In the Vineyard
August 25, 2005

“My brothers and I wish to be seen as people who listen, never as spiritual masters.” Brother Roger, founder of the Taize community, died at the age of 90 on August 16, 2005*

“In the face of violence, we can respond only by peace. Brother Roger never stopped insisting on this. Peace requires a commitment of our whole being, inwardly and outwardly. It demands our whole person. So this evening, let us communicate peace to one another, and do everything we can so that each person stays in hope.” Spoken by one of the elder monks at the prayer service for Brother Roger*

Voice of the Faithful At Work In The World

A Return to the election of bishops – an idea that is gathering steam
The Indianapolis Convocation in July produced a number of resolutions to be vetted by our affiliates across the country. Among these is lay participation in the election of bishops. As reported in the August 11 Vineyard, our VOTF Bridgeport, CT affiliate is working on a simulated bishop election. In this issue, VOTF San Francisco, CA announces their own discernment process for the selection of a new bishop to replace the departing Archbishop Levada.

Joe O’Callaghan, professor emeritus of medieval history at Fordham University, NY, has written a brief background paper on the history of bishop elections as well as some suggested readings. Read more

No lazy days of summer for our new National Representative Council
Frank Douglas writing for the NRC Steering Committee reports on activities since the Indianapolis Convocation when the newly elected members met for the first time. Their pace and progress in establishing their own processes, as well as actions taken to propel Convocation proposals, is impressive. The Convocation Implementation Team has been identified and issued their first communication this week.

Walsh legislation in the light of the First Amendment Boston, MA
Sen. Marian Walsh legislation would require the archdiocese of Boston, and all Massachusetts religious organizations that receive charitable donations, to file an annual report like the more than 30,000 non-religious charities in the state. The bill’s hearing in Boston drew broad support, inclusive of a few political surprises. One of the arguments against the legislation is the challenge it may pose to our First Amendment.

Two VOTF members, attorneys both, Sharon Harrington and Bob Morris, offer their differing perspectives on the First Amendment argument in Commentary.

John Hynes of Boston Area VOTF Council comments on the day’s work as well as actions needed NOW. Read more.

Note: VOTF Interim Press Manager John Moynihan is compiling the testimonies delivered at the hearing for distribution to some key players in the life of this bill.

School closings: Is anyone on the inside looking out?
Shel Silverstein’s children’s poem in the eponymous book A Light in the Attic ends with “There’s a light on in the attic, I can see it from the outside, And I know you’re on the inside … looking out.” Recent school closings in Boston beg the question – who, if anyone, is “looking out”?

Parish closings hit the Boston, MA area hard and while stalwart vigilers were successful in reversing some parish closing decrees, many who have moved on and others left untouched by the reconfiguration process found the archdiocese wreaking additional havoc in the halls of elementary schools. There are some clear lessons to be learned for Church leadership and parishioners across the country as they, too, face similar upheavals. Boston VOTF issued a statement for Vineyard readers – asking the questions that need to be answered.

A Washington Post story and another in the Buffalo News refer to Boston, MA for its effective protest around failed process in school and church closings. As VOTF president Jim Post said in the Post, “We’ve learned to say ‘No” to bishops here in Boston.”

What has happened in Boston frames the current issue of National Catholic Reporter. Read more

VOTF Louisville, KY reports some good news following a mutually helpful discussion at their diocesan chancery. The key seems to go back to VOTF’s earliest days – listening.

Commentary [What do you think? Respond to pthorp.ed@votf.org] VOTF members, attorneys Bob Morris and Sharon Harrington, consider the ramifications of legislation that would require a church to open its books.

  • Sharon Harrington – “First Amendment protections are not affected by improvements to law”
  • Bob Morris – “A church is not just another charity”

ALSO:

Voices of Survivors: SNAP’s David Clohessy’s commentary on symbol and substance “Thanks, But, No Thanks” drew dozens of supportive comments and requests for a repeat. Click here to read David’s June 2005 Vineyard commentary.

