Voices,
Voices Everywhere!
East
- Central - South - West
VOTF
EAST
VOTF
New Jersey
Submitted by Maria Cleary
Our
most exciting event this month came via our November
speaker, Anthony Padovano. A noted theologian, writer
and educator, Dr. Padovano kept our membership spellbound
as he recounted for us the history of the American Catholic
Church. Many of us were stunned to learn about our
democratic roots, and the first American Bishop
John Carroll. He was a visionary leader who championed
a “Constitution of the Clergy,” giving priests voting
privileges in determining their ministry and their leaders,
and the “American Trustee System” giving the laity an
active voice in their parishes.
We
are so anxious that all our VOTF family know these facts
and learn more about a system that was once ours as
American Catholics. Please visit our Web site at www.votfnj.org
to read Dr. Padovano’s entire speech.
Our
Newark Affiliate is well into its planning stages, and
we’re making our first inroads into the Metuchen Diocese.
Our Structural Change Action Committee is working on
a “white paper” that focuses on the “Future of Ministry”
in NJ. And finally, after an extended tangle in red
tape, we’ve gotten our 501(c)3 status. Our lesson was:
persevere!
We
send hearts full of Christmas blessings to our VOTF
brothers and sisters around the world, and our prayers
for a New Year that is abundantly graced by the Spirit
as we continue the work we are privileged to do.
Merry
Christmas from NJ VOTF!
VOTF
St. Thomas More, Durham, NH
Submitted by Lorraine Graham
On
November 20th, St. Thomas More Parish Voice of Durham,
NH coordinated with our pastor Fr. Dan St. Laurent a
prayer service in support of victims of sexual abuse,
"Healing the Body of Christ." Fr. Dan sent invitations
to all area Christian churches in order for the service
to be ecumenical. There were four reflections on what
the crisis had done to affect the lives of each speaker:
a UNH student, a parishioner who'd left the Church and
recently returned with her children, a VOTF member representing
NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, and
our pastor, a priest for 28 years. Their messages were
very moving and heartfelt and an eye-opener to some
in attendance. Our choir participated and we felt we
reached some parishioners who had not really tuned in
before. Our program stated that the service was sponsored
by STM Parish Voice and we distributed VOTF material
at the rear of the church and also at a coffee get together
afterwards for good fellowship and conversation and,
hopefully, education.
Special
thanks to Lynn Holmes and Barbara Troxell who coordinated
with Fr. Dan our prayer service in support of victims
of sexual abuse "Healing the Body of Christ" and all
who participated from area churches last Thursday. We
offer a prayer of thanksgiving this season for the example
of patience, courage, truth, concern and persistence
that has been demonstrated by the actions of so many
of the faithful during the past year. The grassroots
involvement of VOTF members has been a sign of hope
for our Church.
VOTF
St. Anselm, Framingham/Sudbury, MA
Submitted by Bill McQueeney
We
have created what we are calling Forum for Healing.
Each month we are addressing one of the goals of VOTF
with a speaker or other activity.
On
October 30th we were blessed by a talk from Church historian,
Pat DeLeeuw of Boston College and on December 11th at
7:30 pm, we will hear from our old friend Olan Horne.
Olan Horne is a founder of the Survivors of Joe Birmingham.
He will address at least one survivor/victims’ perspective
of the settlement and perhaps more importantly a view
of how healing can occur.
On
January 31st we are having a dinner celebrating the
lives and dedication of 10 priests who have served or
are serving St. A's in one capacity or another. In the
February through May period we anticipate hosting David
O'Brien from Holy Cross College, Mary Jane England from
Regis College and Paul Baier of Survivors First.
We
receive outstanding support from our pastor, deacon
and pastoral associate and many, many members of our
community.
VOTF
West Philadelphia, PA
Submitted by Judy Clifford
The
Western Philadelphia Suburbs Affiliate formed in 2002
primarily with members of one parish. At the present
time, our affiliate attracts people from a number of
parishes but not enough from any single parish to form
individual parish voices. We meet once a month, generally
to hear a speaker. For example, last month a member
of a parish pastoral council described how councils
are formed and operate in the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
We publicized the survey on the Parish Pastoral Council,
which VOTF's Structural Change Working Group created.
