VOTF - In the Vineyard

In the Vineyard
November 2004

"Faith without works is dead." James 2:26

Within one week in this election year, we heard James 2:26 quoted by an archbishop (Denver, CO Archbishop Chaput) in the October 22, 2004 New York Times as well as a presidential candidate (Senator John Kerry) on national television during the presidential debates. That's a lot of press for James. What do we make of this?

Voice of the Faithful members and supporters are surely evidencing the work behind our lived faith; it is documented monthly in these pages and elsewhere ( the National Catholic Reporter has its editorial eye on Boston Catholics' faith at work - see boxed excerpt on this page). Our Church leadership also documents its many good works. However, James would be not a little disconcerted by the earthly judgment rendered by one against the other in our religious climate. He cautions against judging each other - "If you judge the law you are no observer of the law, you are its judge. There is but one Lawgiver and Judge …. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?" Many American Catholics part ways on this very issue, from each other and from their bishops. Who should judge your works versus mine? Whose moral authority is so clear and how do we recognize that authority? How do we balance our obligation to defend against injustice and our obligation to love those we see as the perpetrators of injustices? If, as James says, "Faith without works is dead," what are we to do about faith WITH works, if those very works are questioned, challenged, dismissed, even banned?

Well, we "keep on keepin' on" - and bear witness again at the bishops' bi-annual meeting, where we are not invited.

We discern among each other - and learn from the teachers among us. And we look around for "extraordinary" help. Billie Bourgeois of the Baton Rouge, LA affiliate identifies one invaluable source of support on this journey - grace - and where to find it. Her reflection in this issue is our Thanksgiving prayer; the November 13 Worcester conference will offer, among many other opportunities for education and spiritual growth, a workshop on Lectio Divina ("divine reading") - it is the meditative reading of Scripture, much practiced in Christian communities into the Middle Ages; and the extraordinary support for the parishioners of closing parishes is its own spiritual nourishment.

In James, we also read, "The harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace." Thanksgiving brings Americans face to face with the twin acts of gratitude and sharing. It is a day that has brought the atheist and the believer, the child and the adult, the saint and the sinner, the wise and the foolish, the fed and the hungry, to the same table. We are thankful. Whether we bless ourselves and pray our thanks or just appreciate our "good luck," we are sharing bounty. Voice of the Faithful wishes all of our readers and supporters a peaceful harvest.

Peggie L. Thorp, ed.

The October 29, 2004 National Catholic Reporter editorial offered one perspective we share with readers in the spirit of thanksgiving for all our members worldwide. We quote excerpts here:
"… there are some signs that Boston's awful ordeal could be the wider church's gain. No one knows what will grow in the wake of the turmoil that resulted in the Boston archdiocese being labeled the epicenter of arguably the most damaging episode in US Church history.
For starters, the wider church was given Voice of the Faithful, the lay group with the motto 'Keep the faith, change the church.'
The fact that you have experienced about the worst of it in terms of betrayal, in terms of victims and in terms of the consequences for your diocese means that you have a certain credibility before the rest of the church. So we watch as you continue to push for accountability in the sex abuse crisis, in the finances of the church and in the rational for closing parishes."
The editorial concluded with, "Boston, in the end, could be developing some needed models and wisdom for the church at large."

Working Group News

Survivor Support Community announces Truth and Recognition initiative; Priests' Support Working Group preparing survey for distribution to priests nationwide; Christmas cards on sale - proceeds to benefit survivors.

National

Voice of the Faithful will again bear witness at the upcoming USCCB meeting in Washington, DC; VOTF 2005 Convention update; VOTF officer elections 2005 update (are you registered to vote?); Parish Voice announces three more affiliates (now 211!); updates on the fast-moving leadership training program; watch for the VOTF ad in the December 3 issue of Commonweal magazine

Regional and Affiliate News

New England Regional conference Nov. 13 - we're holding your ticket!; VOTF in British Columbia, Canada working with their area press; VOTF East Bay, CA honors an extraordinary survivor; Dayton, Ohio's newly appointed member of USCCB National Review Board to speak at VOTF meeting; VOTF Westford/Chelmsford reaching out to closing parishes; VOTF Louisville, KY meeting with priests councils; Parish Closings Watch - vigils and appeals are increasing and a visitor reflects; Gaile Pohlhaus has a message for Maine VOTF

Prayer and Reflection

Kris Ward, VOTF vice president, wrote a "Prayer for Survivors"; VOTF Baton Rouge, LA artist Billie Bourgeois reflects on "Amazing Grace"; Recap of Dr. Anthony Padovano's address before October Council meeting - "Hope in the Church"; Jim Post at St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis, MN; Two opportunities in December for spiritual development - see October In the Vineyard under Events, Etc.

Letters to the Editor

And …

Do you know the VOTF genesis story? Get your copy of Keep the Faith, Change the Church; Donald Cozzens' book Faith That Dares To Speak has been published - it can be pre-ordered at amazon.com. Watch future Vineyard issues for review.
What Do You Think? VOTF president Jim Post wrote "When Churches Fail the Public Trust" for the Fall issue of Nonprofit Quarterly (http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/559.html) In the article, Jim said, "There is too little discussion of how a religious institution ought to behave toward the community and the civic life of which it is a part." What do you think? Write to leaderpub@voiceofthefaithful.org.
What do you think of the new look for In the Vineyard? More/Less user-friendly? Let us know at leaderpub@voiceofthefaithful.org.
Give yourself the gift of voice and donate to Voice of the Faithful
JOIN Voice of the Faithful

Survivor Community News

Report on The Truth and Recognition Coalition from Steve Sheehan and former regional coordinator for SNAP Phil Saviano

This coalition came into existence on July 20, 2004 at a meeting of survivors and VOTF members and has continued to meet on a monthly basis. At that first meeting, a discussion of a draft proposal (prepared by Mary Scanlon) of a "truth and recognition" project resulted in the following actions adopted by consensus.

