Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org ,(617) 680-2131

For Immediate Release

Voice of the Faithful Chooses Gumbleton
For “Priest of Integrity” Award

Februrary 20, 2007 - Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) will present its “Priest of Integrity Award” to Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit on Saturday, February 24 at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington D.C. The award will be presented by Mary Pat Fox, VOTF president, in recognition of Bishop Gumbleton’s prophetic voice in speaking out for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. The Bishop has also advocated a greater voice for the laity in the affairs of the Church. In January 2006 Bishop Gumbleton made nationwide headlines when he revealed that he had been sexually abused by a priest while a young seminarian. The next day he testified before the Ohio legislature in support of extending the Statute of Limitations for child sex abuse crimes.

The event, sponsored by the Washington, DC area VOTF at Holy Trinity affiliate, will begin with Mass at 9:00 a.m. Bishop Gumbleton will preside.

The award presentation will take place following Mass. Bishop Gumbleton will then deliver a talk entitled “Becoming Adult Catholics.” Fr. Thomas Doyle O.P., the inaugural recipient of the VOTF Priest of Integrity award in 2002, will join Bishop Gumbleton. This award is the highest tribute that Voice of the Faithful presents to members of the clergy. “We are delighted to be able to honor Bishop Gumbleton in this way,” said Bob Stewart, co-chair of VOTF at Holy Trinity. “For many years he has been a hero to millions of lay Catholics for his outspoken views on peace, tolerance of homosexuality, lay participation in the Church and more recently on behalf of survivors of clergy sexual abuse. I am sure his talk will be a stirring challenge to our members.”

For additional information, contact Bob Stewart at (703) 803-6297 or GRobertStewart@aol.com
The Washington Plaza Hotel is located at 10 Thomas Circle, NW (14th & M Streets / Massachusetts Ave.) Washington DC 2005
Admission is free.

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About Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) VOTF is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The group’s mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. Its goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching. VOTF has over 35,000 members in all 50 States and 37 foreign countries.