Voice of the Faithful Focus, Sept. 29, 2011

Highlighting issues we face working together
to Keep the Faith, Change the Church

Focus Moves to In the Vineyard
As mentioned in Focus last time, beginning Oct. 6, Focus will move to the "Site Seeing" column of In the Vineyard. We're making the change in consideration of your time and the number of e-mails we expect you to read. "Site Seeing," like Focus, gathers important news for you from around the world. We'll still highlight issues we face working together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church, and you'll have two fewer e-mails to read each month. We hope you like the change.

Amnesty International Slams Irish Catholic Church
A new report by the Irish branch of Amnesty International says the sexual abuse of children by Ireland's Roman Catholic priests "included acts that amounted to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment." The 430-page report on this "human rights failure" was released this past Monday, Sept. 26.

Primacy of Conscience & Women's Ordination
An organization promoting Catholic social justice and dialogue around primacy of conscience, The 8th Day Center for Justice, has been chastised by Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, for screening the film "Pink Smoke over the Vatican" and a talk by Fr. Roy Bourgeois. The documentary expresses support for women's ordination in the Roman Catholic Church.

More Clergy Sexual Abuse Comes to Light
Among the places where clergy sexual abuse of minors continues to come to light is Montana, where 45 Native American men and women recently claimed they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the Catholic clergy. And...

Catholic Church in Switzerland Reveals Scale of Sex Abuse -- The Catholic Church in Switzerland has released new details of sexual abuse committed by priests and pastoral workers over the past 60 years
Children's Shelter Tried to Cover Up Assaults -- If you think the above stories are just additional episodes of abuses from long ago, this story is about Catholic Charities misleading federal authorities just this past July about sexual assault at a shelter for immigrant children.
Take Abuse Cases Out of Clerical Hands -- To paraphrase a recently released report of the investigation of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, diocese: diocesan officials - priests and bishops - should never investigate accusations of other priests.

Catholic Laity Must Work for Different Church
The Church is not perfect. The Church comprises more than priests, bishops and pope. The Holy Spirit works equally well through all the People of God, including lay men and women. And who will give us a different Church more responsive to the needs of the faithful? Lay men and women.

Massachusetts Statute of Limitations Reform
Murder presently is the only crime in Massachusetts without a statute of limitations, but a bill now in the state legislature would eliminate the statute of limitations on sex crimes against children.

Pope Visits Germany Amidst Protest & Praise
The pope's visit to his home country of Germany, which wrapped up earlier this week, created much media coverage. During his visit, prominent Swiss theologian Hans Kung compared the pope to Russia's Vladimir Putin; the pope met with sex abuse victims; and the pope admitted the Church today has a questionable reputation.

Pope Appoints New Bishop in Manchester, N.H.
The pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, New Hampshire, and has named the Most Rev. Peter Libasci, auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, New York, as his successor.

Is the Church at Turning Point on Celibacy
In a new autobiography, Fr. Eduard Daly, former bishop of Derry and the handkerchief-waving priest of the famous Bloody Sunday photograph, has called for an end to the celibacy rule for Catholic priests.

Two Steps Ahead of the Spirit
Anthony Esolen, Providence College professor of Renaissance English literature and the development of western civilization, talks in this essay about the differences between the actual Vatican II documents and the commentary on the Vatican II documents as being "inspired" or "guided" by the Holy Spirit.

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Voice of the Faithful Focus, Sept. 29, 2011

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	Voice of the Faithful Focus, Sept. 29, 2011 Highlighting issues we face working together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church **Focus Moves to In the Vineyard** As mentioned in Focus last time, beginning Oct. 6, Focus will move to the "Site Seeing" column of In the Vineyard. We're making the change in consideration of your time and the number of e-mails we expect you to read. "Site Seeing," like Focus, gathers important news for you from around the world. We'll still highlight issues we face working together to Keep the Faith, Change the Church, and you'll have two fewer e-mails to read each month. We hope you like the change. Amnesty International Slams Irish Catholic Church A new report by the Irish branch of Amnesty International says the sexual abuse of children by Ireland's Roman Catholic priests "included acts that amounted to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment." The 430-page report on this "human rights failure" was released this past Monday, Sept. 26. Primacy of Conscience & Women's Ordination An organization promoting Catholic social justice and dialogue around primacy of conscience, The 8th Day Center for Justice, has been chastised by Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, for screening the film "Pink Smoke over the Vatican" and a talk by Fr. Roy Bourgeois. The documentary expresses support for women's ordination in the Roman Catholic Church. More Clergy Sexual Abuse Comes to Light Among the places where clergy sexual abuse of minors continues to come to light is Montana, where 45 Native American men and women recently claimed they suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the Catholic clergy. And... Catholic Church in Switzerland Reveals Scale of Sex Abuse -- The Catholic Church in Switzerland has released new details of sexual abuse committed by priests and pastoral workers over the past 60 years Children's Shelter Tried to Cover Up Assaults -- If you think the above stories are just additional episodes of abuses from long ago, this story is about Catholic Charities misleading federal authorities just this past July about sexual assault at a shelter for immigrant children. Take Abuse Cases Out of Clerical Hands -- To paraphrase a recently released report of the investigation of the Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri, diocese: diocesan officials - priests and bishops - should never investigate accusations of other priests. Catholic Laity Must Work for Different Church The Church is not perfect. The Church comprises more than priests, bishops and pope. The Holy Spirit works equally well through all the People of God, including lay men and women. And who will give us a different Church more responsive to the needs of the faithful? Lay men and women. Massachusetts Statute of Limitations Reform Murder presently is the only crime in Massachusetts without a statute of limitations, but a bill now in the state legislature would eliminate the statute of limitations on sex crimes against children. Pope Visits Germany Amidst Protest & Praise The pope's visit to his home country of Germany, which wrapped up earlier this week, created much media coverage. During his visit, prominent Swiss theologian Hans Kung compared the pope to Russia's Vladimir Putin; the pope met with sex abuse victims; and the pope admitted the Church today has a questionable reputation. Pope Appoints New Bishop in Manchester, N.H. The pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, New Hampshire, and has named the Most Rev. Peter Libasci, auxiliary bishop of Rockville Centre, New York, as his successor. Is the Church at Turning Point on Celibacy In a new autobiography, Fr. Eduard Daly, former bishop of Derry and the handkerchief-waving priest of the famous Bloody Sunday photograph, has called for an end to the celibacy rule for Catholic priests. Two Steps Ahead of the Spirit Anthony Esolen, Providence College professor of Renaissance English literature and the development of western civilization, talks in this essay about the differences between the actual Vatican II documents and the commentary on the Vatican II documents as being "inspired" or "guided" by the Holy Spirit. Action Focus	VOTF™ Mission Statement 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. Our Goals To support survivors of clergy sexual abuse To support priests of integrity To shape structural change within the Catholic Church.