VOTF CONCLUDES FIRST MEETING WITH CARDINAL LAW

Boston, Mass., November 26, 2002 - Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), a group of over 25,000 mainstream lay Catholics formed in response to the Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse scandal, today held its first face-to-face meeting Cardinal Bernard Law. Although the dialogue was cordial, no decisions were made regarding the Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund and the lifting of bans on the group from meeting on Church property.

Attending today’s meeting were VOTF president Jim Post, vice president Bill Cadigan, interim executive director Steve Krueger, and Mary Scanlon Calcaterra of VOTF’s Committee to Support Survivors. Accompanying Cardinal Law were Bishop Walter Edyvean, Reverend Mark O’Connell and Reverend John Connelly.

Commenting on the meeting, VOTF president Post said, “Our discussion was a frank and candid exchange of views - we have taken the first step. The Cardinal noted our good work with survivors of clergy sexual abuse and agreed that we should work together to achieve just results.”

Results from the meeting were as follows:

No Decision on Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund
VOTF is disappointed that Cardinal Law has made no decision regarding the $56,000 in heartfelt donations given by over 250 faithful Catholics to the Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund. The Cardinal did inform the group that he needed additional materials, which VOTF will forward today, in order to be in a better position to render a decision. It was agreed that a meeting will be held between VOTF and David Smith, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Boston, to continue the dialogue on the Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund.

Bannings Not Lifted
Cardinal Law has not yet decided to rescind the ban on VOTF groups from meeting on Church property in the Archdiocese of Boston - a ban which affects approximately 320 parishes throughout the Boston Archdiocese. This retention of bannings guarantees continued pain for thousands of faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston who wish to use their Church facilities for discussions on how to respond to the sexual abuse crisis. VOTF continues to believe that it is immoral and self-defeating for bishops to ban parishioners from using buildings that they have paid for and continue to support through financial donations. The group will continue to challenge such bans.

Collaboration on Charter in Support of Survivors Deemed “Appropriate and Desirable”
With regard to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Cardinal Law agreed that collaboration between members of Voice of the Faithful and the Archdiocese’s Office of Healing and Assistance Ministry, directed by Barbara Thorpe, is appropriate and desirable.

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