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

For Immediate Release

Justice for Survivors and Financial Accountability

June 19, 2007 - The lay Catholic reform group Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) has sent a letter to each U.S. Catholic bishops in anticipation of their Spring Retreat in Albuquerque NM, June 20- 22. The letter calls upon the bishops to use their retreat time to consider how they may deal with two of the most vital issues confronting the U.S. Catholic Church today: justice for survivors of clergy sexual abuse and financial accountability. Specifically the letter calls on the bishops to “join us in supporting the following measures:

1. Protection of our children by strengthening our laws by extending the statutes of limitations so that victims have an opportunity to seek justice.
2. A national database of the names and places of service of priests and other Church personnel credibly accused of abusing a child, so that other victims might come forward and other pedophiles exposed.
3. Financial accountability and transparency in all areas of parish and diocesan finances including effective, collaborative finance councils at both levels.”

“We are asking the bishops to utilize their retreat time to examine their consciences and to exert their leadership to obtain justice for survivors of clerical sexual abuse - the protection of our children depends on laws that will confront abusers, not shield them. We are also calling on them to restore the laity’s confidence in the way the Church handles its financial affairs,” said Mary Pat Fox, President of Voice of the Faithful. Fox noted the recent Villanova University survey revealing that 85% of the dioceses participating had reported at least one case of embezzlement over the past 5 years.

Ms. Fox stated: “there continues to be survivors coming forward and priests being accused every month as well as clear indications of financial problems across the country. We should ‘come clean’ and get these issues behind us so that we all can get back to the work of the church.”

• Internal Financial Controls in the U.S. Catholic Church (PDF)
• Copy of letter sent to each bishop

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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.For more info www.votf.org or call John Moynihan, (617) 558-5252.