1. The Survivors and VOTF members present formed a coalition for the purpose of advancing a truth and recognition project. Membership in the coalition is open to all interested survivors, VOTF members and others who share the goals of the project.

2. It was decided that the initial phase of the project would consist of a pilot program conducted in the Massachusetts area and later expanded to other locales.

The Truth and Recognition Initiative aims to provide an historical record of the sexual abuse of young people by clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. The initiative would collect, through personal interviews, the stories of survivors. Such a record might document the abuse tragedy in order to promote understanding of what occurred.

At the very least, the project would honor the struggles of many survivors, but it has the potential to be far more than that. It could create an important teaching tool for public education and the protection of future generations of children.

The coalition is seeking additional members, including both supporters and survivors of clergy abuse. The coalition plans to meet, in its entirety, once each month and in working committees periodically each month, to develop the mission statement, goals, and procedures of this initiative. If interested, please contact one of the following: Steve Sheehan - sheehan1777@aol.com; Marge Bean - Margebean@cs.com; Mary Scanlon - buzzbayx@comcast.net

VOTF Christmas cards on sale - The Winchester, MA Area VOTF is again selling Christmas cards in packages of 12 for $12. There are four designs painted by artists in the VOTF group. All proceeds will benefit abuse survivors. The affiliate hopes to beat last year's sales - $4100! Please visit www.votfwinchester.org to view the cards, and print an order form. Contact Bob Morris at rmorrisvotf@aol.com if you have any questions.

Priests' Support Working Group

The Goal #2 working group has released for perusal two versions of a projected survey of priests. Surveys are tough documents to create, since one needs a very clear idea of why one is asking the questions and what to do with the results! Also, if a survey is too long and specific, one risks having few respondents - too short and general and the answers may be long-winded and off the point. At the very least, a survey should invite honest, open communication and it is our hope that priests will recognize in the questions our intense desire to learn more about their opinions, histories and difficulties.

In attempting to blend all the elements of a valid survey tool, we have made one version general, while in the other we ask for quite specific information. Comments are already coming in, and the group plans to meet with leadership in the next few weeks to glean the best of both surveys. The finished version will be available to all affiliates who need such a tool to prepare the ground for fruitful lay/clerical collaboration.

NATIONAL NEWS

USCCB November 11-14 meeting, Washington, DC.Voice of the Faithful will again bear witness in Washington, DC at (outside) the US bishops' bi-annual meeting. Communications manager Suzanne Morse will join VOTF vice president Kris Ward alongside SNAP and other advocacy groups to help ensure that the voices of survivors and laity are heard. Key issues of concern include plans for the bishops' review of the Charter for Protection of Children and Young People; the need for episcopal accountability; and the direct and indirect effects of diocesan bankruptcies and reorganizations. Please watch the VOTF web site for coverage. You can also view topics included on the bishops' agenda by visiting http://www.usccb.org/comm/finaladvisory.htm;

ELECTIONS Update - The VOTF election season is at hand. Nominations have been solicited from all registered members; the Nominations Committee has interviewed the nominees to learn of their interest, ability, and readiness to serve in an elected national leadership position. The names of those who have accepted nominations will be posted shortly, as well as the voting deadline.

Elections will be held to fill four positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Balloting will be by electronic and paper ballot. The electronic ballots are much less expensive than paper mail ballots, so please be sure to register on the website if possible.

It is expected that all voting will take place in early December; results will be announced before Christmas.

The one-year term for elected officers begins January 1, 2005.

PARISH VOICE - A Note to Affiliate Leaders and Regional Coordinators from National Parish Voice:

A suggestion comes from Wayne Koch of Richmond, Virginia. Wayne's affiliate has bought copies of the Jim Muller and Charles Kenney book Keep the Faith, Change the Church for their local community library as well as for their parish library. The book can be ordered from the VOTF homepage: www.votf.org. Keep the Faith, Change the Church communicates well who we really are as a movement and has already brought Catholics to VOTF who had previously been skeptical. Let's make the book as widely available as possible!

We have three new affiliates! VOTF Union County, NJ (diocese of Newark); VOTF Metuchen Diocese at St. Matthias (NJ); VOTF Charlotte (North Carolina). That puts us at 214 affiliates total, in 74 U.S. dioceses and two Canadian dioceses. Welcome all!

Our MA-NY Hands, MA-NY Hearts leadership and organizing training has been launched in the PA/MD/VA/DC area. Our professional organizer, Aimee Carevich, is happy to report that there is now a team of thirteen people there with whom she will work over the next few months, as she did this past summer with leaders from MA/CT/NY. We look forward to continued good news from PA/MD/VA/DC. Comments from affiliate members elsewhere who have started the program have included: "It gave us direction!" "Excitement is building!" "We now have the knowledge we've been missing." "We have a 'To Do' list and a timeframe now." Onward and upward!

THE PARISH VOICE CONNECTION
A new yahoo group site has been set up to focus on financial accountability issues in the Catholic Church. These issues include parish closings, diocesan bankruptcies, church ownership, and financial transparency and accountability at all levels of the Church.

It is important to understand, however, that this site is not a spin-off of Voice of the Faithful or the Structural Change Network. This is an unmonitored site, but our members should chime in. While not coming under the auspices of Voice of the Faithful, the ideas formulated could be a great resource, as these are important issues that we are all facing.

To subscribe, send a message to: financial_accountability-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

2005 VOTF National Convention News

Plans are moving ahead for our 2005 National Convention on July 9-10, 2005 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Volunteers are sought (from all corners of VOTF) to serve on a wide range of Convention Planning Committees including: Program Development (prayer, speakers, breakout sessions, liturgy, and outreach); Promotion/Publicity/Tickets & Communication; Operations (logistics, signage, etc.); Finance (budget, registration, etc.); and Technology. The specific time commitment for each committee will vary, but all will require frequent emailing and regular conference calls. Throughout the convention planning process, additional volunteers will be sought for specific tasks. All VOTF members who are willing to donate their time and talent to planning this wonderful undertaking are urged to contact Ann Carroll (anncarrollvotf@yahoo.com). Monthly updates will appear in each issue of In the Vineyard, so stay tuned!

