LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We begin this section with a sampling of the response to the National Catholic Reporter editorial.

"The editorial in the March 12th National Catholic Reporter is very powerful. We on the west coast tip our hats to you folks in the east who got this movement started. I do believe that our chapter, St. Patrick's, Sonora, Diocese of Stockton, CA VOTF is probably one of the newest in the US. We will have a minimum of eight members attend the conclave at the University of San Francisco March 27-28. Again, thanks for the fine leadership you have provided during the past two years. PAZ. Richard and Frances Rohrbacher, St. Patrick's, Sonora, Diocese of Stockton, CA

"Those of you who formed VOTF should be VERY proud. We in Atlanta had a survivor as guest speaker at our meeting this past week. He concluded by saying that because of VOTF he had hope for a better future for the Church and that VOTF was a major source of healing.

This is what you have given Catholics in this country, especially those victims of abuse by the Church - HOPE. I can imagine the despair and frustration and anger at all the injustices that would be festering and leading to more suicides and ruined lives, if not for your hard work. You are literally life savers. May God continue to watch over and care for you."

"Thank you and everyone who has brought VOTF so far in such a short time. As the newest affiliate in the Chicago area, two months, we have just spent the last three days with authors Jason Berry and Gerald Renner at presentations on their new book Vows of Silence. Jason spoke highly and often of VOTF each time, encouraging membership. The three events were hosted by VOTF-Diocese of Joliet and VOTF-Chicago NW suburbs where many new names were added and St. Gertrude Parish where we acquired 17 names and will begin a new affiliate in the downtown/north area. We are very proud to be a part of VOTF and able to bring a voice to more and more Catholics in the Chicago area. Blessings to All. Marilyn Wells, VOTF-Chicago NW Suburbs

"I see the Wichita, Kansas bishop is speaking out against same-sex marriage. Where was he and guys like him while our pedophile priests were being routed around the country…. I don't want any of these bishops telling me about same sex marriage … as it is obvious that few have ever had any psychological and other appropriate training in this area." Bernie O'Brien

"On February 7, 2004, I read an article in our local newspaper from the Boston (AP) about Mass attendance for a typical week dropping in the Archdiocese of Boston since the clergy sexual-abuse crisis was uncovered two years ago (without all parishes reporting). Kudos to VOTF for welcoming these statistics, and for calling for further information about finances and other factors in parish closing.

Speaking about parish closings all over the United States, it is my suggestion that the rules governing parish closings be changed to provide for the return of the money to the parish who gave the money. This money should then be set aside in a fund for the parish to decide whether or not they wish to build a new or different parish. We must all remember that parishioners repeatedly are reminded, "it is your parish." Those generous lay individuals who provide land, buildings or icons to their particular parish should include a reversion clause in their gifts to prevent any archdiocese from purloining land or buildings or objects d'art and reaping the money. Parishioners are not bottomless pits of money.

Not being aware of the financial disclosure required by clergy, it is my belief that all personal wealth including real property be disclosed yearly, including where the income was earned….

Finally, a question: Are clergy and religious required to be fingerprinted and placed in the national finger print registry like teachers? If not, they should be." R. L. Monson

"I would like to suggest that there be a major consideration for affordable housing with the income from the sale of church properties. The city of Boston is interested in buying the schools but if they want other properties, the sales could be contingent on them having to include affordable housing in their plan for the properties....social justice from private to public!"

"I have been asking questions of our pastor as to how was a person like the current Cardinal of Los Angeles ever able to achieve the top spot in this diocese. His previous experience was as a bishop of Modesto, which is a very small diocese north of Los Angeles. This person exhibits no leadership, management experience or charisma, nor intestinal strength. He is constantly asking for money from the parishes. He has done very little to aid priests who have been unjustly accused….[My wife and I] mark weekly donation checks to be used for our parish expenses only, not to be sent to the archdiocese." Steve Pelentay

"Jesus establishes the Great Order. 'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be cast into the abyss.' That was the first excommunication order established by Christ Himself. (Matt: 18, 3-6; Mark 10: 42; Luke 17: 2)

It should be the most unforgivable sin in our faith - above murder, apostasy and infidelity…. The pain of years and years of lost faith of a community - and the bishops' heinous turning their backs on their flocks. These bishops who condoned this horror must leave the shepherding of their rich corporate dioceses.

How can an faithful person pray anymore, participate in church when to look at the priests or bishop is to see multitudes of youth, children being sexually abused? No child can pray. No child can see the shepherd as an image to follow. The policy statement in our community (posted in the lower church) reads 'NO CHILD ALONE WITH ANY RELIGIOUS OR CHURCH WORKER.' We have suffered (the world has suffered) the third wave of holocaust upon the peoples of God - first, the lamb of Moses, then the Lamb of Christ, and now the Lamb of the Faithful."

"This has been such a hard time for all of the Church. We must leave judgment to God but it is hard to know that so much of this occurred because the clergy saw themselves as above everyone else. Much of it could have been stopped years ago…. I only wish the Pope had been more responsive."

Regarding Archbishop McCarrick's statement to the effect that every parish in the world has a parish pastoral council, VOTF correspondent from Atlanta, GA wrote the following:

"Can we remind the Cardinal (and the American public) that this is not true - that parish councils can be and have been dismissed by the pastor; that the pastor can appoint or dismiss members from the parish council. The same holds true for parish finance committee; these bodies only have access to the information that the pastor wants them to. The same is true for the diocesan level councils.

Not all dioceses were equally impacted by the sex-abuse scandal. However, most of us have experienced 'clericalism' in dealing with the governance and administration of our local churches. Isn't it time to move forward towards the stated goals of the VOTF Structural Change committee?" Betty Clermont, Atlanta, GA

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