NATIONAL News
[Comments
are welcome at pthorp.ed@votf.org]
Message
from VOTF Vice-president Kris Ward, Chair Charter Task Force:
The revisions
to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People will be considered
by the Bishops at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting
June 16-18 in Chicago. Please be vigilant during this time for any updates
and be ready to use your voice.
Voice of the
Faithful obtained a Workbook that the Bishops used to gather comment from
all United States Bishops on the revisions proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee
on Sexual Abuse.
Voice of the
Faithful submitted a Workbook with our comments on the proposed changes and
a letter with additional recommendations to Archbishop Flynn. The materials
are available on our website.
Voice of the
Faithful is opposed to any weakening of the Charter. Voice of the Faithful
proposed language for strengthening the Charter and proposed the Bishops
undertake a major education campaign in order to inform every Catholic about
the provisions of the Charter.
CONVOCATION News – “The
Laity Speak: Accountability Now ”
Working
group papers now on the web site are from Voice of Renewal/Lay Education
and the Structural Change group. The idea behind making this material available
and downloadable now is to help attendees at the convocation to arrive
with as much background information as possible. Consequently, we hope
all attendees will find themselves comfortably engaged throughout the weekend.
What To
Look For on the VOTF web site.
Structural Change Working Group package – an Introduction from Margaret Roylance
During the
last month, the Structural Change Working Group (SCWG) has been preparing
for the VOTF Convocation in Indianapolis this July. Several long-term projects
should be completed in time for the meeting, including:
-
the first, and soon
the second, edition of the Primer on Organizational Structures of
the Catholic Church;
-
[now posted] 9 recommended
operating Principles for Parish Finance Councils (a parallel
set of recommendations to the diocesan-level principles, which were
unanimously approved by the VOTF Representative Council meeting in
Hartford, Connecticut in May 2004);
-
two proposals for
structural change based on our work with Ladislas Orsy, S.J., who provided
consultation to the SCWG on Canon Law and Church governance. These
two proposals are entitled “Independent Judicial Review of Actions
by a Diocesan Bishop” and “Diocesan Mutual Visitation as a Mechanism
for Renewal”. They will be submitted for consideration by the
convocation and the new National Representative Council, which will
meet for the first time in Indianapolis, along with other structural
change recommendations such as the Bridgeport Proposals (on the Bridgeport
web site).
The SCWG has
also submitted recommendations along with five other national Working Groups
for a Project Workbook entitled “What Do We Do Next?” The Workbook
offers concrete steps that may be taken at the parish or affiliate level
to advance the mission and goals of VOTF. The completed Workbook was submitted
to the outgoing Representative Council at its last meeting in May for approval,
and should be available for distribution in Indianapolis.
In additional
to these projects, the SCWG has assembled a series of recommendations on
Parish Pastoral Councils and Safety Committees for the Convocation. The information
on Parish Pastoral Councils (PPCs) includes the results of the survey carried
out by the SCWG during the last two years; a set of sample By-Laws for PPCs,
and links to successful PPCs identified by the survey. Sample By-Laws are
included in the package because the survey showed that PPCs that operate
under By-Laws or some other form of foundation document are perceived by
their members to be more effective and that the recommendations of such PPCs
are more often implemented.
For almost
two years, VOTF members from across the country have participated in the
work of articulating structural change within our Church. We have done so
electronically, through the Structural Change Network and other electronic
avenues. The Convocation in Indianapolis promises to be a wonderful opportunity
to put a face with all those e-addresses!
Voice of
Renewal/Lay Education Working Group has posted on the web site:
-
Model for a Day of
Renewal
-
Faith-Sharing Groups
-
Education Resources
-
Origins of the Church – with
a Timeline
-
Annotated Bibliography
(pdf) on The History of the Church; Structures of the Church; Current
Views of the Church; The Sexual Abuse Scandal; The Priesthood/Ministry;
Prayer/Spirituality and more
CALLING ALL
AFFILIATES -
Don't be among the unrepresented! To register now, click
here.
And when
you get to Indianapolis, introduce yourselves with an exhibit or a brief
presentation in the Exhibit Hall of the Conference Center. .
If you haven't
received the e-message about display opportunities at the convocation exhibit
hall, please contact pthorp.ed@votf.org .
If you have “wares” to sell, contact John Moynihan at moynihan_john@hotmail.com .
Pat Gomez can help with your exhibit/presentation needs - contact PTCGomez@comcast.net.
Remember! The
Friday Training Sessions are FREE, i.e., included in your registration
fee.
Spread the
word: We are extending a special invitation to lay religious - contact Evelyn
Mercantini at esmerc48@comcast.net
Share a room?
Have a housing concern? Contact Michelle at famvm@prodigy.net
Please visit
the web site and
see recent updates and news. Besides our impressive roster of speakers, we
will be joined by Frs. Tom Doyle and Donald Cozzens, women religious, and
affiliate representatives from over 20 states. Also, the first Council meeting
of our newly elected National Representative Council will take place from
3-5 at the Hyatt Regency just before the 6-8 welcome reception in the same
hotel, which is connected to the conference center.
WHAT
ELSE CAN I DO TO HELP?
Your
response to our last call for volunteers was wonderful - we have
all the lectors we could ask for! We would still like a few more
volunteers to be greeters, singers and Eucharistic Ministers - contact
Susan Troy at prayerfulvoice1@yahoo.com .
If you would like to help with breakout sessions, transportation,
hospitality and information, please contact jaycarrigan@earthlink.net.
