“All
of us do what we do, think what we think, precisely because
we love the Church and we want to see her sail safely
and strongly through this sea of change.” Sr.
Joan Chittister speaking in US Catholic
Viewing
the DVD produced by VOTF Cincinnati recently, I was
struck by the calm assurance of those who spoke on
this video – priests, lay members of VOTF and survivors – that
community is the only way we can move forward in our
Church. The film is only 15 minutes long but packs
a powerful incentive to belong to Voice of the Faithful
and provides a compelling image of a Church in touch
with itself. One of the survivors who speaks on film,
attorney Gerard Ahrens, recalled the day survivors
addressed the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in
2002 and the astounding courage it took to do so. Ahrens
says, “I believe a wave of grace came across the Church
that day.”
The
DVD will be just one of the affiliate “wares” sold
and/or on display during the Voice of the Faithful
convocation in Indianapolis, July 8-10. We hope that
all who are planning to attend the convocation will
be comfortably engaged with Voice of the Faithful leaders
from all over the United States as we chart next steps
toward reform in our Church. To that end, the Voice
of Renewal/Lay Education group has posted on our web
site their downloadable materials, which are the products
of three years of consistent effort toward a more educated
laity. The Structural Change Working Group includes
in this issue an introduction to their own impressive
output since August 2002; the texts will be on our
web site convocation pages shortly, along with the
Protecting Our Children Working Group material.
Take
a look at the items in National and Regional News and
the Commentary in this issue; these tells us about
the scope of work being done for our Church and the
scope of the work ahead. Coupled with our Indianapolis
convocation, “The Laity Speak: Accountability Now,” these
works of faith are writing Church history in our time.
When
you think about it, who else is gathering faithful
Catholics for open discussion of an accountable Church
and how to get there? Who else is offering a whole
menu of grassroots training opportunities in media
management, conflict resolution, handling closing parishes,
and survivor support actions? Where else will you have
the opportunity to talk with Catholics from coast to
coast, to join a conversation with Fr. Donald Cozzens
on the ordained and lay ministries, to participate
in lay-led liturgies and to be a welcomed voice
for reform?
If
you are unable to be with us in Indianapolis, your
donation will speak for you. If you are already booked,
know that your voice will speak for many. If you want
to attend and have been putting it off, think about
how you will feel on July 11 when the voices for reform
were heard and yours was not among them.
We
want you to be part of the “wave of grace” that is
clearly heading toward Indianapolis!
Peggie
L. Thorp
pthorp.ed@votf.org
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