In a letter to the editor, one mother speaks for another in a response to Maria Rodrigues’ commentary in the August 11 issue of In the Vineyard,Reconfiguring a Relationship.

Calendar Watch and Heads Up! See details inside.

  • Just published – “The courage to buck the culture” in the current issue of National Catholic Reporter is the editorial – it’s about Boston yet the editorial and additional coverage speak to an altered landscape for all Catholics.
  • September 11 - VOTF Falmouth, MA extends an invitation to a promising and timely panel discussion made up of clergy, religious, and laity.
  • The July 15, 2005 National Catholic Reporter editorial noted a more reticent USCCB as the bishops’ bi-annual meeting November 14-17 approaches.
  • To be published in September - Church Ethics And Its Organizational Context: Learning from the Sex Abuse Scandal in the Catholic Church edited by Jean Bartunek, Mary Ann Hinsdale and James Keenan includes a chapter by Jim Post.
  • Boston College, October 23. SAVE THE DATE for the presentation of a study conducted on Voice of the Faithful.
  • Thanks will be due bishopaccountability.org for generations to come. Visit their web site and look at the outstanding resource they are becoming through dint of nothing but passionate commitment to righting wrongs and documenting facts. Go to www.bishop-accountability.org

*News of Note: Taize community loses its founder and leader – Brother Roger was known around the world for the spiritual community he established. His violent death brought shock and grief to all who have experienced what Pope John Paul II called “that little springtime.” Read more.

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Next issue of In the Vineyard will be September 8. Please send comments and inquiries to pthorp.ed@votf.org.

 

VOTF At Work in the World

USCCB to meet November 14-17, 2005 as will the VOTF National Representative Council (NRC) November 12-13. Watch the USCCB site for details on the agenda for the bishops’ meeting and check for what National Catholic Reporter John Allen gleaned from talks with past USCCB presidents Archbishops Wilton Gregory of Atlanta and Joseph Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston.

While the bishops may be narrowing their focus, VOTF Council representatives are sharpening their own focus on the resolutions that emerged from the VOTF Indianapolis Convocation in July. Frank Douglas, NRC Steering Committee member, reports below.

National Representative Council reports from the NRC Steering Committee submitted by Frank Douglas -- August 8, 2005 and August 23, 2005

August 8, 2005 Report:
To meet the communications and administrative requirements for 25 elected representatives throughout the country, the Steering Committee (SC) of the National Representative Council (NRC) has set up an Internet-based infrastructure. The central component of that infrastructure is a Yahoogroup listserv. This e-mail-based group-communications tool provides the capabilities needed for a geographically disbursed council to easily exchange messages among members, to archive messages, to post computer files, to maintain databases, and, perhaps most important, to vote online so that your representatives can conduct Council business without meeting face-to-face.

So far, we have conducted three polls.

In the first poll, the NRC decided that it will hold its next meeting the weekend of Nov. 12-13, 2005, in the Washington, D.C., area. In the second and third polls, to enhance communications among VOTF decision-makers, the NRC decided to invite the Trustees, the officers, and the heads of the six VOTF national working groups to join the NRC listserv.

Council members are now discussing and soon will be voting on five basic SC-drafted procedures needed to do its work: election and responsibilities of NRC members; voting processes; consultation and consent on proposed substantive matters such as policy statements and associated action plans; implementing policies and action plans; and recordkeeping.

As VOTF members ponder and discuss the nine draft July Indianapolis convocation resolutions (also called findings and recommendations), the SC participated in its first conference call with the Convocation Implementation Team (CIT), headed by President Jim Post. The CIT will coordinate the integration and synthesis of comments, including suggested priorities, from VOTF affiliates and regions and from the NRC, on the findings and recommendations from Indy.

The NRC has initiated preliminary discussion on what our strategic focus should be in three designated areas of lay accountability, financial accountability, and bishops' accountability. Educating the laity for action and financial accountability have been other recent topics of discussion.