If
you’re bringing any artistic creativity to Indianapolis, you are
much valued. Prayerful Voice is looking for a group to make banners
for the Saturday evening liturgy and Sunday’s Council Commissioning
and Sending Forth. Contact prayerfulvoice1@yahoo.com
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Please
note the Friday evening 6-8 welcoming reception at the Hyatt Regency preceded
from 3-5 by the first meeting of our new Representative Council also to
be held at the Hyatt Regency. See the convocation pages for details.
VOTF
Cincinnati has produced a DVD – and right on time for Indy!
Submitted by Nan Fisher
A
professionally produced 15-minute DVD about the mission and
goals of VOTF is now available for use in outreach efforts.
The DVD was produced by Cincinnati VOTF to be used in presentations
to pastors, pastoral/parish councils and to domestic church
groups (e.g., faith sharing groups). It features commentary
from two survivors, two priests and two members of VOTF affiliates.
It is not specific to Cincinnati and is intended for use
in a facilitated meeting to introduce Catholics to VOTF and
to provide a starting point for discussion about how Catholics
can respond to the ongoing issues that have resulted from
the sex abuse scandal and its cover up by bishops.
The
DVD is part of Cincinnati VOTF’s outreach packet that includes
their position on Structural Change, a brochure to explain
VOTF and a response postcard to send to the Archbishop of
Cincinnati. Affiliate members are committed to the two-fold
approach of showing the DVD along with providing a way for
viewers to respond. We believe that the viewing of the DVD
will inspire others to respond and we want to capitalize
on the opportunity to have impact.
The
DVD is copyrighted but Cincinnati VOTF’s goal is to share
it as widely as possible. Copies of the DVD will be available
at the Convocation in Indy. Resource materials such as the
facilitation guide and sample postcard will also be available
in print, with the opportunity to have them sent to you electronically.
Members of Cincinnati VOTF will be at our booth to share
ideas and experiences of using the DVD.
An
outcome of the Convocation will be a renewed interest to
spread the message of VOTF—the DVD “Faithful Voices” will
make that job so much easier!
San
Francisco VOTF has put a petition on line asking
Archbishop Levada, as head of the Confraternity for the
Doctrine of the Faith, to continue the Fr Maciel investigation.
The USCCB meeting in Chicago June 16-18 is an opportunity
to raise the issue and support a positive response from
the bishops. For more information and to sign this petition
go to www.votf-sf.org.
A
Dubious Distinction for Boston Churches
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has identified Boston’s Catholic
Churches as one on a list of 11 most endangered historic places in the country.
The churches are Blessed Sacrament in Jamaica Plain, Our Lady Presentation
in Brighton, St. Catherine of Siena in Charlestown and St. Peter’s Lithuanian
Church in South Boston. To learn more click
here.
HBO
premiere of “Twist of Faith” at the Boston, MA State House
About 75 people gathered in a sub-basement screening room of the MA State House
on Beacon Hill to view the premiere of HBO’s compelling documentary about the
day-to-day reality of living with abuse in one’s past. The film addresses with
clarity the cloud that hovers over all aspects of a victim’s life, even decades
later – work, family life, spiritual life – as well as the destructive force
of trust lost. The film will air on HBO on June 28.
CBS
60 Minutes (Wed) provided national coverage of another
tale of clerical sexual abuse, this one led to reopening
an old murder investigation. There is a segment on the
diocese of Springfield, Massachusetts and the case of former
priest Richard Lavigne. Fr. James Scahill, who received
the Priest of Integrity award from Voice of the Faithful
at our regional conference in Worcester, MA last November,
is also featured in this story. View the video here.
Read the text of the story, “Murder
Haunts the Catholic Church.”
VOTF
president Jim Post to respond to Winnipeg, Canada Archbishop
James Weisberger at the 7th Annual Catholic Common
Ground Initiative Lecture on June 28 at Catholic University,
Washington, DC. The lecture is “Building a Church of Communion.” The
Catholic Common Ground Initiative was inaugurated by the
late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin with the release of a statement “Called
to Be Catholic: Church in a Time of Peril,” on August 12,
1996. It originated in a concern that unnecessarily polarizing
differences among church leaders and members hinder efforts
to build the Church community and to carry out its mission.
The statement proposes working principles for dialogue
within the Church and expresses the conviction that such
an effort will transform those who engage in it as well
as strengthen the Church for its mission in the new millennium.
For more information on the National Pastoral Life Center
and the Common Ground Initiative, click
here.
Sr.
Betsy Conway, former VOTF national secretary and ongoing
VOTF activist, has received an award from Regis College
for excellence in community service. In addition to her
ministry in Framingham (Bethany House), the award highlighted
Sr. Betsy’s involvement in Voice of the Faithful and framed
her work with VOTF as one of many courageous choices. Sr.
Betsy believes her VOTF work and commitment were significant
factors in being selected.
Following
on the heels of the resignation of Tom Reese from America magazine,
a national Jesuit newsletter fired a writer for proposing
in the newsletter that the Church have an open dialogue on
homosexuality. See the National
Catholic Reporter.
Also,
NCR reports that the “Maciel
scandal won’t go away.” That editorial and John
Allen’s coverage are at NCR.
BOOK
ALERT: John Allen’s new book The Rise of Benedict
XVI : The Inside Story of How the Pope was Elected and
Where He Will Take the Catholic Church will be released
on June 7, 2005. Watch amazon.com and booksellers.
From
Gaile Pohlhaus: Affiliates should send their meeting info to ParishVoiceExchange@Yahoo.com.
It would be wonderful to see something on every block of
the calendar!
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