Affiliate News

VOTF International

VOTF SaanichPeninsula Parish in British Columbia, Canada
Submitted by MaryAnne Gervais

VOTF SaanichPeninsula Parish in British Columbia, Canada moves into its second year of operation. We have a registration of 40 members, active and passive, but all are supporting members.

Our meetings have been very interesting with many guest speakers and a series of videos followed by discussion.

Recently we were able to share an evening with Ted Schmidt, editor of the Catholic New Times an independent and prophetic Catholic paper out of Toronto, Canada. Ted is a very forward thinking Catholic who has interviewed most of the leaders in the Catholic Church of Canada, so his remembrances were informative. Ted published an article on VOTF in Canada in the October 10th issue, which was submitted by yours truly. One of the major points in the article was directed to the hierarchy in our Diocese.

At a meeting with the future Vicar General, our team was informed that there was no Sexual Misconduct Policy for the diocese. A three-page draft of such was all that we were given. This is most upsetting and so we are now in the process of actively requesting that such a policy be written and enforced.

VOTF Sidney has connected with the three major survivor groups in our region and has offered what assistance we are able to give at this time. This fall we opened our season with a wine and cheese party; it was well attended and a good way to engage with members on an informal basis yet with our VOTF goals interspersed into the conversation. Our parish priest attended and we enjoyed his company.

Today the steering committee met to plan some of the year's events. Next month we will be offering the BBC series "Absolute Truth," which is a look at Catholic Church history since the Vatican II Council.

Wishing you all a great Fall and Winter Season.

VOTF WEST

VOTF East Bay, No. CA
Submitted by Mary Fadhl - this is the text of an award presentation made to a survivor whose work has been an inspiration

Welcome to Voice of the Faithful East Bay. My name is Mary Fadhl and I am a steering committee member.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." Who can deny the sexual abuse of children is a tragedy? Sometimes, though, circumstances produce heroes. Terrie Light is one such hero in the Oakland Diocese.

When just a child, a priest abused Terrie. Like every other victim of abuse, it had a profound effect on her life. For much of the journey, Terrie dealt with it alone. But as she began speaking to other survivors, she realized what a widespread problem it was.

In 1993, Terrie went public with her story. At the time she had children in Catholic school. As you might imagine, her experience was largely ignored within our diocese. However, closer to home, she was shunned at the playground causing her and her children more sadness and anger. In spite of this, Terrie continued to speak out to make sure the abuse would never happen to another child. At the time, the priest who abused her was not named and he was still active as a priest.

Terrie was on the original board of SNAP. She answered the help line and offered compassion and support to other survivors. Often, she was the first person an abuse survivor ever spoke to about the pain and betrayal of abuse.

In 1995 Terrie went east with three other survivors to speak to a bishops ad hoc committee. The group was there to tell bishops that abuse was not just a regional problem, but one that existed all over the United States. It was with a sense of discouragement that the group realized only one bishop seemed to feel compassion for their experiences as sexual abuse survivors.

Sr. Barbara Flannery [the victim assistance coordinator in the Oakland diocese; she has served in this position for nine years] became aware of Terrie in 1996. Sister said, "Terrie helped me understand the horrific effect clergy abuse has on children. She has been patient and understanding as she helped the Church."

Terrie, VOTF wishes to publicly thank you for speaking out and protecting all children. We honor your courage and perseverance. Thank you for your contributions. You are a hero.

VOTF CENTRAL

VOTF Dayton, OH
Submitted by Kristine Ward

The Dayton Affiliate continues bearing witness to the clergy sexual abuse scandal by being in the courtroom for the conviction, sentencing and probation review of Archdiocese of Cincinnati priest Thomas Kuhn. Father Kuhn was convicted on one count of public indecency with a minor and 10 counts of providing alcohol to minors. He was sentenced to five years probation to include daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in addition to gambling addiction counseling and sexual abuse counseling. He is forbidden to work in any position which would involve anyone under the age of 21 years. He has also been ordered to write letters of apology to two Dayton parishes where he served as pastor and to a Catholic high school in Cincinnati where he served as principal. The Dayton Affiliate continued to monitor the receipt of the letters of apology and how they will be made known to parishioners, student and former students.

The Dayton Affiliate is working with SNAP national leaders and the Cincinnati/Dayton chapter of SNAP concerning the need for a change in the child protection laws in Ohio.

The Dayton Affiliate encouraged its members to express support for priests of integrity on Priesthood Sunday October 31, a day designated by the National Federation of Priests. The Dayton Affiliate acknowledged in its regular updates to members the actions of local priests that have been supportive of sexual abuse victims and increased lay participation in the Church.

One of the newly appointed members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops National Review Board is from Dayton. Judge Michael R. Merz, a federal magistrate, has accepted the Dayton Affiliate's invitation to attend its November meeting.

VOTF EAST

Gaile Pohlhaus reminder to Maine VOTF - to participate in on-line conversation, please send an email request to VOTFMainemembers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

VOTF Westford/Chelmsford, MA
Submitted by Lauren Franceschi

Our group held our annual election in September and look forward to the inspiration and leadership of our new officers who will serve 1 year terms. They are President, Barbara Tempel; Vice President, Dennis Galvin; Treasurer, Marlene Lobo; Recording Secretary, Cathy Coveyou; Correspondence Secretary, Elaine Sullivan; two at-large representatives, Francine Gagnon and Carole Taylor

After some time off in the summer, we asked members to chair committees that will work on the following tasks in order to support our mission and goals and advance VOTF in the community and Church.