At another meeting, we heard a painful story of abuse
from a victim/survivor. VOTF is not welcomed on Church
property, nor has the distribution of flyers outside
of churches been allowed but, recently, we have been
permitted to put notices of our meetings in the parish
bulletin. That was quite an accomplishment!
The
outrage of Boston Catholics has not been replicated
here. However, the work of a grand jury taking testimony
on clergy sexual abuse has been extended. The report
may ignite some passion in a Catholic community that
seems to think the sex-abuse problem does not affect
the Church in Philadelphia. They may be surprised! At
the local level, the laity is still pretty much content
to “let Father do it,” that is, make all the decisions,
and Father insists on doing it. However, there are exceptions.
There are a few priests trying to develop lay leadership
– they see the writing on the wall in the priest shortage.
So in an area where we bump up against a stone wall
at every turn, our job is to set out goals that we can
accomplish and keep the torch burning. The VOTF conference
at Fordham University was a morale booster. The appalling
stories of victims and gross behavior of clergy constantly
remind us that if we don't “keep the faith and change
the Church,” who will?
VOTF
RI
Submitted by Mary Freeman
The
VOTF of Southern RI held a prayer service last month
entirely assembled by lay people. A few things were
taken from different articles published in In the Vineyard
and on the Web site but the bulk of it was written by
our own members. It centered on VOTF’s three goals.
Candles were lit throughout the service. Now we light
them and read the invocations at all of our meetings.
A copy of the service is available in AppleWorks. If
other affiliates would like to have this, we would be
very happy to share it. Contact mfreeman13@cox.net.
VOTF
Northshore, MA
Submitted by Vince Guerra
The
Christian Education-Faith Formation group at VOTF-Northshore,
a VOTF affiliate based at St. Rose of Lima parish in
Topsfield, Mass, recently launched a new collaborative,
tri-affiliate lecture series along with affiliates Lynn
Area VOTF and Seacoast VOTF. This program is designed
to provide needed spiritually-reinforcing information
about Catholicism, helping interested Catholics understand
their faith and the institutional Church. The six-part
program, entitled “The Living Christ, We His Disciples"
was held at St. Rose of Lima on Sunday, October 26 and
again November 2 when Rev. Michael Heim, Ph.D., theology
professor at Boston College, spoke eloquently on the
humanity and divinity of Jesus. He offered numerous
insights into our Lord in a most scholarly and inspiring
way and left the enthusiastic audience exuberant and
most appreciative of what it had experienced in each
of his one-hour presentations. At the refreshment period,
he was greeted with great admiration and the crowd departed
obviously very pleased as were the sponsors.
The
next two-part segment of this collaborative Faith program
will be hosted by the Lynn area VOTF at St. Mary's Church
in Lynn in late January-early February '04. Father John
Baldovin of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology will
speak on Incorporation into Christ via Baptism, Confirmation
and Eucharist as these fit into the community of Faith.
The fifth and sixth presentations are scheduled for
late March-early April and will be hosted by the Seacoast
VOTF, based at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport.
The themes will focus on scriptural understandings and
will be announced in more detail at a later date in
the calendar on the Web site. Further meetings are planned
for 2003-2004. Open attendance is always encouraged
and it is hoped that the cooperative efforts of the
three affiliates in this part of the state will foster
further growth of our organization and enlightenment
of its members.
VOTF
Westford/Chelmsford, MA
Submitted by Lauren Franceschi - What We Have Learned
Over the Past Year: Some excerpts and recaps of members’
comments.
“The
Spirit will not be denied. The fact the Cardinal Law
left is evidence that the Spirit is at work through
our participation in VOTF. The support of the VOTF membership
has kept many of us faithful. Through tragedy we sometimes
wonder where the Spirit is but at some point we realize
He has been there all along.”
A
member thought back to a childhood experience with the
Sisters who taught her in grade school. She understands
the intimidation the victims of clergy sexual abuse
must have felt because at one time it seemed that adults
would always side with the clergy and the nuns. She
believes that there are many cases that we will never
hear about because so many victims will not speak up.
A
member realized the responsibility in being a Catholic
adult. “We take on responsibilities as adults in all
other area of our lives but as Catholics many people
remain children. We need to change this and be adults
in our Church.”
One
member realized how it feels to be dehumanized for his
beliefs but, like Jesus before Pilot, we need to stay
the course.
