in office. The kick backs were related to his allegedly
steering $17.5 million in diocesan business to Anton
Zgoznik, a former diocesan employee who had worked
under Smith as assistant treasurer. Rumors of Smith’s
improprieties surfaced in 2004 when he resigned only
to reappear in the same position with the Diocese of
Columbus (OH). Press reports have alleged that former
Bishop Pilla both knew of the kick back scheme and
recommended Smith to the Columbus position. The time
for accountability is now! Click
here to learn more
about our Campaign for Financial Accountability.
PROGRESS: Recently leaders of the Boston
Area VOTF Council, representing 30 affiliates, met with
Cardinal
Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston along
with other archdiocesan officials. Agenda items discussed
included the pending statutes of limitations bills
(since passed and awaiting the governors signature),
a diocese-wide registry of abusers, the ban on meeting
on church property, the on-going work between the archdiocese
and VOTF’s Protecting Our Children working group
and the potential for collaboration in other areas.
The VOTF leaders were optimistic that the meeting could
be the beginning of a collaboration around solutions
to bring all Catholics together; hierarchy, clergy,
and laity, in the pursuit of the mission of the church. "Our
common bond is Jesus Christ. Our common work is the
continuation of His mission. With that in mind, we
hope to build a relationship of mutual trust," according
to Dorothy Kennedy, President of the Boston Area Voice
of the Faithful Council. "We had an honest exchange
of views about issues that concern us." To learn
more about what VOTF is doing in your diocese Click
here to contact a VOTF member in your area.
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