Tables at Annual Holiday Fairs - We will sponsor tables selling homemade crafts and baked goods at the annual St. Mary's Parish fair in Chelmsford. This raises public awareness of VOTF and the many reasons our group exists. Having these tables staffed by members also allows the general public in our small town to see who belongs to VOTF, and gives people the opportunity to ask questions about VOTF. Being present at these fairs also helps VOTF develop into a respected organization and permanent fixture in the churches and communities we represent. All proceeds of sales will be donated to charity.

Annual Conference Volunteers- The annual VOTF regional conference will be held in nearby Worcester in November so we have enlisted volunteers to communicate with the leaders of the conference and offer services from our group. Our members have contacted the Convention Committee and have offered to work at the National Office coordinating ticket distribution; others have offered to work as Registrars and Hosts at the Conference.

Support of Closing Parishes- Members of our group traveled to Weymouth, MA to attend a prayer service in support of those maintaining a round-the-clock vigil at the beloved St. Albert the Great, one of the churches identified for closing. We also have friends in nearby Sudbury facing the same challenges and in need of similar support. We will be visiting them in October and join them at one of their daily prayer services. Weymouth has put out a plea for funds, so our group voted to send $100 to the Weymouth parish to help out with their expenses. We also attended a City Prayer Vigil in Charlestown to support parishioners of another closing parish, St. Catherine of Siena, and their pastor Bob Bowers. We hope to offer support to each parish in the RCAB facing closing as needed.

VOTF Winchester, MA
Submitted by Bob Morris

The Winchester Area VOTF held three meetings in October. The highlight of the month and a highlight of the group's history was a lecture and discussion with John L Allen, Jr., Vatican Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and CNN/Rome Vatican analyst. About 150 people skipped a Red Sox-Yankees playoff game to attend. While debunking the notion that the Vatican has a unified view on the sexual abuse crisis, or any other topic, Allen discussed several misconceptions held by American Catholics regarding the crisis. Allen also fielded questions on a wide variety of topics, including potential candidates to succeed John Paul II.

Another highlight for our group was a return appearance by Sister Janice Farnham, Professor at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. Before a crowd of about 60 people, Sister Farnham spoke about rebels in the Church's history who were misunderstood, or worse, during their lives, but whose ideas ultimately became widely accepted.

Finally, on October 25, our group discussed and began the "1 on 1 Campaign," launched by the Parish Voice Office. This is an exciting initiative, which will hopefully revitalize affiliates everywhere. Our group will also be launching a regular series of faith-sharing evenings, beginning on November 29.

Looking ahead, we will welcome Professor Jane Regan of Boston College on November 22, discussing adult faith formation, and Fr. Donald Cozzens on Thursday, December 2. All meetings are at St. Eulalia's Church, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester.

SAVE THESE DATES/East Region

VOTF Affiliates of Maryland, Virginia and Washington sponsor "Are the Wounds Healing?" A Symposium to Assess the Catholic Church's Response to the Sexual Abuse Scandal, Sunday November 14, 1 pm, The National 4-H Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD [(301) 961-2840 or (800) 368-7432 ]
Speaker: David O'Brien, Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts; Panelists: Barbara Blaine, Founder & President, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP); Reverend Donald B. Cozzens, pastoral theologian, psychologist & author; and Jim Post, President, Voice of the Faithful
For directions: http://www.4hcenter.org/contactus_directions.html (Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) exit #33, Connecticut Avenue South towards Chevy Chase) A donation of $10 is requested.
The Voice of the Faithful Affiliates of The North Shore, Lynn and Seacoast Areas in Collaboration with Boston College, Department of Theology sponsor A Faith Formation Program for Adult Christians: The Living Christ, and We His Disciples. Francine Cardman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Church History, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA will speak on "Living Faith II: Lay Spirituality: The Promise of Vatican II" at St. Rose of Lima Church, Topsfield, Sunday, November 14, 2004, 6:30-9:00 pm. Lecture, Discussion and Refreshments
Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Paulist Center in Boston is hosting a presentation on Marriage in the 21st Century by Ed Vacek, S.J., 7-9:30 pm. Paulist Center Web site has directions (go to http://www.paulist.org/boston/information/paulist/general.htm)
Voice of the Faithful, West Suburban Parish Voice - What Deacons DO and DON'T - Thursday, Nov.18, 7-9 pm, Philbin Hall, St. John's School, Wellesley. Contact Julie and Frank McConville at jfmcconville@comcast.net
Stephen Pope of Boston College, author of the recent collection of essays titled Common Calling: The Laity and Governance of the Catholic Church will be speaking at a VITF Parkway meeting, Monday, Nov. 29, at St. John Chrysostom Church, West Roxbury, 7:30 pm. All are welcome.

VOTF South

VOTF Louisville, KY
Submitted by regional coordinator Vince Grenough

Several months ago, the Goal #2 team of the Louisville affiliate wrote letters to the priest-chairmen of each Regional Council in our archdiocese. In the letter, we requested that four representatives of Voice of the Faithful be given time on the agenda at an upcoming monthly meeting. There are twelve Regional Councils in the Louisville archdiocese. At this point we have been invited and have dialogued with seven of these groups and have an invitation to come to the eighth group next week. We expect to be invited to the remaining groups in the near future after we make follow-up contacts.

In each case, we were told ahead of time that 30 or 40 minutes was allotted on their agenda for our presentation. But, in each case so far, once we got started each group allowed us to use the entire hour and a half of their meeting time AND invited us to join them for lunch (e.g., one time it was delicious home-made bean soup and cornbread by one of the priests) in the same location.

At almost every meeting there were some hard questions about VOTF, but each meeting ended cordially. Our primary purpose in meeting with them, we said, was to show our support for them, but we also have challenged them to refer parishioners to VOTF and to use us as a resource for their ministries.

We learned, often ahead of time, that certain priests would not come to the meeting specifically because we had been invited. So we began sending letters to each pastor in the Region a week earlier, including a personal invitation and also Voice of the Faithful literature.

