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

For Immediate Release

Backgrounder

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter Review

Voice of the Faithful obtained and used the document that was circulated to all bishops for comment on proposed revisions to the USCCB charter to protect children. The document, termed a “workbook,” was the basis for the Voice of the Faithful Task Force submission. Voice of the Faithful has made the document, the organization’s comments and recommendations and a parish checklist for charter compliance available on its website at www.votf.org.

The U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse distributed the workbook to all United States Bishops for their comments on proposed revised text for the Charter's preamble, 17 articles and conclusion.

Voice of the Faithful noted that organizations and/or individuals responding to the Bishops general call for comment are handicapped by lack of knowledge of the proposed revisions. The document may be downloaded and Voice of the Faithful encourages its distribution and use.

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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 210 Parish Voice affiliates throughout the world.