AFFILIATE
Highlights
VOTF Long Island, NY: Campaign for Accountability Update
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN - National Legislative Initiative
Progress Report Background – Why State Legislative
Oversight Is Needed: Oversight of the Church is necessary
because it (the Church) has shown it is unwilling to
provide internal review of its activities, evident in
the sexual
abuse issue. Hence, oversight by an outside body (state
legislature) is necessary in order to impose a higher
level of morality and accountability.
LI VOTF legislative efforts grew out of this awareness.
Over the past two years the following efforts have been
conducted (which are common for any "good cause" group)
A. Research & Meetings: Research was done to identify
legislators who were interested
in this issue. This was easy since several bills had already been introduced.
Meetings were scheduled with those legislators to introduce ourselves and offer
our support for
progressive legislation. We learned of other bills pending and assembled a
list of those.
B. Regular Monthly Visits to Albany, the state capital,
on a monthly basis were conducted to build a relationship
with key legislative staff and track the progress (or
lack of) on two bills of interest to us. This expanded
our networking capability.
C. LI VOTF's Support of Bills: The bills were brought
to the Board of Directors and to its membership. The
Board voted to support the bills (e.g., statute of
limitations and clergy reporting bills).
D. Letter Writing Campaign: Membership was advised
at our regional monthly meetings and a vigorous letter
writing campaign was undertaken which resulted in thousands
of letters being written to key legislators.
E. Memo of Support: LIVOTF issued support on said bills
and distributed to all
senators and assemblymen.
F. Opponents of the progressive legislation were identified.
The New York State Conference of Catholic Bishops, while
appearing neutral on both bills, still was a force against
the bills we supported. The assembly and senate passed
bills but they were significantly different and never
went to conference.
G. Efforts were stepped up in 2006: A busload of LIVOTF
members carried over
went to the state capital for an all day lobbying effort. This included meeting
with the bill sponsors. A press conference was held and was attended by victims,
VOTF members, bills sponsors and supporters, and the speaker of the assembly.
While the issue was certainly on the Radar Screen, partisan politics between
both chambers prevented any final passage; however, the issue is really on
the "radar" for '07 and LIVOTF is clearly recognized as a significant
player in the continuing struggle to get outside oversight. LIVOTF leaders
testified at an all day hearing in the state capital called by an advocate
for victims where we laid out the case for said legislation along with other
progressive groups.
H. Fall 2006 Action Steps On the Local Level: Parish
Voice groups have begun inviting their local legislators
to PV meetings in order introduce legislators to VOTF
and Victims, and to press for "tips" for further
action from the local level; small groups of VOTF members
will be encouraged to set up meetings at legislators'
offices to converse with them about the reality of sexual
abuse, a topic that is still considered "taboo" by
many, and to familiarize legislators with victims' process
and hardships.
I: Plan for 2007: Pick up where we left off and build
further the pressure for change. A group is discussing
approaches for January 2007. Alliances with other like-minded
groups (e.g., SNAP) is important to increase pressure.
VOTF Toledo, Ohio
Kris Ward
The Oct. 14 conference comes grew out of a) the dedication
of Catholic laity in the Diocese of Toledo where more
than 20 parishes have been unceremoniously closed without
consultation with the laity in any form; b) the courage
of a vigiling parish; and c) the coming together of Voice
of the Faithful, SNAP and the United Parishes group to
reach out to our brothers and sisters in these troubles
times.
The Diocese of Toledo is the home diocese of Father
Robinson, the priest convicted of murdering a nun earlier
this year. The cold case was re-opened after a sex abuse
victim came forth and provided details of ritual sex
abuse; some of the details pointed directly to the evidence
in this case. While the case was not prosecuted on ritual
sex abuse, Father
Robinson was convicted of murder. He remains a priest
in the Diocese of Toledo and as far as we have been able
to determine, no case has been sent to the Vatican for
defrocking.
For conference details, click here.
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