No great miracles have come from this effort so far, but seeds are being planted. Some will grow when the time is right.

Parish Closings Watch

Submitted by Donna Doucette and Sheila Grove VOTF Boston, MA. Archdiocese of Boston, Status of Parishes Vigils and the Council of Parishes as of 11/02/04

Support the Vigil Parishes: Our supporting the parishes means supporting their right to:

hold a vigil and stand up for what they believe,
insist that the archdiocese communicate openly as to why their parish is slated to close, and
expect the archdiocese to be transparent in accounting for archdiocesan finances as well as other plans affecting the laity.

Support suggestions:

Attendance at Prayer Services - Let them know you are there.
Sign-up for a Vigil - Couple of hours or overnight.
Donations - Food, Money, Time
Communication - Letters, emails

Parishes with Active Vigils:

St. Albert the Great
Address: 1130 Washington Street, East Weymouth, MA 02189
Prayer Services: Mon.-Fri. 9 am-7:30 pm; Sat. 9 am-4:30 pm; Sun. 11:00 am
Vigil Date: August 29, 2004
St. Anselm
Address: 100 Landham Road, Sudbury, MA 01776
Prayer Services: Mon-Fri Noon and 7 pm; Sat. None; Sun. 9:30 am
Vigil Date: Sept. 12, 2004
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Address: 128 Gove Street, East Boston, MA 02128
Prayer Services: Sunday 10 am; Mon. 7pm; Tues.-Thurs. Rosary 7 pm; Fri. 6:30 pm Stations of the Cross; Sat. 5:30 pm Rosary
Specials: Wed. Visitors' Sleepover (call to schedule)
Vigil Date: Oct. 12, 2004
Contact: Gina Scalcione gina@scalcione.com
St. Bernard
Address: 1529 Washington Street, West Newton, MA 02465
Prayer Services: Sat. 4 pm Mass; Sun. 10:30 am Mass; Daily: Noon prayer service; candlelight vigil 6:30 pm
Vigil Date: Oct. 23, 2004
Contact: Rich Acerra acerra@gis.net
St. Frances X. Cabrini
Address: 78 Mann Hill Road, Scituate, MA 02066
Prayer Services: TBD
Vigil Date: Oct. 26, 2004
Contact: Jon Rogers jermmr2@comcast.net
St. Therese
Address: 801 Broadway (corner of 20 Gledhill Avenue), Everett, MA 02149
Prayer Services: TBD
Vigil Date: Oct. 27, 2004
Contact: Kevin Creel ksc772@comcast.net
Infant Jesus-St. Lawrence
Address: 774 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Prayer Services: TBD
Vigil Date: Oct. 29, 2004
Contact: Warren Hutchison whutchison@donovanhatem.com
St. James the Great
Address: 900 Worcester St. (Rte 9), Wellesley, MA 02482
Prayer Services: TBD
Vigil Date: Oct. 30, 2004
Contact: Paul Hughes pashughes@aol.com ; Suzanne Hurley shurley@perkinelmer.com

Council of Parishes - Formed: October 13, 2004

Mission: "The council's mission is to support parishes in their appeal process, to communicate common concerns, and to address the affect of the closings on the Archdiocese, individual communities, and parishioners."

Co-Chairs: Peter Borre (pxb3@rcn.com); Cynthia Deysher (cdeysher@aol.com)

Members:
St. Albert the Great, East Weymouth; St. Anselm, Sudbury; St. Bernard, West Newton; St. Catherine of Siena , Charlestown; St. Frances X. Cabrini, Scituate; St. James the Great, Wellesley; St. Jeremiah, Framingham; St. Therese, Everett; St. Thomas the Apostle, Salem; Infant Jesus-St. Lawrence, Chestnut Hill; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, East Boston; Sacred Heart, Lexington; Sacred Heart, Natick

A reflection from Kris Ward, after a night at St. Albert the Great parish, Weymouth, MA

As St. Francis was dying he told his brothers, " I have done what was mine to do, may Christ teach you what is yours to do." At St. Albert the Great Parish in Weymouth, MA on the night of September 18, 2004, my soul caught sight of Christ's teaching - and His people learning - how to repair His Church.

It is clear from the first step into the vestibule that St. Albert's is a holy place. These Catholics know what is important - the Blessed Sacrament remains with them in the tabernacle on the altar and in their very being. As the first parish to be occupied after it's suppression in the reconfiguring of the Archdiocese of Boston, St. Albert's proclaims with a banner over its front door " St. Albert's is Open." And open it is.

Open as a vessel of what is good and right about parish life. Open as a tool for the seeking of truth. Open as an authentication of faith. Open as a leader.

What has been unlocked at St. Albert's is the knowledge of a mature laity. A laity that consults each other. A laity that respects its parish council leaders. A laity that can take action on its own. A laity that is purposeful but not vengeful. A laity willing to make sacrifices for the good of its brothers and sisters.

The courage of the people of St. Albert's is admired by the Jewish man who brings his son once a week to see what it looks like when people stand up for what they believe in.

The courage of the people of St. Albert's is felt by the people of other denominations who bring them food.

The courage of the people of St. Albert's is known by the bank next door that makes its parking lot available.

The people of St. Albert's speak lovingly of Father Ronald Coyne, the pastor whose care and teaching reawakened their community and increased by large measure the numbers who follow the Lord. But make no mistake about it - what St. Albert's is doing is not the cult of a priest. They would gladly have their pastor back but their sacrifice and their statement go on in the knowledge and likelihood he will never return as the pastor.

In the main body of the church there is a reverence. In the church hall beneath the sanctuary there is reverence also. Upstairs the lights are dim. Saints in stained glass stand sentinel. My body wonders why I never thought about the narrowness of pews before. Not wanting to risk the embarrassing bang of a body landing after an inopportune roll off the pew bench I decided to begin and end the night on the floor. It is sacred ground.