The NRC's Bylaws Committee has been representing the Council in the ongoing process of amending VOTF's official bylaws. The Committee sent comments to the VOTF Board of Trustees on the proposals for amending the Bylaws distributed by Board Chairman David Castaldi at the July Convocation. The Committee also sent comments on the proposal for amending the Bylaws regarding Working Groups, recently sent to the Committee by David Castaldi for comment. The committee consists of three NRC members: Bill Culleton from Philadelphia (Region 3-PA, NJ), Bob Kaintz from St. Louis (Region 9-IA, KS, MO, NB), and Genny O'Toole from Evanston, IL, (Region 7-IL, IN, WI).

August 23, 2005 Report:

  1. The Convocation Implementation Team (CIT), in partnership with the members of the Council Steering Committee (SC), has defined the process for narrowing down and prioritizing the nine Indianapolis draft resolutions by affiliates and non-affiliated members. Mary Pat Fox, Region 2 (NY), the Council's representative on the CIT, has forwarded the definition of the process to all affiliates and Council members. The nine draft resolutions will be initially narrowed down to three by early October in accordance with criteria defined in the memos that clarify the process. All VOTF affiliates and members will be involved in a truly grassroots-driven, democratic decision-making process.

  2. The SC continued to set up databases and post files on the Council's listserv Website needed to conduct Council business.

  3. Council members passed two procedures on Voting and Recordkeeping. (This was a substantive matter requiring approval by two-thirds of the Representatives voting.) Council members are now discussing Procedure III, Consultation and Consent on Proposed Substantive Matters, and Procedure IV, Implementing Policies and Action Plans, prior to a vote on them.

  4. VOTF President Jim Post has asked Council members to provide recommendations and ideas to Ray Joyce and VOTF Treasurer, Julie Rafferty, of the Development Committee, about executing a fund-raising strategy that can meet VOTF's many needs.

  5. Planning for, and discussion about the logistical details of the Council meeting in November in the Washington, D.C., area continued via the Council listserv and SC communications with Evelyn Mercantini, Representative from Region 4 (DC, DE, MD, VA). Evelyn is the Chair of the Site Preparation Committee.

VOTF Louisville Area, KY – Vince Grenough reports some good news:

Last week, three of us Voice of the Faithful members met with Dr. Brian Reynolds at the Louisville archdiocesan Chancery Office. Brian is the Chancellor for the archdiocese and the Chief Operations Officer. Jim Williams, who arranged this meeting, Jack Avery and I were the three members of VOTF.

It is my opinion that this dialogue was a good one. It allowed each of us to share our hopes and concerns for the healing of our Church. We all agreed to meet again in a month to continue listening to one another. It is our wish to be transparent with our Church leaders and to collaborate with them whenever possible. Not very many diocesan bishops or officers welcome members of Voice of the Faithful to come and talk, because of misunderstandings or mistrust. We, in Louisville, are happy to be an exception to that unfortunate rule.

Boston SCHOOL Closings beg larger questions

From Mike Gustin, Chair of the Boston Council Steering Committee:

The abrupt closing of the Little Flower elementary school in Somerville, coming within a week of the closing of St. Anthony’s school in Allston, and so quickly on the heels of the nighttime lockout at Our Lady of the Presentation in Brighton, begs a number of questions.

How can the leadership of the Archdiocese be so insensitive to the parents and children enrolled in its own parochial schools? How could the decisions on St. Anthony’s and Little Flower be made only two weeks before school begins? Do church leaders really believe it’s reasonable to expect little children, first, second, and third graders to travel from Brighton, Allston, and Somerville to Medford, Malden, and Everett to attend parochial elementary schools? What about the devoted teachers who are told two weeks before school begins that they have no jobs? Is anyone in the chancery listening and, if so, what are they learning? Is there no compassion?

Clearly, there needs to be put in place a broad and responsive structure as Rev. O'Keefe, dean of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, notes, ''As long as the structure remains the way it is, this is going to happen."