Heroes
don’t come in the shape expected; VOTF has been a good
experience.
“It
is nice not to be alone.” A member was told at a young
age by her father that the clergy and sister can be
wrong. That stayed with her. Historically, the Church
hierarchy reminds her of Boardrooms. They are running
the show while the rest of us are out living the faith.
Together we can do something.
“If
this had happened 25-30 years ago we may not have stood
up like we have. It has all happened in God’s time.
This is an act of God.”
A
member reminded us of the work of St. Catherine of Sienna
who fought the Church over injustice.
A
member said that he has realized that this crisis is
as important to many others as it is to him.
Another
said he thought that once the hierarchy learned the
true depth of the sexual abuse that they would fix it.
He was shocked to see that not a single bishop has called
for the resignation of any bishop who is known to have
been involved. He realized that he has taken his faith
for granted. We can’t sit by and watch it unfold. We
need to figure out what to do next.
VOTF
Winchester, MA
Submitted by Bob Morris
There
were several highlights for our group this month. On
Saturday evening, November 8, some 70 members and nine
area priests gathered for our second pot-luck supper
honoring priests of integrity. Many thanks are due to
our Priests’ Support group for organizing this highly
successful event. Thanks are especially due to Mary
Brown, Marie Doyle, John and Mary Deyst, Christina Hurley
and Clare Keane.
On
Monday, November 24, we welcomed four survivors of abuse
-- Jean Crotty, Kathy Dwyer, Steve Lynch and Dale Walsh
-- for round-table discussions with our members. The
discussions focused on the "Call to Reform the Archdiocese
of Boston (9/2003)", presented to the Representative
Council in September. The presence of the survivors
once again brought home for us what brought us together
in the first place. (See additional details under
Survivor Community news.)
Another
highlight in November was a presentation on November
17 by Barbara Penkala, the Religious Education Coordinator
at St. Eulalia's in Winchester, regarding the Archdiocesan
Virtus program. Several members of the parish "CAPS"
team were present as well, and participated in a lively
and informative discussion regarding parish safety.
VOTF
Harvard, MA
Submitted by Joann Helhowski
St.
Theresa, the Little Flower (Harvard, MA, Worcester diocese)
is a small parish and continues to have a small but
energetic VOTF group. We sponsored three activities
over the Fall in the spirit of the three VOTF goals.
Our first activity was a fundraiser selling the New
England fall gardening staple (mums) to support victim
and survivors’ organizations. This fundraiser, held
after each Mass, gave all parishioners an easy opportunity
to show their support for the victims of the clergy
abuse. It was a huge success and the profits realized
enabled us to provide contributions of $300 each to
Survivors First, The Linkup, and SNAP.
Our
second activity was hosting a talk “How to Solve the
Church Crises: Ordinary Catholics Must Act” by Dave
O’Brien. With pleasure we were able to host this inspirational
speaker and were joined by members from other parishes
in our vicinity. Our final fall activity was a celebration
of “Priesthood Sunday.” At each of our Masses, different
parishioners shared their thoughts and feelings on the
importance of priesthood in their lives. During the
Reflection after Communion there was a meditation hymn
on priesthood and we drew the full parish community
into the celebration by offering a blessing over our
pastor as a representative of all the priests in our
diocese. We concluded each of the Masses with the handout
to all members of a special prayer card for the vocations
of priests.
VOTF
Greater Lawrence Affiliate, MA
Submitted by Louise Gosselin
A
Greater Lawrence Vicariate VOTF Affiliate was recently
formed by joining St. Michael of North Andover, St.
Augustine of Andover and St. Robert Bellarmine of Andover.
The intention was to share resources and widen membership
in the greater Lawrence area. Emilie Gilbert, Dave Dlesk
and JoAnne Nowack have agreed to chair the affiliate.
The
Greater Lawrence VOTF Affiliate sponsored a well-attended
Mass of Rededication and Reconsecration on October 29.
Over 120 people were in attendance. The group has also
created an Affiliate Lending Library and has plans to
purchase tapes, videos and books. Speakers are being
contacted for presentations after the new year as part
of the Affiliates’ education goal. The next scheduled
meeting is December 9. All meetings take place at St.
Michael Church in North Andover from 7 to 9 p.m.
