National
Representative Council NOTES
Reported by Frank Douglas,
representative for Region 13 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY)
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The Council adopted, by
a 17-2 vote, procedures for processing both draft policy-related proposals
and draft action plans associated with approved proposals. In effect, approval
of these procedures says the Council is fully "open for business," i.e.,
the business of making VOTF policy.
Dan Bartley, a Representative
from Region 2 (NY) and co-director of VOTF-Long Island, submitted the first
draft proposal. Dan's proposal calls for VOTF to formally adopt the position
that the financial aspect of diocesan priest retirements should not come
under the exclusive control of the local Bishop. A second draft proposal,
submitted by Bud Bretschneider and Bill Culleton, both of Region 3 (NJ PA)
and VOTF-Philadelphia, calls for an annual liturgy of healing as a public
act of reconciliation with those estranged from their faith because of clergy
sexual abuse. Discussion on both issues has already started, and we hope
all VOTF members will express an opinion on the two proposals by sending
an e-mail to their elected Representative. Other possible resolutions are
also being discussed. The Council will be providing progress reports on the
proposals as discussions and votes take place.
Work continued on the
prioritization of the nine draft resolutions from the Indianapolis convocation
to identify the top three and return the results from affiliates and non-affiliate
members to the regional Representatives by Sept 30th. Council members participated
in a conference call with the Convocation Implementation team (CIT) to firm
up the process for prioritizing the nine recommendations. The tabulated results
from each region will be returned to the CIT by Oct. 6th.
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