Boston Voice of the Faithful is ready to work with Church leaders to effect the structural changes necessary for a much more compassionate, organized, and lay-involved process.

Read more:

“Digging In To Stay and Pray” is the cover story of the current issue of National Catholic Reporter. It is about Boston. The editorial, “The courage to buck the culture.”

Weeks before the first day of school, the Archdiocese of Boston closed two more schools. See the Boston Globe and Boston Herald.

Washington Post story on lessons learned in Boston. More coverage at the Boston Globe.

Follow coverage on the Vatican decision against Boston’s archdiocesan claim to funds from the sale of parishes. Check out the Boston Herald.

Elsewhere, the Buffalo News quoted Bishop Edward Kmiec of the Buffalo, NY diocese as saying that the effort in that diocese is a “grassroots endeavor.” He has assembled “… a 24-member strategic planning commission of clergy, religious brothers and sisters and parishioners to draft a mission statement and provide direction for the planning process. The first meeting is scheduled Aug. 25 and 26 at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora.” Interesting to VOTFers, the meeting is not open to the public. Oh, well. To follow this diocese’s reconfiguration process, click here.

Walsh legislation introduced in Boston, MA would require churches to open their books. What evolves in Boston is expected to have a broad ripple effect across the country.

From John Hynes, VOTF Boston Area Council:

By any measure, we would have to regard last week's response to the Voice of the Faithful's call for action on behalf of Senator Marian Walsh's proposed legislation as a huge success.

Last week's response was all about Massachusetts VOTF members doing for others:

  • for clergy and other parish staff members whose pension benefits have been misused;

  • for parishioners whose churches have been unfairly closed, and/or whose contributions have been misappropriated;

  • and for all those generous citizens of Massachusetts, who have a right to know a) how their funds are being spent and b) that all appeals for funds in this Commonwealth are truthful and accurate.

This hearing was just the first step in what is a marathon-like process. Within the next month or so, we need to convince the Judiciary Committee to vote S1074 out of committee to the full Senate. Eventually, we need to convince the entire legislature that they should pass this bill. Some of you will be able to help with one phase of this effort; others will be able to do more. As a minimum, we are hoping that you will all contact your Senator and Representative ASAP and ask them to support Senate Bill 1074.

For more information on this bill click here.

For legislator contact info click here.

Action is needed NOW. The Chancery's strategy is to try and delay this process as long as they can and, if possible, to see to it that this proposed legislation is buried in committee. YOU can help prevent that from happening by contacting you legislators NOW.

We will be writing to you again shortly with some very specific ideas for additional actions.

For all that you do, for all that we will do together, we thank you.

Read more: click here.

Bishop Elections – Not a New Idea

Joe O’Callaghan, a professor emeritus of medieval history at Fordham University and past president of the American Catholic Historical Society, is the author of "Counsel and Consent as Christian Virtues: Five Proposals for Structural Change in the Catholic Church." The document has become known as “The Bridgeport Proposals” for the VOTF Bridgeport, CT affiliate where the document “grew up.”

ELECT OUR BISHOPS? WHY NOT?

Joseph F. O’Callaghan

From the earliest times the clergy and people of the diocese elected their bishops. The Didache or The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, dating from the second century, The Apostolic Tradition of St. Hippolytus of Rome (d. c. 236), and the letters of St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (d. 258) attest to that tradition. In the fifth century, both Pope Celestine I and Pope Leo the Great emphatically stated that the one who is to preside over all should be chosen by all, adding that no one who is unwanted or unasked for should be made a bishop. Church councils, both provincial and ecumenical, laid down rules governing the qualifications of candidates for the episcopacy, and insisted that the bishop should be chosen by the clergy and people assembled in a synod with the metropolitan or archbishop and the other provincial bishops. As the bishop was elected to serve a particular community, he was forbidden to transfer to another see, though that canon was later ignored.

