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

For Immediate Release

Voice of the Faithful hopes new cardinals’ experiences will increase Vatican’s attention to sexual abuse crisis

February 22, 2006 -Newton, MA - Voice of the Faithful will continue to pray for the Church in the United States and specifically for Archbishop William Levada (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and former Archbishop of San Francisco and also Portland) and Archbishop Sean O’Malley in their new roles as cardinals. Both Archbishops have been at ground zero in the clergy sexual abuse crisis and other pressing issues in the Catholic Church in the United States. Our hope is that their extensive knowledge of the ongoing sexual abuse scandal will be put to good use as survivors of abuse continue to seek justice, accused priests continue to await news of their status and laity continue to seek a more active role in the governance and guidance of our Church.

The naming of Archbishops Levada and O'Malley to the College of Cardinals should be understood as something more than rewards for past service or loyalty. These archbishops have each made important contributions to the Church's response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Archbishop O'Malley found a way to settle the claims of more than 500 victims of abuse in Boston. Archbishop Levada settled dozens of cases in California before assuming his current position as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2005. (In this role, he is entrusted with reviewing the hundreds of cases pending against accused priests.) But they have also caused rifts in their archdioceses over the handling of the revelations of abuse and the subsequent cover up. Financial accountability remains elusive as Catholics face parish closings in Boston and bankruptcy in Portland. Clearly there is much more work to be done in their former and current dioceses and in the Church overall.

The Church needs moral leadership from all of its bishops, including these newly named Cardinals. The clergy sexual abuse scandal remains the most fundamental threat to the moral integrity of the Catholic Church in these times. With elevation to the College of Cardinals Archbishops Levada and O’Malley will have even greater influence in Rome. Voice of the Faithful will watch the actions of the new Cardinals with great attention. We pray that these two additional voices from the Catholic Church in the United States will bring Vatican vigor and focus to the ongoing crisis. To whom much is given, much is expected.

With regard to the future Cardinal O’Malley, Sheila Connors Grove, a member of the Steering Committee of the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful (BAVOTF) stated: “ The BAVOTF will pray for our new Cardinal. We will pray that in his expanded role he will be the humble shepherd that our Archdiocese needs during these difficult times. We need to be listened to, understood and involved for we are totally committed to the future of our church and have much to offer our new Cardinal.”

//end

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.