Contact: Suzanne Morse 617-680-2131, smorse@votf.org

For Immediate Release

Voice of the Faithful Leaders Respond to Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s Request to Join Constitutional Challenge against California Law

July 2, 2004 – Newton, MA and Los Angeles, CA – “Cardinal Mahony’s priorities are crystal clear. By joining in the Davenport, Iowa suit and embracing a corporate response, the Cardinal is placing himself squarely in the path of any real attempt to resolve or heal any of the terrible wounds caused by a few priests and over two thirds of our nation’s Bishops. The result of this is that the archdiocese of Los Angeles is again re-victimizing the survivors of clerical sexual abuse,” said Mary Jane McGraw, regional coordinator for Voice of the Faithful – Southern California.

“This further manipulation of the justice system only serves to display again a failure of pastoral leadership from Cardinal Mahony and those who serve at his behest, including his attorneys and his public relations firm. They have turned a deaf ear to the multiple cries for help that echo over the centuries. The time has come for everyday Catholics to say ‘ENOUGH.’ The stones are truly beginning to cry out in reply and response to the horrible arrogant silence of our bishops,” said McGraw.

“Children have not been safe in the Catholic Church and our Church continues to refuse to truly address this issue transparently. This most recent legal tactic proves that working with the survivor community and implementing child safety programs are still not the primary concern of the Cardinal. This legal challenge reflects a consistent pattern that Cardinal Mahony is chiefly concerned with concealing the truth regarding his knowledge of this crisis, including his stonewalling of the Grand Jury. Justice demands respectful treatment of those abused but also the release of files including the dates and names of parishes served by credibly accused priests. All good citizens of Los Angeles, including faithful Catholics, must demand justice for all who have been injured by these horrible crimes committed against the most vulnerable in our community,” McGraw said.

“The actions of Cardinal Mahony and the archdiocese of Los Angeles are of grave concern to all Catholics and people of good will in this country,” said Steve Krueger, executive director of Voice of the Faithful. “For a Church still struggling to regain the trust of people and for an archdiocese with this kind of prominence, this action is a self-defeating one if the Church ever wishes to tell the truth and to restore trust in order to bring about healing.”

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About Voice of the Faithful: Voice of the Faithful (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 victim/survivors of abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching. VOTF’s supporting membership exceeds 30,000 registered persons from 50 U.S. states, 39 countries and 203 Parish Voice affiliates throughout the world.