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"I've
still got some ideas to suggest about this Church we love,
and I
want to be part of what I believe is an imminent
and wondrous rebirth." Bishop Untener of Michigan, weeks
before his death on March 27, 2004
These
are good news/bad news days for Catholics - while US bishops
seem
to be turning their backs on the USCCB-appointed
National Review Board, one can still find Bishop Untener's
vision for "imminent and wondrous rebirth" everywhere in
Voice of the Faithful. It would seem that VOTF is more important
than ever. Our two-year old organization is gaining in purpose
and recognition - a good news item for the future of our
Church. A brief overview makes the case.
The Voice of the Faithful Handbook is moving along its review
path and the Primer training sessions are progressing (see
April's Vineyard); the office communications team
again spoke for stunned Catholics in April and May press
releases - one on the divisive language coming from bishops
and the other on the inconceivable removal of Fr. Tom Doyle
from his post as a military chaplain; educational conferences
and workshops continue to draw VOTFers - this month the Vineyard publishes
a report from the Boston College conference on leadership
issues (In fact, with Boston College events frequently attended
by overflow crowds, the College has extended its two-year "Church
in the 21st Century" initiative at least to the 2004-2005
academic year) and an overview of a Fairfield University
talk given by author David O'Brien and Yale University professor
Bruce Russett; and the Voice of the Faithful quarterly Voice will
break a little more ground with its June focus on the organizational
structure of our Church. Readers can follow all of these
developments in this issue of In the Vineyard and
on our Web site.
Not to be outdone, the genesis story of Voice of the Faithful Keep
the Faith, Change the Church is on a roll - two anonymous
donors are underwriting the distribution of 1000 copies
apiece. Having read the Muller/Kenney book, both want to
get the word out to as many as possible. (If you don't
have your copy yet, it's not too late. Rose Walsh in the
National office is waiting for you, or you can visit the
home page of our Web site at www.votf.org.
On top of all of this, Voice of the Faithful welcomed
its 200th affiliate! VOTF now has more affiliates in
the US than there are dioceses (195) - "imminence and wonder," to
borrow again from Bishop Untener.
One might ask - whence all this energy? A critic once said
that Voice of the Faithful is known by the company it keeps
- how true. We've been studying the company we keep and we
find it enviable, enriching, empowering and bright with promise
for our Church. Examples follow:
In April, Voice of the Faithful took a booth at the National
Catholic Educational Association gathering. The NCEA convention
brought several Voice members back to the site of our own
2002 convention. Religious educators from all over the country
as well as Canada and Europe attended, availing Voice of
important and rewarding networking opportunities;
On May
10, VOTF president Jim Post shared a stage with the executive
director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection
of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Kathleen McChesney
at a VOTF Winchester, MA meeting (May 10th was the two-year
anniversary of the consistently creative Winchester, MA affiliate
- even a quick look at pastVineyards makes the point);
On May 16, Chicago, Il VOTF will host a reception for interim
chair of the National Review Board Illinois Justice Anne
Burke and Bishop John Gorman, following a Mass of Healing
and Renewal;
On May
22, tri-state Voice (NY, NJ and CT) hosts a call "A Call to
the Bishops: Preserve the National Review Board and Build
Trust in the Church" with speakers Illinois Justice Anne Burke;
Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J., President emeritus, Fordham University
and Associate editor of America magazine; and New York
attorney Pamela D. Hayes, member of the National Review Board;
(see details under EVENTS)
And in June, Voice will attend the annual Bernardin lecture
at Catholic University in Washington, DC. The June 25 evening
is part of Cardinal Bernardin's legacy in the Common Ground
Initiative.
It's all here In the Vineyard. Imminence and wonder,
indeed!
Peggie L. Thorp, ed.
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