Dear Friends,

To paraphrase Thomas Paine, these are the times that try our souls.

These words once stirred people to stand together and proclaim their values. Perhaps they will do so again. Sixty five million American Catholics have good reason to be riled up today.

The Catholic Church in America is at a tipping point. The future of our Church, and our faith, is in the balance. Recent events are shining the moral spotlight on all of us:

• Last week, a grand jury in Philadelphia documented the cases of 63 priests who committed hundreds of acts of sexual abuse. These crimes were aided by the actions of two former cardinals whose efforts to cover up were condemned by the grand jury. As the report states, "... in its callous, calculating manner, the Archdiocese's 'handling' of the abuse scandal was at least as immoral as the abuse itself." Astonishingly, the current archbishop of Philadelphia, Cardinal Justin Righali, defended his predecessors and attacked the grand jury for telling the truth.
• In Boston, Fr. Walter Cuenin, an outspoken and much-admired priest, has been dismissed as pastor of a parish on trumped up charges of financial impropriety. This smear was committed by those whose own financial misdeeds include diversion of assets from the archdiocesan priests' retirement fund. Neither the parish council nor the canonically-mandated finance council were informed of Fr. Cuenin's impropriety or the intended action. Archbishop Sean O'Malley has refused to meet with members of the councils, which staunchly defend their pastor. Adding insult to injury, Cardinal Bernard Law's former spokesperson has been named pastor in a further affront to the parish community.
• In Chicago, eleven priests were removed from ministry because of sexual misconduct with children. However, these priests will not be barred from living with their brother priests. Rather, Cardinal Francis George has pledged to keep the priests that have been found guilty under strict supervision. It is a promise Catholics have accepted -- and regretted - before. Notably, the names of the eleven priests have been made public.
• In St. Louis, the first of more than 200 American seminaries was visited as part of a review and assessment by a hand-picked investigative team led by an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia. One purpose of the reviews is to identify any gay seminarians and to deconstruct factors that could theoretically promote a homosexual atmosphere in the seminary. There is no scientific studycorrelating pedophilia with homosexuality. Meanwhile, the research study of the causes and consequences of clergy sexual abuse that was promised by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has yet to be funded. The seminary visitation initiative has further increased the climate of fear and intimidation among those men who are celibate regardless of their sexual orientation.

Is this the Church of the 21st Century?

These events are not taking place in isolation. These are the "signs of the times" that move us to ask difficult questions about what to do in reversing so many ill-conceived policies. At this time more than ever, "Accountability Now!" must remain our collective focus. Voice of the Faithful is working to ensure that sexual abuse is ended in our Church, and that justice is done for survivors of abuse and priests of integrity. But achieving accountability in our church is going to take much more from all of us.

The bishops in Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago think the laity can be ignored in dealing with substantive issues, even when effective parish and finance councils are in place, as in the Boston parish noted above. What are these bishops' saying to the 35,000 lay ministers now working in parishes across the US, the 18,000 preparing to assume leadership roles in their parishes and dioceses, and the 100,000 catechists already filling the ranks of a declining priesthood? Let these bishops know what kind of church you believe Christ meant for us to be. Ours can be a Church of Fear and Repression or a Church of Tolerance, Charity, and Justice.

Catholics must stand up and speak out because our Church is at a crossroads. We can let it go down the road of clericalism, repression, and fear, or we can follow the road built on a vision of tolerance, charity, and justice. One is darkness, the other is light.

I believe the actions we take in the months ahead will determine whether our Church will make it possible, or impossible, for children and grandchildren to practice the Catholic faith. We must be better Christians, stronger Catholics, and architects of a restored faith for our children. If we fail to act now, we fail them.

Several months ago VOTF began the process of building a national campaign for Accountability Now! We need you -- every one of you -- to work in this campaign for accountability in our Church. Current events make the case for accountability even more compelling. The action plans we are creating together will help us to unite more powerfully in the months and year ahead, and to stand together for specific outcomes and a common purpose.

These truly are the times that "try our souls" and measure our commitment. We are not powerless. We have choices. What choice will you make?

Sincerely,

Jim Post
President

P.S. VOTF affiliates in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and other communities are developing action campaigns. Please communicate with your local coordinator who can be located by clicking here. And be inspired by the message of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who left these words of wisdom for all of us:

"A gospel that does not unsettle,
A word of God that does not get under anyone's skin,
a word of God that does not touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed. What gospel is that?

- Archbishop Oscar Romero, April 16, 1978