Letters to the Editor

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"We are proud here in Canada of the work accomplished by Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the Diocese of London, Ontario. During the appointment of Bishop Emeritus John Michael Sherlock, a clergy-abuse scandal was pending for over four years. The Swales case has been well publicized in London and on the CBC News program "Disclosure," which was aired Jan. 20, 2004. Shortly after this documentary, in February, the Superior Court favored the Swales brothers with a judgment of $1.3 million dollars to be awarded to the Swales family. Talk of further court proceedings came to an end when Bishop Ronald Fabbro , represented by vice-general of the diocese Rev. Tony Daniels, announced that the diocese would not appeal the case.

On the same program, we witnessed the case of a confidentiality agreement where a woman revealed her story behind a shadow and told how the confidentiality agreement came about. On March 5, 2004 the headlines in the London Free Press read 'Church lifts gag order on abuse.' This was the work of Bishop Fabbro.

I must report that in the documentary mentioned above, Rev. Tom Doyle is interviewed on this very subject and states that such prohibition would be laughed at in the US. I'm sure some of the clout, in this lifting of the gag order for the first time in Canada, belongs to our VOTF-award-winning priest of integrity, Tom Doyle O.P. Nevertheless, Bishop Fabbro deserves credit for listening well and acting in accordance with what appears right and true." MaryAnne Gervais, Saanich Peninsula Parish, British Columbia, Canada

"As a member of VOTF, I was outraged to read about Archbishop O'Malley and his refusal to allow women on the altar at Holy Thursday Mass for the symbolic ritual of the 'washing of the feet.' When I had read about the bishop in Atlanta ordering his parish priests not to allow women to participate in this ceremony, my immediate thought was, well, 'maybe, in the South, but not here in Boston.' Was I wrong when I picked up the Globe and read what happened at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Holy Thursday.

I think the VOTF needs to address this. Women are 'Church,' too. If O'Malley thinks this segregation on the altar is a way of healing the Church in Boston, he is sorely wrong. I have to believe that there are many of us Catholics, both male and female, who were offended by this gesture." Susan M. Schmidt

"As a committed and contributing member of Voice of the Faithful, I was appalled to read Eileen McNamara's column in the 4/11/04 Boston Globe regarding Archbishop O'Malley's decision to exclude women from the symbolic Holy Thursday washing of the feet ritual, as well as his remarks during a recent homily. It is my hope that he was misquoted or, at the very least, that his words were taken out of context. However, if that is not the case, I would encourage VOTF to address these issues with him directly to express our concerns.

In a time when the Church professes to be committed to healing, especially in the Archdiocese of Boston, what a beautiful opportunity was missed in not including women in the ritual washing of the feet! Additionally, to identify 'feminism' as a secular evil in the United States was to encourage divisiveness and further demean the position of women within the Church, an effort that hardly needs more fodder. As a 'baby boomer' myself, I am highly offended by the remarks attributed to him. Especially now, we need to welcome and encourage ALL Catholics to become involved in the Church, not dismiss whole generations of them with hurtful words.

My guess is that other VOTF members are distressed as well, and I hope that we will be responding as an organization to these affronts." Shanna O'Grady Frost

[Ed. VOTF did indeed address the bishops' mistakes. The press release appears on our website at www.votf.org]

"I took a course last year at Sacred Heart Seminary called 'The Nature and Mission of the Church' that covered the major documents of Vatican II. There were 18 people in the class - three were studying for the priesthood, three or four studying for the deaconate, the other 10 or 11 were working on degrees or special programs.

What struck me after being away from the classroom as a student for about 35 years was the fact that virtually every student in class, and I think in the entire seminary, was focused on being involved in the institutional church. There is a kind of insulation from the world, from the incarnational aspect. It was ironic for me that 75% of class discussion and lecturing was on the nature of the church and 25% on its mission in this world. 'Thy kingdom come' was given short shift. This was the case even though the very documents that we were studying pointed to 'the world,' 'the culture,' 'humanity,' 'the nations of the world,' and 'enculturation.'

I am happy that VOTF is confronting and challenging the church in our time because there is a great need for us to hear the call of the Holy Spirit of Vatican II and to

turn outward to the world that Christ came to transform. Yes, to answer this call prayerfully and thoughtfully requires changing the very structure of the church, presently out of balance. Let us keep up this very important work, knowing that it is the work of the same Spirit who calls each of us through Baptism into the mission of His Church." John Clancy

"Keep up the good work. We need to force the issue about the bishops' responsibility in the abuse of the children. The parish pastoral council survey is an excellent start. A wonderful Easter to you and all the VOTF staff." Jim Marrinan

"My parish has no Parish Council and no Finance Council. There are no staff meetings, no newsletters, no web site. Pulpit announcements are kept to a minimum. The pastor only promotes selective events like the Pancake Breakfast and HIS adult education course. He never speaks about our Baptismal call to serve, religious formation, life-long journey, stewardship, evangelization, etc., much less on social justice, sanctity of life.