Once Christians gained religious freedom in the Roman Empire and bishops came to enjoy greater power and influence, ambitious men often coveted the office. Emperors and kings began to intrude into the electoral process by insisting on the election of their nominees. Reiterating the principle of election by clergy and people, eleventh-century reformers demanded that episcopal elections should be free of secular control. Nevertheless, from the late twelfth century on, ordinary clergy and people were excluded, as the election was reserved to the canons of cathedral chapters. The people had no voice, except perhaps to give consent by acclamation or in an even more ritualized manner during the ceremony of episcopal consecration.

From the late Middle Ages onward, popes and monarchs intervened more frequently, imposing candidates acceptable to both. In the modern era concordats between the papacy and various European states usually recognized the ruler’s right of nomination and the pope’s right of confirmation or rejection of someone deemed unacceptable. In the fledgling United States, John Carroll, with papal permission, was elected the first bishop of Baltimore by his priests, but the people had no part in the election. The pope subsequently named all the other American bishops. In much of the world of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries the papacy assumed the right to name all the bishops, a right affirmed in the Code of Canon Law in 1917 and again in 1983.

As a consequence of historical circumstances, the clergy and people have been denied any meaningful voice in the election of their bishops. They have been disenfranchised or, as Francine Cardman so eloquently expressed it, dis-membered from the Body of Christ. The restoration of the ancient tradition will return to the clergy and people their baptismal right to elect their bishops. If we take this one step toward re-membering our dis-membered Church, we will be helping to make the Body of Christ whole again.

Suggested Readings: Peter Huizing and Knut Walf, eds., “Electing our Own Bishops,” Concilium 137 (1980); William W. Bassett, ed., The Choosing of Bishops (Hartford: The Canon Law Society of America, 1971); Giuseppe Alberigo and Anton Weiler, eds. “Election and Consensus in the Church,” Concilium 77 (1972).

VOTF San Francisco, CA is planning a discernment to take place in October (see the Bridgeport, CT report on their own discernment process as well as coverage on the subpoena issued to San Francisco Archbishop Levada – In the Vineyard, August 11). Kris Ward reports below:

Seek and you shall find; ask and it will be given to you; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Our affiliates in California have heeded the Lord's words and in a move that might be considered the first fruit of our national convocation they have decided to hold a "discernment" regarding the next archbishop of San Francisco.

The San Francisco post has become vacant because Archbishop William S. Levada was appointed to the post of Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Levada took up residence in Rome on August 17. It is in this Congregation that the decisions are made, subject to papal approval, regarding the defrocking of priests.

Voice of the Faithful convenes this discernment and calls all Bay Area Catholics -laity, religious and priests,- to join together in a time of seeking the Spirit's guidance on October 9 at St. Matthew in San Mateo from 11;30 AM to 3 PM.

The How and Why of it are:

WHY? To gather, to pray, to listen, to speak, to hope, to propose, a new Archbishop of San Francisco. The next Metropolitan Archbishop is the concern and responsibility of all Catholics in this Province.

How? First, prayer and then listening to church historians and theologians share the history of how laity, religious and the ordained were able to have input into the selection of a new bishop. Then in small groups, those assembled will try to put together a list of qualities and men that will help the Church, heal, grow and be holy. VOTF recognizes and honors the Catholic tradition of Episcopal governance as outlined in Lumen Gentium and our process will respect that tradition.

This initiative is spearheaded by VOTF leaders Ed and Peg Gleason, Jim Jenkins and Peter Davey.

All members of Voice of the Faithful can be part of this initiative- no matter your geographic location.

First, we are bound together by prayer. Please consider adding this discernment to prayer of your daily life and our communal prayer in parishes and at affiliate meetings.

Second, if there is not a vacancy in your diocese at this time, consider the model that Birgdeport has provided for us (see Vineyard August 11). Also, affiliates and unaffiliated members can hold educational discernments if there is not a vacancy in your diocese at the current time. Invite theologians and church historians to speak on this topic to lay the foundation for a discernment.

