| 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: Another
Catholic priest has been deemed credibly accused after
an internal church investigation.
The Archdiocese
of Chicago removed Rev. Robert Stepek from St. Albert
the Great Catholic Church in Burbank IL on Saturday
after finding the allegations of sexual abuse of two
former altar boys during the 1980s were credible. Unfortunately,
criminal charges cannot be filed because Illinois’ three
year statute of limitations law has long since expired.
Click
here for more information on this case.
Click
here to get more involved in our Protect Our
Children effort
to reform these antiquated sexual abuse laws and ensure
justice for survivors.
Progress: Nearly
8,000 voices have been added to our recent call for
Accountability within Our
Catholic Church.
Thank you to all that responded. The petitions will
be delivered at the upcoming meeting of the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore, MD. Sometime early
next week, during the USCCB meeting, a vote will be
held to release one-third of the funds allocated by
the bishops to study the causes of clergy sexual abuse
of minors in the States. We encourage you to contact
your local bishop today and ask him to, at the minimum,
vote in favor of the release of these initial funds.
You can find your bishop’s contact information
at the USCCB website.
For more information on the Causes and Context study
and this vote click here.
Learn how you can get more involved in the Campaign
for Accountability at our website.
Look for the next Vineyard edition to be sent on November
16. |