I pray for him and for myself. As the only full-time employee and a member of this parish since 1975, I won't desert this parish. As a widow I can't risk my job. I would like to see REAL accountability as recommended by a recent task force on lay ecclesial ministers in Cincinnati. The recommendations will be presented to the Bishop and Priest Council shortly. Probably nothing will happen. Easter is a time of HOPE and surprises. I will keep praying." Carolyn Meyers

"As always VOTF is a strong reassuring example that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us. Keep up the good work." Dr. Joe Murray

"I believe it was on 'Meet the Press' where Bishop McCarrick stated each parish has a parish council. At the time, I thought it a ridiculous comment on his part, based on my experience. I am a life-long Catholic (60 years), have lived in four major metropolitan areas in the East, West and Mid-West, and have belonged to more than seven parishes. I don't recall being informed of a parish council in any of them. If there were opportunities for lay involvement/input, I was never aware of it despite weekly Mass attendance and reading of parish bulletins. This is the area where something really needs to be done." Carol

"My Dad and my sister have been members of our Parish Council in different eras. It is clear from their experience that not much has changed over the years: Father will, and always has, run the Parish the way Father wants to run the Parish. Committees are told what Father will and will not approve at the outset and, even then, Father overrules them at times. A small example of how little say parishioners have in day to day decisions in our parish: Prior to Christmas week, my sister coordinated a group of people who volunteered to decorate the many evergreen trees that adorn the altar each Christmas season. No specific instructions were given; they knew that trees should be understated. Tiny white lights and uniform gauzy fabric draped around and from tree to tree had been done in the past. They chose tiny white lights and large but tasteful bows atop each tree, with ribbon streamers down the trees in the same beautiful ribbon. The group worked all morning and part of the afternoon to complete this labor of love and, at the end, Father told my sister that he 'liked the trees better in the past, without the ribbon' and he had her remove it.

I thought this a classic example of clerical 'control' issues. If the pastor cannot relinquish control on such an innocuous matter, how then can we dream that he will be willing to allow the true Church - the Body of Christ, the people in the pews - to have a voice in the important decisions? Pastors and the Church hierarchy repeatedly mistake themselves for the Church, when they should simply be the Church's servants." Lynn Norris

"Our pastor here in Los Alamos, NM suddenly dissolved our Parish Council and has rejected in writing a request to have one. He copied the Bishop on his denial. A number of folks are considering going to other parishes (at some distance in our spread out state).

Also, the decision of the Administrative Committee of the U.S. Bishop's Conference to delay authorization of the next round of audits for the National Review Board is outrageous. It is particularly noisome if, as the Washington Post reported, the effort to delay was spearheaded by Bishop Bruskewitz and Cardinal Egan. I think this should be a major issue for VOTF!" Bob Nunz

"Happy Easter, my friends. You give me hope." Theresa Capria

"I agree with Peggie Thorp's Commentary. It's ironic that the Church wants us to use our voices at the polls, but the hierarchy doesn't seem to want us to use our voices to suggest improvements in the structure of the Church!"

"I am a member of the Knights of Columbus and was active in our local council (various officer positions, involved in parish and grade school activities, etc.) until recently. For a number of reasons, I am limiting my activities.

I am interested in knowing whether the K of C, which promotes itself as a family oriented Catholic men's organization, has done anything to address the abuse of children by the clergy. My sense is it has not.

When I raise the question at the local and state levels of the K of C, being an organization that could promote positive and healthy change within the Church, I am met with silence. In the national K of C literature I have not seen any reference to the scandal, other than the occasional reference to the K of C being the protector and defender of the clergy.

It seems to me that if the K of C and other Catholic institutions and groups that have been in existence for some time had addressed the issue of clergy abuse, there would be little or no need for Voice of the Faithful.

In any case, I would be interested in following up with someone that could correct my perception of the K of C or confirm my suspicions." John O'Keefe

"In its quest to see that the American bishops take responsibility, VOTF is appealing to the pope. I believe this is the wrong approach because it presupposes that the bishop of Rome really has all this power. Religion as well as politics is really local. The truth of the matter is that Rome was not all that important a player in many of the large events of the church - Nicea, for example. In fact the reason infallibility was declared by Pius IX was due to a diminished papacy, which had its ups and downs. At any rate, anyone who studies the history of the church with any diligence will see that the Bishop of Rome, while holding a place of honor, has no real God-given power.

The point is there is plenty of precedent for local control. Sure it can get messy at times, but not messier than two world wars, the holocaust, the French Revolution, slavery and the like. This should be the issue, not begging Rome or the NCCB for a voice. Of course, it would help immeasurably if the American bishops would insist on their consciences rather than blind obedience." Bill Mazzella

"It seems that the only times that the Catholic Church attempts to affect this country's political system is when it involves sex-related issues. On other important issues, like the death penalty, guns, war, social and economic justice, they may speak out but rarely, if ever, take a strong stand on how Catholic politicians must vote. However, on issues like birth control, in-vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, same-sex marriage and abortion, they go right after the political process. Fortunately, most Catholics who think much about their responsibilities have learned that the Church does not always speak with the voice of God; they have to examine their own consciences to find the true Way."

"Recently, our bishop prided himself by posting a diocesan financial report on the Diocese of Portland (Maine) website. Revenues and expenses are itemized in the most general terms. The names of the members of the Finance Council are not posted on the website. Most (if not all) Finance Council members are favored by the bishop. They are not elected; the bishop appoints them.

Transparency and accountability does not come easily to the bishops, their staffs or diocesan lay committee members. Existing council members may be as entrenched in clericalism as are the bishops and their priests.

What can we do? We can begin to ask questions, one by one. My constant and unyielding vision is that we become a church for the poor. Each and every financial decision we make must be followed by a simple question, 'How does this decision affect the poor?'" Paul Kendrick

"As far as Church leaders' concern for Catholic voters, I would say to them, clean up your own house first. Make sure everybody is united on the fact that we are one, holy, apostolic Church before going on to ancillary roadways." Mary Anne Martin, Kingston, MA

"My family has been devastated by false accusations of sexual abuse, which came from 'recovered' false memories. Our parish priest was completely unprepared to offer useful advice on this topic. I think what we need to advocate is an entirely new way for the Church to look at all sexual matters, including sexual abuse and false accusations of sexual abuse. The Church has had such a confusing, hypocritical, unhealthy attitude about sex in general, which has contributed to negligent responses with regard to both sexual abuse and false accusations of sexual abuse." Michael Donnelly, New York, NY

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