Please consider these possibilities in your affiliate discussions as you consider the resolutions that came out of our convocation in Indianapolis and begin your conversations about where VOTf energies will be spent and what directions we will take.

Courage and wisdom abounds in California in this effort. There is support for the discernment from a pastor who is widely known and respected in the Bay Area. We seek the movement of the Spirit. More news as the plans progress.

International Note:

The Swiss Protestant theologian Brother Roger who founded the Taize ecumenical movement in 1940 died a violent death in his church during an evening service. The Taize community was made up of Lutheran, Evangelical, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic monks. Their aim was to foster greater unity among Christian churches. Brother Roger’s particular concern was for the world’s youth growing up in a secular world all but devoid of spiritual nourishment. See the New York Times obituary.

The January 2005 issue of In the Vineyard noted a Paulist Center, Boston, MA invitation to participate in a Taize prayer service. Taize is practiced throughout the Christian world and is often part of Roman Catholic liturgies and services. See the USCCB message of condolences on the death of Brother Roger.

The Taize community web site.

COMMENTARY

[We invite your thoughts. Send to pthorp.ed@votf.org]

Threat or not to the First Amendment? Attorneys and VOTF leaders Sharon Harrington (Weymouth, MA) and Bob Morris (Winchester, MA) offer different perspectives on legislation that would require the church in Boston to open its books.

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Bob Morris:

While I strongly suspect that I'm in the minority with this point of view, this legislation, while well-intentioned, has grave constitutional problems. In my view it is not the business of government to be regulating the relationship between a church and its donors (i.e., its members) -- whether that church is an obstinate behemoth like the Catholic Church or a 10-member evangelical church meeting in a small room above a store front. A church is not just another charity -- the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution makes that clear. And this legislation gets right to the heart of the relationship between a church's leadership and its members --VOTF's support of the legislation is proof positive of that.

I realize drawing lines here is pretty murky stuff, and that reasonable arguments on constitutionality can be made by the bill's proponents. Nonetheless, my sense is that this legislation, if enacted, will ultimately be declared unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

From Sharon Harrington:

The way I view it, the Catholic Church, as many others, applies for, and receives, a tax-exemption from the state (and federal) government. They willingly involve the state in their affairs to the extent that they qualify for an exemption for their income and their property (both real and personal). Additionally, churches willingly involve the state (and federal) governments regarding tax-exemption so that donors can claim a tax deduction on their own taxes, which encourages donations to them. Donors to religious organizations have special protections in claiming deductions under federal tax laws.

What we are asking, by way of this legislation, is that the religious organizations that benefit from this status provide information so that we, the donors, can learn whether our donations are being used or misused (think clergy pension fund, cemetery maintenance fund, e.g.). The filing is informational. It does not examine religious doctrine or beliefs.

In opposing the closing of my parish and others, I have come to believe (1) that we were not being told the truth and that there were other assets available to accomplish the RCAB's goals, (2) that valuable information regarding the church's assets being withheld/misrepresented at other levels and was perhaps not reaching the final decision maker and (3) that donations that we have all given for specific purposes-restricted under canon and civil law-were being misused.

If we had better information, which this bill would provide, we could at least present the information to the decision-makers. They could still make whatever determination that they choose. We would be better informed about the use/misuse of our funds and would be empowered to make better decisions about donations in the future.

Prof. Marci A. Hamilton, the Paul R. Verkuil Chair in Public Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (and former law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor) at http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hamilton/ has provided a number of columns on "FindLaw.com" and a book, "God vs. The Gavel", in which she argues that First Amendment protections are not affected by improvements to law (legislative and decisional by courts) using neutral and generally applicable principals of law which, e.g. protect children, and do not influence religious beliefs or embroil the state or courts in "purely ecclesiastical" matters.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

This letter is a response to the August 11 commentary from Maria Rodrigues on the closing of her son’s elementary school. What follows is one mother’s response on behalf of another. The writer is addressing Maria but appeals to all mothers:

“I know that Voice of the Faithful has done many responsible and kind things in support of victims of clergy abuse, and I also understand your deep feelings of hurt at experiencing the pain surrounding your young son at the prospect of losing his school. I can identify with the need to try and make things right for him. This piece, though, arouses in me such a need to try and meet you on the level of mother, a mother who loves her son. Help me to understand why all Catholic mothers have not railed at this same church and what it has done to thousands of our sons, and daughters.