In the quiet there are gentle snores and the slide of a turn in a sleeping bag. From outside come honks of car horns even in the deepest hours of the night sounding solidarity with those who are inside.

The night ends early for me two hours before dawn when another act of sacrifice appears. Sharon Harrington of St. Albert's Voice of the Faithful has gotten up at 3 a.m. to make the trip to the church for me and make the added journey to the airport.

I linger to write a short note in the guest and prayer book in the vestibule. We get in the car but I look back unwilling to let go of what is transpiring here. The tabernacle is framed in the front windows as we pull away.

The images and voices stay with me on the flight. I seek out the perpetual chapel of the parish of St. Albert the Great in Dayton as if the name will make my prayer for the people of St. Albert the Great, Weymouth, a direct connection to them.

I speak about them to my own affiliate that reaches out in empathy and with funds. And not only to them but to St. Anselm's, Sudbury as well. The Dayton Affiliate knows a movement when it sees one.

I speak about them to the Indianapolis affiliate's weekend conference at the parish of Saint Thomas Aquinas. For a brief moment I picture Aquinas puzzled about parish occupation and but intrigued, ever the eager student of Albert the Great, about a theology of the laity. The Indiana affiliate is touched by the holiness apparent in the people of St. Albert's.

Christ's earthly parting words to "Go forth and teach…" have found voice at St. Albert's in Weymouth and the song is being joined by choruses of voices.

The sound is growing. The faithful have found their voice. And the voice will not be suppressed.

PRAYER AND REFLECTION

Catholic theologian Dr. Anthony T. Padovano spoke on "Hope in the Church" prior to the VOTF National Representative Council on Oct. 16, 2004 in Pompton Lakes, NJ. Hat follows is a recap of Dr. Padovano's remarks.

His presentation, balanced, critical and affirming, was divided into four sections.

In part one, he surveyed the first century and emphasized its focus on Christ. The Gospels deal with Christ's Life; the Epistles with the cross and Resurrection; Acts, with preaching about Christ. The first part of the talk emphasized the person of Christ, the parables, the Paraclete, and the Church as the People of God and the Body of Christ. This first century is the norm for all subsequent Church development.

In the second part, Dr. Padovano surveyed the two millennia after the first century and gave an analysis of twelve values that surfaced in the Catholic Church after the first century. These included: papacy, sacramental system, law, ecumenical councils, monastic and religious communities, the New Testament, longevity, global connections, Marian Theology, the university system, social justice, and spiritual teaching.

Dr. Padovano, in the third part of his talk, indicated that, over these centuries, there were negative Church influences that made the proclamation of the Gospel difficult. He noted eight concerns: an imperial papacy, the dominance of canon law, the hierarchical non-accountability of Church leaders, mandatory celibacy, divorce and remarriage policies, preoccupation with sexual issues, gender inequality, and a non-inclusive magisterium.

In the final part, Dr. Padovano gave reasons for hope in the future. Collegial thinking and expectations are part of the Church's life. The Gospel and the sacramental system are deeply valued by Catholics. There is a hunger for spirituality, a sensitivity to the priesthood of all believers, ecumenical yearnings and a desire for community at all costs. The Catholic community is moved by ministers who stress healing and hope and is open to the charisms of women. It is still Christ, as in the first century, who is the center and heart of our love for the Church.

Amazing Grace A prayer
from Billie Bourgeois

When I think of grace, I think of rain. Sometimes here in the south in the summer on very hot, sultry afternoons, the dark thunder clouds gather and give us a break from the unrelenting sun. They roll, clap and pour the forgiving monsoon. Then the air becomes tolerable and the yards remind me of a voluptuous woman just bathed and primped. The gardens grow with such vigor and self righteousness! The banana trees burst out of the ground faster than the squirrels can nibble away at their sweet nectar. The elephant ear leaves become the size of shopping carts. It's like grace, the never ending gratuitous showering of gifts and reminders from our ever-loving Creator.

Our job is to be like children in the rain. We must run out, barefooted in the mud, with our arms raised and our heads up and our tongues out, ready to be showered upon! We must be ready to run into life's mud, barefooted.

When do we get chances like this? When does grace happen? All day, every day, grace happens. God's giving is even more voluminous than the southern afternoon downpour. The showering never stops! But we sometimes stop running and dancing with our arms up and our tongues out. We are reluctant to get soaked and muddy. We decide it's easier to stay dry and neat. It's more comfortable to not feel wet and sticky and have to change our clothes. But once we run in the rain there is refreshment and relaxation that cannot come any other way.

Then, of course, grace can come like those soft February showers. In the quiet moments when we rake leaves, pull weeds, watch fire, rock a sleeping baby, listen to water, watch leaves fall, watch snow fall, sift sand, soak in a bath, listen to birds. I think a Zen Buddhist would call it "like raking sand."

"Our Father, Who art in Heaven …." Where is heaven? Heaven is here inside us when we take time to do those seemingly useless things, the things that make us stop for a moment and touch Heaven. I think God created those little automatic daydream mechanisms so that we, without thinking, give God a chance to sit and hold us, the way we like to do with a sleeping child.

These thoughts came to me during the past year when I became a grandmother. Jacob was born on October 16, 2003. During his first two weeks of life I had many chances to just sit and hold and watch his precious little face. Time stopped. Eternity was right here. In those not long enough moments, I didn't care about anything else. It quickly dawned on me that this is what God loves to do with us. The Divine Spirit tricks us with such things as daydreaming so S/He can hold us and look upon our faces, and into our souls. God especially loves it when we allow ourselves some space in our busy-ness to stop, be still and be graced.

While in my studio the other day, I found myself daydreaming about grace. Rain was falling and I was doodling, playing with my pencil. I noticed I was making falling marks, little invented shapes and lines that fell from the top edge of the composition down to the bottom edge. What is this about, I wondered? Then it dawned on me....grace. I was trying to draw grace. Amazing grace! I should have run outside and danced with my arms up and my tongue out!

