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

For Immediate Release

VOTF President Addresses
Catholic U. Conference on
Catholic Church In America: 2006

September 21, 2006

Mary Pat Fox, President of Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), was a featured speaker at “The Catholic Church In America: 2006”, a two day conference sponsored by the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Ms. Fox was part of a panel entitled “The New Momentum” who’s other participants included Rev. Paul Sullins (Catholic U), Frank Butler (FADICA), Alejandro-Aguilar-Titus (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs), Russell Shaw (Opus Dei) and Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete (Communion & Liberation).

Fox explained the origins of VOTF: how it formed in response to the clergy abuse scandal in 2002 and quickly grew from 25 people in a church basement to a worldwide movement. “As an organization we are growing, we have more members in every region of the US than we did just 6 months ago and we are also active in Australia, Ireland, and Canada. Today we have 35,000 members and over 120 active affiliates.” She also spoke of the deep involvement that VOTF members have in Church affairs. Citing a nationwide study of VOTF membership, Fox said: “greater than 70% (of VOTF members) attended Catholic Grammar School, 60% Catholic High School and greater than 50% also attended Catholic College. About 25% have degrees in theology, canon law or scriptures. Most of us are lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, on parish councils, or teach CCD. And when asked how important the Catholic Church is to us personally 61% answered that it is the most or one of the most important parts of our lives.”

Ms. Fox explained: “VOTF is an organization that wants to make change happen. We currently have 2 Accountability Now campaigns under way. We are working for financial accountability at the parish and diocesan level in most cases we are really only asking for the USCCB guidelines to be implemented. In addition, we are looking to protect children by working to change legislation at the state level to hold abusers and their enablers accountable for their crimes.” She went on to say that “the laity must re-examine our role and take on greater responsibility in the governance and guidance of the Church. Our Church must be a loving community where together the laity and clergy can find spiritual, emotional, and intellectual nourishment. We want this for ourselves and we want this for future generations.”

In closing Ms. Fox stated: “Many people ask me what my vision for the long term is once the laity has a voice in the guidance and governance of the Church. I do have a picture in my mind. I see Vatican III where we are all in St. Peters Basilica: Bishops, Cardinals, Clergy and Laity – men and women who have been participating in the guidance and governance of the Church all working together with a goal of truth, peace and communion.”

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To read Ms. Fox’s entire talk click here.

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