I am going to speak on behalf of a mother who is no longer with us and therefore cannot speak for herself. Were she here I feel certain she would say the following:

What about my son? Why do you good Catholics not care about him? Why are you not joined in solidarity screaming out at the horrible treatment he met each day at his school? Talk to him now. Let him tell you what it was like to arise each morning and try and decide what to wear to school because he knew the clothes he chose were going to be ripped from his body and possibly torn as he was subjected to the daily rape of his body by his priest. He was sodomized nearly every single day for two years until he could endure it no longer. He finally had to quit school. He never returned, and to this day has never gotten an education.

He is a grown man now, but each day he remembers. He remembers the cost to me as I lost my faith, my sense of hope and belief in the church in which I was raised and was raising my family. He remembers his own fear, his shame, the pain of the sodomy, and the lack of understanding at why no one was helping him. He was raped in classrooms, in the principal’s office, at other Catholic schools. He remembers the anger, wanting to kill the priest. He remembers how I simply gave up when I couldn't help or get anything done about this injustice. He still believes to this day that his abuse is what killed me and he is right.

Where is the movement to action by mothers for this injustice? Who among you will stand up for my son? He is still angry, still hurts, and still cannot get anything done. His rapist priest was finally taken away to a mental hospital where he died, having been moved many times after many unsuccessful attempts to get him to stop what he was doing. His victims are so many, and number among them his own brother priests, and yet no one takes a stand for my son. Why do Catholic mothers not fight for our sons? I tried, but I was alone, and, as always, the powerful church won. Though I understand your wanting your son to get a good education in a particular school, I warn you to guard him well. If you believe the problem of abuse is solved, you are mistaken. Keep him close to you. I hope you never experience the pain brought into my life by this evil, uncaring church. I could not live with my pain at not being able to help my son. I wish you success with yours.”

Sincerely, a mother just like you

Calendar Watch and Heads Up!

  • September 11 - VOTF Falmouth, MA extends an invitation to a promising and timely panel discussion made up of clergy, religious, and laity. The discussion will focus on roles and relationships in our Church now and in the coming years as the number of clergy continues to decrease. Click here for the May 11 Vineyard coverage of this September 11 event.

  • The July 15, 2005 National Catholic Reporter editorial noted a more reticent USCCB as the bishops’ bi-annual meeting November 14-17 approaches. “They clearly have little to say as a conference to the wider world.” John Allen wrote, “In the future, the US bishops’ conference will be more narrowly focused on core objectives related to Catholic identity, especially catechesis, liturgy, and evangelization, producing fewer documents on social questions ….” Read more.

  • November 12-13 - While the US bishops may be narrowing their focus at their meeting in Washington, DC, the VOTF National Representative Council will be “right next door” sharpening the VOTF focus. Frank Douglas, NRC steering committee, reports.

  • Jean Bartunek, member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart and professor of Organizational Studies in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College, has edited with Mary Ann Hinsdale and James Keenan Church Ethics And Its Organizational Context: Learning from the Sex Abuse Scandal in the Catholic Church (Boston College Church in the 21st Century Series) (Paperback). It will be published in September. A chapter by Jim Post is based on a 2004 presentation at Boston College.

  • Boston College, October 23. SAVE THE DATE for the presentation of a study conducted on Voice of the Faithful. See the August 11 issue of In the Vineyard for details and watch the BC web site calendar.

  • Readers might also be interested in following the discussions at the Boston College Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life. To learn more, click here and avail yourself of the Center’s free, bi-annual newsletter