Kristine Ward
Candidate for Vice President
Answers to Questions
VOTF Election 2004

What has been your involvement with VOTF to date?

-National Vice President VOTF 2004

- Attended July 20, 2002 Boston convention

- Signed convention declaration to the Holy Father

- Co-founded Dayton, Ohio Affiliate April 24, 2003. Worked to form the affiliate undeterred by an eight month ban (October 2002 to May 2003) imposed by Archbishop of Cincinnati Daniel E. Pilarczyk

- Elected co-chair Dayton Affiliate

- Sought and gained collaboration with University of Dayton for initiation of VOTF in Dayton area. University of Dayton, 10th largest Catholic university in the country

- Collaborated with University of Dayton on the initiation of a three semester lecture series examining the issues of the scandal.

- Planned and carried out with co-founder, Mike Knellinger, April 3, 2003 launch of VOTF in Dayton area – prayer service at University of Dayton, open meeting with keynote speakers Jim Post, president of VOTF, and David Clohessy, executive director of Survivors Network for Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), press conference, dinner discussion with university president and members of the faculty.

- Met with Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk on May 25, 2003. Meeting with Dayton co-founders begins with lifting of ban.

-Throughout 2003 and 2004 have given television and newspaper interviews in the local, regional and national secular press and national Catholic press

- Have worked to seek interest by the news media in the issues of the sexual abuse scandal and need for reform in the church. Dallas Morning News ran major article 8/31/03 regarding priest of Archdiocese of Cincinnati who was promoted in the ranks of the Vatican diplomatic corps following 1995 settlement of sexual abuse civil lawsuit filed in 1993.

- Have entered into discussions with members of local clergy regarding VOTF through a variety of communication methods (one-on-one meetings, email exchanges, information meetings)

- Dayton Affiliate calls for Archbishop Pilarczyk to resign November 25, 2003 citing lack of credibility and failure of leadership. Archbishop entered no contest plea in county court on behalf of the entity of the archdiocese on November 17, 2003. Archdiocese was found guilty of the criminal charges of failure to report sexual abuse by priests between 1978-1982. The Archbishop was the auxiliary bishop during these years. Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the first in the country to be convicted on criminal charges in the sexual abuse scandal.

-Attended Fordham University conference sponsored by New York, New Jersey and Connecticut affiliates October 25, 2003

- Attended New York, New Jersy, Connecticut Affiliates May 2004 meeting with National Review Board members Justice Anne Burke and Atty. Pamela Hayes, hour long meeting with Justice Burke precedes event.

- represented national VOTF as speaker at SNAP national convention in Denver June 2004

- represented national VOTF at press conference at start of June 2004 Bishops meeting in Denver. Requested to leave hotel where Bishops were meeting in Denver after seeking to present VOTF petitions from Campaign for Catholic Responsibility to Bishop Wilton Gregory (spokeswoman for Bishops conference accepts petitions)

- participated in national policy forum conference calls of regional leaders on monthly basis since April 2003.

- As national vice president 2004 have moderated monthly national policy forum calls with VOTF leaders throughout the country

- participant in weekly national officers conference calls, monthly board of trustees meetings (by conference call)

- speaker Indianapolis affiliate lecture series October 8 and 9 launching year of events leading to national convention in Indianapolis July 2005

- November 2004 newly appointed National Review Board member Judge Michael R. Merz, Daytonian who is a federal magistrate, accepts Dayton Affiliate VOTF's invitation to address affiliate and listen to concerns of VOTF members and survivors as his first event after appointment as review board member.

- attended symposium Washington, DC affilates November 2004 Sunday preceding opening of Bishops semi-annual meeting Washington, DC

- represented national VOTF at press conference at beginning of November 2004 Bishops meeting (election of new leadership) Washington, DC

- assisted in formation of two (2) affiliates in Dayton area

- contributor to In the Vineyard VOTF's online monthly publication

2. How would you contribute to VOTF’s pursuit of its mission and three goals in the office you seek? What experience have you had that would help in this position? In your work, education, hobbies or otherwise?

Geographically speaking, a vice president from outside the birthplace of VOTF contributes significantly to the overall mission of VOTF – it says the movement is truly moving across the country. Beyond the geography, I believe I can contribute to building VOTF’s strength through communication skills gained as a newspaper reporter, broadcast journalist and freelance writer, experience on non-profit boards, managing and network skills acquired working in the private sector and organization skills learned working in the field of adult literacy.

3. What are your hopes for VOTF, the movement, in the next year and in the future? (What do you think are the challenges we face? What would you define as “success” for VOTF?)

Hopes: Successful national convention in the country's heartland, Indianapolis, 2005. The establishment of VOTF affiliates in all 195 dioceses of the United States within the next five (5) years and continued expansion internationally.

Challenges: the opposition of some bishops and priests to VOTF, feelings of some Catholics in the pews that the needed change is too immense to be undertaken, burnout and fatigue among those who have shouldered the heavy responsibilities in the start up years of VOTF.

Success is growth rooted in our goals.
Success is holding hierarchy to accountability.
Success is never forgetting the victims’ suffering and maintaining a vigilance in standing with them.
Success is keeping open minds about how best to have discussions within our membership and determination to overcome what would seek to divide us.
Success is developing excellent educational and financial accountability programs as the underpinning of the third goal.
Success is tenacity in pursuing true national representation in the national representative council
Success is developing realistic, workable ways to have functioning diocesan and parish councils, finance committees and safety committees.
Success is pursuing our governance issues to workable solutions.
Success is remembering the Lord’s promise to be with us always and acting in ways that show we believe it.

4. Are you prepared to keep any of your hopes and desires for the future of the Church that are not related to our three goals out of the public/formal discussions of VOTF?

VOTF’s centrist position is a winning formula. The answer is yes.

5. What inspired you to join VOTF?

Horror at the scandal, awe and heartbreak in the presence of the survivors, hope that the Church would be open to the gifts of the laity.

6. What work, ministries, volunteer activities have you participated in for the Church?

Lector, Eucharistic minister, Communion service leader, Bereavement ministry, member, CCD teacher, parish councils, worship commission, liturgy planning, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Associate Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Statement:

I seek the office of vice president of VOTF as a Catholic from the Midwest who came to Boston in July 2002 knowing reform was necessary and eager to know if VOTF was the vehicle sensible enough, sturdy enough and determined enough for what reform demands. I found Catholics with a steel and sensibility born in a scandal whose proportions and ugliness could have crushed those of lesser faith, talent, will and compassion. In the face of parish closings in 2004 I saw rock solid faith and sound common sense re-emerge. in my own affiliate there is the same resolve and kinship.

As the scandal spilled the borders of Boston and flowed across the country and the world, the antidote must also.

The path is not easy, straight or sure. Our movement has come to a place where the shoals need steady navigation, what has been gained must not be lost or squandered, what needs to be done must be faced squarely. We are capable of this and much more.

We must succeed for the sake of the victims, the sake of priests of integrity and the reform of our beloved Church. The Lord expects nothing less of us. We must underscore to the watching world of both the laity and the ordained it is our intent to keep the movement moving. National leadership should reflect our national status.