Prayer for the Survivors and Those Who Did Not Survive

Good and gentle Shepherd, Sweet Spirit of God, Creator divine
In Your infinite tenderness comfort the survivors of sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.
Deliver them from sorrow, anoint them with hope, sustain them with the Body of Christ.
Take to your sacred heart those who have committed suicide.
Make of us ambassadors of Your justice, Your lifting of the oppressed and Your desire for all of us to live and move and have our being in Your abundant grace. Amen.

Written by Kristine Ward, National Vice President and Dayton Affiliate Co-founder/Co-chair

VOTF president Jim Post was invited to speak at St. Joan of Arc Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following is an excerpt of the text of Jim's talk on Sunday, November 7, 2204. The gospel reading was from Luke 20:27-38

Keeping the Faith: The Story of Voice of the Faithful .

My name is Jim Post. I come from that "far eastern suburb" of the Twin Cities known as Boston, MA. In Boston, home of the World Champion Boston Red Sox, we really do believe in miracles these days.

We waited 86 years for baseball success. We've only waited 44 years for another president from Massachusetts (and that will take more time).

But neither baseball nor politics is the subject of my reflection this morning. I want to talk about another kind of "miracle," however. What it has in common with baseball and politics is hard work and the determination of Catholic lay women and men to "be the change" we want to see in the world.

The story begins nearly three years ago, on a cold Sunday morning. I read a newspaper story that would change my life and the lives of thousands of other American Catholics.

It was the chilling tale of the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests. It was also a story of the cover-up of these cases of sexual abuse. Fr. John Geoghan was the abuser. And Cardinal Bernard Law covered up the crimes.

Today's Gospel

What began in our parish that Sunday has now become a movement to change the way the Catholic Church operates. It is a movement to replace secrecy with openness and accountability in the administration of the Church. And it fits with today's gospel.

Today's gospel presents a dark, difficult text for us to consider. Mosaic law is strict, demanding, and inflexible. The Sadducees use the law to lay a trap for Jesus. If there is a Resurrection, they ask, what would happen to the woman who married the brothers? Whose wife would she be? Jesus recognized the trap, and so He speaks of a different law - a higher, more essential law that is not about "place" or formal rules, but about the basics of love, human spirit, and Resurrection - God's genuine plan for us made known in Jesus Christ. Christ's law transcends Mosaic law, gives hope, and emphasizes the need for each of us to pay attention to that which matters most - the essential Christian message.

This story, with all of its complexity, has a parallel in our time.

The concealment of clergy sexual abuse was rationalized by Church leaders. The bishops felt obliged to protect the offending priest and the Church from the "scandal" of public knowledge. So, law enforcement officials were not told of the abuse, although such abuse is a crime. Offending priests were allowed to continue their ministries, often with access to more children, some of whom were eventually abused. When allegations were made, the bishop typically denied the claim, moved the priest to another parish, or to a treatment facility in some out of town location.

It was a twisted logic. And it was wrong.

The Journey

In our parish, people began talking about this behavior. They met and asked questions: How did we get to this state? What can we do to change things? Their conversation evolved into a point of view: "This must stop!" "This is not what our Church stands for; we protect children."

The more we learned, the angrier we grew. Our numbers swelled. Weekly meetings drew dozens at first, then hundreds, and finally so many that we could not hold the crowd. The call for change in our Church was loud and clear.

We gave ourselves a name, grounded in the language of Vatican 2 - "sensus fidelium" - the "sense of faith" held collectively by the followers of Christ. We called ourselves Voice of the Faithful and we have tried to honor that voice every day since then. In six months, we organized a convention for more than 4,200 people from many states, including Minnesota, and international guests as well. Voice of the Faithful extended the invitation - thousands of Catholics accepted and thousands more have followed.

In their defense, some bishops pleaded the "old law" defense - they were obliged to protect the Church from scandal. Secret payments were made to survivors with confidentiality clauses to prevent public scandal. In all of this, they lost sight of the transcendent law, Christ's law, which said "protect the children."

The moral core of our Church had been compromised by those who over-valued the institutional trappings of clerical privilege and power and under-valued the importance of protecting the innocence of children. To keep meaning in our faith, we had to act. We had to change the way the Church operated. This was not about doctrine and dogma. It was -and is-- about how we shall live in, and for, justice.

Phil's Story

Many stories of pain and hope have taken place over nearly three years. One remains vivid and illustrates why Christian witness and the "voice of the faithful" are related in these times.

We invited Phil, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, to speak to our group. Several hundred were present as he rose to speak. He told of his childhood, his life as an altar boy, his abuse at the hands of the parish priest. The pain was etched in his face. He told us how he had been trying to get attention of Church officials for 10 years. And in all that time, this was the first time any Catholics had invited him to speak. "You did not want to know me … or to know that I existed."

Tears rolled down his cheeks, and as I looked around, I saw tears on the faces of others around me. We had seen "Christ's face" in Phil - the pain, the suffering, the call for help - and the hope.

This is our witness. Phil, like Christ, is our brother.

Three Questions

In all that has happened over three years - and much has happened - nothing has helped me understand what we are doing, and why, more than Phil's story.

In our lives, each of us must face three questions: (1) Who am I? (2) Why am I here? (3) How shall I live my life? If we are fortunate, at the last moment of life on Earth we will have answers to those questions. Jesus gives us many means - many tools - to find the answers to these questions.

Voice of the Faithful has helped me and thousands of other Catholics find the answers. I am a Catholic. I must try to help others. I must live my life as a husband, parent, and grandparent in a way that teaches through action. I must live my life, not as the Sadducees with their twisted view of the law, but as Christ inspired us to do. It is faith in action, and faith through action.

Where will this lead?

