Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org, (617) 558-5252, (617) 680-2131 cell

For Immediate release

VOTF Marks Anniversary of Cardinal Law’s Resignation with Vigil

December 13, 2007 - On January 6, 2002 The Boston Globe published the first of its Pulitzer Prize winning articles on the clergy abuse scandal in Boston. This was the beginning of a crisis that rocked the Catholic Church all over the world. On December 13, 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned in disgrace as a result of his involvement in the scandal and his long standing practice of cover up and enabling of abuser priests. Today Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) will mark that event by joining with members of SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) in reading the list of 205 Boston area priests and members of religious communities who were credibly identified as sex abusers by the organization Bishopaccountability.org at a vigil in front of Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

“This event marks the fifth year anniversary of the resignation of Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law and highlights the fact that virtually none of the hundreds of church officials all over this country who covered up child sex crimes have been held accountable in any way”, said Robert Ott, President of the Boston Area Voice of the Faithful Council. “Despite Cardinal Law's resignation, and the suspension of hundreds of accused abusive clerics, VOTF leaders are convinced that considerable pain remains to be ameliorated and extensive work needs to be done to both protect the vulnerable and heal the wounded, inside and outside the Catholic Church. This crisis is far from over. We urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered child molestation to speak up, get help and call police”, said Ott.

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Source: http://bishop-accountability.org/member/psearch.jsp

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John Moynihan (617) 558-5252, (617) 680 2131 ©

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.