VOICES, VOICES EVERYWHERE!

PARISH VOICES EAST

VOTF Boston, MA - Plan of Voice of the Faithful Organizing Team for Boston VOTF

At the time of the June 7 VOTF/Boston Conference, VOTF leadership had numerous discussions with a variety of constituents. As a result, VOTF leadership realized there was a need for, and considerable interest in creating, a mechanism to enable VOTF to act in coordination with all of the Parish Voice Affiliates in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (RCAB). Such coordinated action would allow VOTF/Boston to implement the recommendations of the June 7 VOTF/Boston Conference, and develop plans for carrying out National VOTF's Strategic Plan in the RCAB. Thus, the VOTF's Organizing Team was formed to put together a plan to create an "umbrella organization," which the Organizing Team now proposes be called the Boston VOTF Council. The Organizing Team was asked specifically to design processes for: creating a Boston "umbrella organization, electing representatives of the Parish Voice Affiliates to that organization, and establishing a structural plan for carrying out the work of the new organization.

Rationale for a Boston VOTF Council

It is crucial that Voice of the Faithful in Boston establish a local identity that sets it apart from National VOTF. What is established must be readily identifiable to the local Catholic Community, and to the leadership of the RCAB, as Boston's own VOTF - an organization that very specifically represents all Boston Parish Voice Affiliates in communication and negotiation with the leadership of the Boston Archdiocese.

We cannot continue to rely on National VOTF to speak for Boston. The collective "voice" of the Boston affiliates must a.) Begin to speak up about the continuing need to support victims/survivors, and priests of integrity; and b.) Become an effective advocate for organizational openness and transparency within the operations of the Boston Archdiocese. Through coordination and planning, a Boston VOTF Council will focus and concentrate the energy and ideas of local affiliates.

Goals of the Boston VOTF Council

• To support National VOTF, its mission, goals and Strategic Plan.

• To bring together all Boston parish affiliates to be a unified voice in speaking to the leadership of the RCAB, to the Catholic community, and to the community at large.

• To provide leadership in identifying archdiocesan-wide issues, implementing strategic actions to support victims/survivors and priests of integrity, and promoting full lay participation in addressing issues of concern to VOTF affiliates.

• To increase the Catholic community's awareness and understanding of the critical importance of active lay participation at all levels of Church governance in the RCAB, and to promote full and open discussion about decisions impacting the life and future of the Church in Boston.

Composition of, and election process for, the Boston VOTF Council

The Council will consist of a representative from each Parish Voice Affiliate, who will be elected/selected by a particular affiliate by whatever process is agreed upon by the members of that affiliate. A representative will serve for a term of two years. A representative may serve for two consecutive terms. Affiliates will complete the election/selection process by January 31, 2004, and will notify their region's representative on the Organizing Team of the results.

In order to carry out the planning and day-to-day leadership functions of the Council, a Steering Committee will be elected. The Steering Committee will consist of one member from each of the five RCAB regions. By February 15, 2004, the elected affiliate representatives from each of the five regions will elect one of their members to serve on the Steering Committee. Steering Committee members will serve for a one-year period. The Steering Committee will meet once a week in its formative stages. Meetings will occur at the same time each week in order to ensure continuity and maximize participation by the members.

The Steering Committee will elect a Chairperson and other officers of the Steering Committee, as appropriate. The Steering Committee will determine attendance standards for its members. The Chairperson will also appoint a Moderator (if desired) to conduct Council meetings.

Functioning of the Boston VOTF Council

In its early stage, the Council will meet frequently -- biweekly during its developmental period, and continuing on a regular basis thereafter. Meetings will be open to the full membership.

An "important decision" will be made only after efforts to collaborate with and seek feedback from affiliates. On occasion there may be a need for "emergency action" on a critical matter, in which case, the Steering Committee will have the authority to act on behalf of the Council without prior discussion and review. Although both the Council and the Steering Committee will strive for consensus decision-making, important decisions will be decided by a recorded vote with a "majority" in favor required for passage. As early as possible, the Council will define what it means by "important decision," "emergency action," and "majority."

The Council's groundwork on key issues will take place in working groups, or similar structures. The Council will address the question of funding to support its activities once it develops an action plan.