I do not know where all of this will lead. Three years ago I could not have imagined standing here at St. Joan of Arc to speak to you. But in these three years, I have met thousands of Catholics who want a Church that is open, inclusive, and morally sound. They do not want a Church that is filled with the vestiges of "old law" thinking that favors formality over Christian values.

Ours is a faith that "dares to speak," as Fr. Donald Cozzens has recently written in his new book of that title.

We dare speak of issues that are painful to discuss.
We dare speak to bishops who still refuse to listen.
We dare to listen to survivors of clergy sexual abuse and make their story part of our story.
We dare to reject the view that scandal was the worst thing that could happen to the Church - and to embrace the essential message: Christ's Church could not tolerate and sanction sexual child abuse by priests and other adults.

This is a witness born of conscience.

Conclusion

Our motto, as you may know, is "Keep the Faith, Change the Church."

As the baseball season came to an end this year, the Red Sox put up billboards across New England that used the first part of the motto-- "Keep the Faith". I kept looking for the second part of the message: "Change the Church"!

Of course, the change we need isn't to be found on billboards. It is to be found in the faith and within each of us. We must be the change we wish to see in the world.

Voice of the Faithful believes that the laity - women and men - must take their rightful place alongside clergy and bishops in the governance and guidance of our Church. In so doing, we will be living Christ's essential message. By embracing this responsibility, I believe we will find new ways to address the issues and challenges of our times.

After all, this has been a year of miracles.

Letters to the Editor
[write to leaderpub@voiceofthefaithful.org ]

VOTF Maine's Paul Kendrick distributed an America magazine article of October 11. 2004 on "Priestless Liturgies" by Peter Kountz. It prompted this response from VOTFer Mike Nicholas

"Priestless liturgies in lieu of Mass when a priest cannot be present have a very definite and positive, indeed necessary, place in the Church's life. As the number of priests continues to decline I would suggest that the Church will return more to the Corinthian model where there were no ordained ministers as such. The assembly would simply come together to worship and a member of the community would receive a Charism to empower him/her to celebrate the Eucharist and would then do so. This way "the Lord would provide" for the needs of the people. This does not invalidate the role of the ministerial priesthood. What it could do is motivate the Church to want to change its structures and its modus operandi." Mike Nicholas Christchurch, New Zealand

"From Australia, I want to send a message of support. The pain of losing jobs and a community of faith must be terrible. We in Australia are seeing examples of ecclesiastical abuse in relation to parishes that are progressive and involved in seeking justice. I belong to such a community here in Brisbane Qld where we are under a cloud by the Bishop. As a community we have been actively involved in supporting the creation of the Esther Centre, which addresses the abuse of power in human services and faith communities, including clergy abuse. We have been very involved in supporting victims, who, as children, were in the care of the church and state in orphanages.

Do you think we should have some sort of international response, such as a conference? The abuse of power that is going on in the name of addressing sexual abuse in America, is similar here, but much more hidden." Karyn Walsh

"I too am concerned about the spiritual/emotional trauma for all our Archdiocesan laity, given that so soon after being the 'hub' of the clergy sex abuse scandal, we face the massive church closings tragedy and indeed the financial crises for many of the laity being laid off from professional/staff jobs in the parishes, schools, and social services programs. These people are not covered with unemployment benefits, and often having no savings to speak of, due to lower-range salaries commensurate with working for Catholic-affiliated organizations. It has bothered and surprised me for over 30 years that the laity were so unified or laid-back about low-salaries and minimal benefits.

Meanwhile, on the parish level (where most laity-in-general become aware of issues), virtually nothing was said/done by priests/hierarchy to ensure that the laity were aware of the need to be more financially supportive so that their lay colleagues who worked for the church could be treated more justly. For all the myriad ways we laity understandably feel offended by ordained leaders, we let 40 years pass without developing a meaningful lay organization like VOTF where we might take responsibility and working assiduously for more of a voice on many issues.

And long before the crisis of the last couple of years, many laity became very casual as regards attending Mass or donating realistically to the parishes and other important institutions/"missions" of the Church. Nor for 40 years have lay families, evidently, encouraged their youths to consider becoming priests/Religious as an honorable or noble option/life-plan, since of course all clergy come forth from the laity. If there were legitimate reasons the young adults of recent decades balked at those vocations, then as laity we should have kept at the hierarchy to deal with any of the "reasons" in a constructive way. Better late than never, I guess." Janette Cranshaw

"I would be much more interested in VOTF if they were less timid about their third mission. I think the organization has done a fine job countering the sexual abuse scandals but there are so many other important fronts on which the church needs to be challenged. Most recently, the suggestion by some bishops that voting for Kerry is a sin is a scandal in itself. Why doesn't VOTF get all over that? In an effort not to offend, the organization seems to be sticking its head in the ground...or perhaps I am missing something. If the latter is true, please enlighten me." Marge Cambre, PhD

"I wish the Bishops would pay as much attention to the damage that has been done to victims of abuse in the church and the people whose churches have been closed as they do to trying to get a Republican elected. Instead of downgrading Senator Kerry they should clean their own house. You look at a roomful of bishops and then look at congress in session and you see the same thing - a bunch of men running the church and the country and neither doing a very good job of it. Doesn't anyone believe in separation of church and state anymore?" Bernadette Fitzpatrick

"The latest diocese to resist discovery of personnel files of priests accused of sexual abuse is Sacramento. Plaintiffs' lawyers argue that they are entitled to review these files in order to properly prepare their clients' case. The defendant diocese claims that because the diocese is a private employer, not a public institution and not a recipient of public funding, it has no obligation to disclose the employment files (i.e., complaints, disciplinary actions, transfers, etc.) of its priests. I wonder why no one argues that the Church, as a tax-exempt organization has no secrecy or privacy rights. As a retired lawyer and 70 year old Catholic, I am ashamed of the efforts of our dioceses to resist full disclosure. Any suggestions?" Maureen Carlson, Pasadena, CA

In the Vineyard November 2004