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“…our
Church is at a crossroads. We can let it go down the
road of clericalism, repression, and fear, or we can
follow the road built on a vision of tolerance, charity,
and justice. One is darkness, the other is light.” Jim
Post in a recent message to members
VOTF
at Work in the World
OCTOBER
23: Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center
will present a study of Voice of the Faithful by
the highly regarded sociologists Dr. William V. D’Antonio
and Dr. Anthony J. Pogorelc, both of Catholic
University of America. “Voice of the Faithful: Findings
from a Study of a Social Movement Within the Catholic
Church” was included in what has become a national
fixture in the understanding of American Catholicism.
The survey is conducted every six years by D’Antonio,
Davidson, Hoge and Gautier. An outstanding panel
of presenters will look at the findings. See “What
to Expect at Boston College on October 23.” Also,
see “Site-Seeing” for additional coverage on the
full study.
VOTF
voices are rising from coast to coast: VOTF Northern
California (where the Bay Area has 1 million
Catholics) will sponsor a “Day of Discernment” on
Oct. 9. The subject is the replacement of Abp. Levada,
now in Rome as the new head of the Confraternity
for the Doctrine of the Faith. The meeting is going
forward regardless that the archbishop left a message
for pastors – do not cooperate with Voice of the
Faithful. The gathering will take place at St Matthew
Catholic Church, 9th Ave and El Camino in San Mateo
at 11:30 am, hosted by VOTF Northern California.
Read the press
release more details.
- Discernment – tried,
true and worth the effort. Read
Susan Troy, M.Div. in Commentary
- VOTF
Tucson, AZ issued a press release calling for parishioners
to conduct an open and fair election for all members
of their new parish board. See Affiliate News
- LI
VOTF has initiated a petition drive for the formation
of an elected Diocesan Representative Finance Council.
Go to their web
site for more details.
- VOTF
goes to Rome via NY affiliate – with nearly 4,000
signatures on a petition protesting the firing of
Fr. Tom Reese as editor of America Magazine.
The petition collected by VOTF New York was delivered
to Archbishop William Levada, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, in Rome on Wednesday,
Sept. 28th.
The
Boston Archdiocese hurts again. The Archdiocese
of Boston is emerging as a testing ground for many
an active Catholic and many a priest. The required
resignation of the outspoken, gifted pastor of Our
Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA Fr. Walter Cuenin
came without regard for the sitting parish or finance
councils who knew of and approved the stipend and
car lease for which, ostensibly, the pastor was ousted.
An all-night vigil drew hundreds to the church and
over 1,000 to a march and rally, including a number
of priests speaking out in spite of what many are
calling a “climate of fear.” In this issue, see “Goal
2 – Supporting Priests of Integrity.”
VOTF
asks, “Is this the Church of the 21st Century”? VOTF
president Jim Post looks at recent developments
in our Church and asks “Is
this the Church of the 21st Century?”
What
Do You Think? Cardinal Angelo Scola, the key
moderator of the Synod of Bishops, said that the
Eucharist was a ‘’gift, not a right or a possession” for
Catholics. Click
here. Write
to pthorp.ed@votf.org.
VOTF
National Representative Council will meet at
Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP), Arlington, VA on
November 12-13, 2005. The agenda for this meeting,
which is open to all VOTF members, will be posted
on the VOTF web site at www.votf.org.
SITE-Seeing –
- Every
six years, a stellar team of sociologists (including
co-author of the VOTF study Dr. William D’Antonio)
updates their study of Catholic attitudes and commitments.
The National Catholic Reporter makes the current
study available at “American Catholics from John
Paul II to Benedict XVI,” the lead essay by Dr. D’Antonio
in a 16-page pullout section of the September 30
issue of NCR. Click
here to read. NCR editor Tom
Roberts said, “This is the kind of reporting and
analysis that I think an independent journal owes
the Catholic world.” Several observers and sociologists
noted the unique effort of the research team to include
the study of the very young VOTF in this highly regarded
survey.
The Catholic attitudes and commitments survey authors are William D’Antonio
of Catholic University of America; James Davidson, president-elect of the
Association for the Sociology of Religion; Dean Hoge of Catholic University
of America; and Mary Gautier of Georgetown University.
- The
Boston Area VOTF Newsletter is published twice monthly.
It is a one-page recap of ongoing and upcoming events
in the Boston area. If you would like to receive
the newsletter, contact Dorothy Kennedy at kendor713@yahoo.com.
- Log
on and learn. Boston College Institute of Religious
Education and Pastoral Ministry offers graduate degree
courses, continuing education and certificate programs.
See their Fall/Spring
2005/6 Calendar and note the IREPM and Church
in the 21st Century Oct. 12 lecture to be delivered
by Cardinal Avery Dulles “The Faith that the Church
Hands On.”
- The
current issue of Initiative Report published
quarterly by the National Pastoral Life Center includes:
a recap of the Archbishop Weisgerber and VOTF president
Jim Post discussion that took place in June of this
year as part of the Common Ground Initiative annual
lecture; a report from Zena Fox, professor of pastoral
theology at Seton Hall University, on the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ draft document “Lay
Ecclesial Ministry: The State of the Questions”;
and announcement of the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin
Award 2005 to Boston College for the Church in the
21st Century Initiative. For publication information click
here.
- Fr.
Robert Hoatson is a well-known, longstanding and
ardent advocate for survivors. He is the founding
president of Rescue and Recovery International, Inc.,
a non-profit organization that provides direct financial,
legal, social, and spiritual assistance to survivors
of clergy sexual abuse. This organization distributed
almost $30,000 in their first four months of operation
- paying for rents, food, etc. for down and out survivors.
Learn more
here.
BOOK
Watch
If
you would like to review for the Vineyard a
new, self-published book The Catholic Challenge:
A Question of Conscience, please write to pthorp.ed@votf.org and
send your mailing address. The author Thomas W. Rezanka
was chairman of his Parish Council and Director of
Stewardship at his parish. Rezanka argues that this
is a time for clergy and laity to accept a unique Catholic
challenge.
Coming
soon: Review of Fr. Paul Philbert’s important
message for laypeople everywhere. His book The
Priesthood of the Faithful – Key to a Living Church, 2005,
Liturgical Press, strikes a needed note of comfort
and hope for Catholics who have yet to regain their
footing in our Church since 2002.
LETTERS
to the editor – include a success story for a Spanish-speaking
congregation. Send your comments and/or inquiries to pthorp.ed@votf.org.
Quote
Find of the Month: “That
which affects all as individuals must be approved
by all.” Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law: Canon
119.3
Correction: “In
a Mother’s Words” by Ginny Hoehne (Vineyard 9/22).
The following was inadvertently omitted: Thanks to
the wisdom of Svea Fraser, Paul Lakeland, Fr. Donald
Cozzens, Fr. Tom Doyle, Dr. Francine Cardman, and Kris
Ward. Recommended reading: Liberation of the Laity: Paul
Lakeland; Faith that Dares to Speak: Fr. Donald
Cozzens; and Lay Ministry in the Catholic Church(A
Liguori press publication of a symposium including
Dr. Francine Cardman) |