Tasks of the Boston VOTF Council

Among other tasks, the Council will:

• Identify and address key diocesan issues, e.g., the bannings

• Develop policy

• Maintain and develop relations with affiliates in support of their functioning at the parish level

• Centralize communications, including with Priests Forum, Survivor groups, and archdiocese

• Facilitate organization at the regional level within the archdiocese

• Media response

• Plan major diocesan-wide events

• Fundraise in support of VOTF goals

PARISH VOICES SOUTH

VOTF Nashville, TN

We met for the first time under the leadership of Tennessean reporter, Tim Chavez on July 9, 2002, in an effort to respond to the local and national scandal. At that time, we divided into six committees: Practice and Policy, Structure and Leadership, Protection of Children, Prayer, Healing of Victims and Support of Priests. Tom Riss and Cindy Gause-Vega were chosen as co-facilitators of the Nashville affiliate. Eventually, we restructured into the following committees: Structure and Leadership; Healing of Victims and Protecting Children; and Support of Priests (includes prayer).

One of our first accomplishments was a general meeting with the bishop of Nashville, Edward Kmiec on August 17, 2002. At the meeting, the bishop promised to re-establish a Diocesan Pastoral Council. He also discussed the lay review board that had been formed and the prevention of future child sexual abuse.

We hoped to work with the bishop in planning a Mass of Reconciliation for victims of abuse, but he held such a Mass without our assistance. Unfortunately, the Mass was held with little advance notice and on a Friday at noon, making attendance difficult.

In November 2002, Jim Zralek and Elizabeth Warren were elected co-facilitators. Also in November, the Support for Priests Committee hosted a dinner of appreciation for local priests. We sent a survey to all priests in the diocese, asking for their thoughts and attempting to gather information on how to support them better. The Nashville affiliate has benefited tremendously from the support of a number of priests in the diocese, including Father Philip Breen who allows us to use the facilities at St. Ann's Church.

In an attempt to encourage the bishop to set up a Diocesan Pastoral Council, we collected over 300 signatures in favor of such a council and sent them to the bishop. After many phone calls and letters, the bishop finally agreed to meet with Jim and Elizabeth on January 22, 2003. We requested the prompt establishment of a Diocesan Pastoral Council, the publication of a more understandable financial report and the announcement of our meetings in The Register, the diocesan newspaper. At the meeting, he indicated his intent to establish a Diocesan Pastoral Council by the fall of 2004. More recently, the bishop has announced plans to establish a Diocesan Advisory Council in 2004, which we believe is his version of a pastoral council.

In 2003, the diocese issued a better financial report, but one that is still difficult to understand. At a meeting in May 2003, the bishop responded to our request to publish VOTF meeting announcements in The Register by refusing to do so on the basis that it might encourage people to join VOTF, which he does not want them to do. However, the paper accepted payment to run our notice as "paid advertisement."

In October 2003, VOTF hosted a talk by the well-known author, Dr. Eugene Kennedy. Over 300 people attended as he spoke on the "Unhealed Wound."

In November 2003, we elected new officers: Dan McCormick (president), Ann Kuklinski (vice president), and Barbara Frazer (secretary/ treasurer). We are in the process of planning a Service of Hope for Victims in March 2004.

Ongoing activities to spread the word about VOTF include the periodic publication of a newsletter, use of a yahoo e-mail list, and marching as a group in the Nashville St. Patrick Day parade. The Holy Spirit has been busy in Nashville.

PARISH VOICES CENTRAL

VOTF Peoria, Il

Peoria, Il representative John Ryan reports on his visit to MA for the December Council meeting as well as a visit to VOTF National offices. Read his comments at the VOTF Peoria Web site at www.votfpeoria.org.

PARISH VOICES WEST

VOTF East Bay, CA
Submitted by Peter Davey

VOTF East Bay, CA hopes to get more involved with our Diocesan Pastoral folks and expand our Steering Committee to 12 from 7. Pure news item: Our new bishop Allen Vigneron, has announced that starting in January and going thru late spring, he will conduct Apology Services at those parishes where there have been known incidents of clerical sexual abuse. VOTF hopes to attend each of these services.

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