VOTF
West
VOTF
East Bay, San Francisco, CA
Submitted by Peter Davey
Our
original November 4th meeting with our new bishop Bishop
Allen Vigneron was postponed to and took place on Monday,
November 24th. After VOTF led an opening prayer, the
four members of the Steering Committee (SC) made short,
introductory statements.
After
Tom Kirk made some straightforward comments about lack
of detail available in Diocesan Annual report, Bishop
Vigneron said he would talk to the Finance Council.
The bishop did encourage all of us to make contact with
various Councils but especially, the Pastoral Council.
The
bishop stated that the fact that VOTF is bringing Catholics
together is a good thing. However, he cannot endorse
us or give us "privilege" status because if he did this,
he would have to do the same for every group that may
be championing various issues. We brought up the timely
issue of celebration of Eucharist vs. shortage of priests.
The bishop stated the solution was in the renewal of
the Church and the need to recruit. There are plenty
of candidates out there but they are not "hearing" the
call. The bishop wanted to know where VOTF stood regarding
"hot button" issues such as ordination of women and
optional celibacy. We stated that as pointed out on
the National VOTF website, VOTF is not taking any position
on these issues and that we have no argument with Church
Doctrine. However, to be honest, members do have questions
and have expressed anger at the Church's closed mind
on these topics. The bishop stated that although celibacy
is an "instruction," ordination of women is Church Doctrine.
If we want to go down either one of these roads, it
is a dead end!
We
asked the bishop if there was anything he considered
heretical in our brochure. He stated that he took no
position on it and that if a pastor has a problem with
it, tell him to call the bishop’s office.
VOTF
is happy that the bishop did not ban us from meeting
at parishes. He encourages all laity to assume their
role and responsibilities as articulated by Vatican
II, i.e., get informed and get involved in transforming
society. We invited Bishop Vigneron to attend any of
our meetings in the future as they are always posted
on our Web site. The bishop led us in a closing prayer.
Two
of our East Bay Steering Committee members met in San
Francisco last week with Ed and Peg Gleason to introduce
Robert Kaiser who has agreed to speak to VOTF at our
Spring Symposium, University of San Francisco (USF),
March 28, ' 04. Kaiser is currently Distinguished Visiting
Scholar at the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service
and the Common Good at USF.
VOTF
South
VOTF
Bay Area, FL
Submitted by D. Esteva
Our
affiliate has had several interesting presentations
at the last few general meetings. Deputy Donald Jordan
of the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office gave a very factual
and interesting slide presentation on sexual abuse and
ways of protecting children, and recognizing signs of
abuse. Roger J. Girard, a licensed mental health and
sexual abuse counselor, stressed the elements of power
and control in sexual abuse. Fr. Alan Weber, Vicar General
of our diocese, talked to us about the organization
and administration of the diocese. And most recently,
our pastor Msgr. Harold Bumpus talked about Voice
of the Faithful Goal #3 and what in his opinion
could be done at the diocesan level. He concluded by
saying that he could visualize Voice of the Faithful
working in tandem with bishops and pastors to achieve
many things.
We
are happy to announce that a meeting of the Steering
Committee with our bishop Bishop Lynch has been scheduled
for December 16th. We look forward to this meeting.
Following is the agenda we submitted to Bishop Lynch:
-
Resumption of plans for a diocesan synod.
-
Organization of associations of parish finance committees
and parish councils at the deanery and diocesan
levels.
-
Election of parish council members and elimination
of "executive sessions" where they exist.
-
Establishment of a summer internship for a seminarian
at Prince of Peace Church.
-
Resumption of plans for listening sessions with
our bishop.
Another
recent undertaking was a visit by Jim and Anne Marie
Lydon, Chairpersons of the committee on Goal #2 to the
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary at Boynton Beach,
FL. They returned from their overnight trip with feelings
of kinship for the seminarians and faculty. They highly
recommend the rest of us to plan a visit there. Keep
the faith; change the Church.
VOTF
Louisville, KY
Submitted by Paula Radmacher
Our
new member committee has decided that we should have
our introductory meeting just prior to the full membership
meeting rather than on a different night. We are gathering
for about 45 minutes to explain the goals and the types
of activities in which we are currently engaged, then
we will go on to the business meeting.
Goal
1: We are developing plans for a one-day retreat sometime
in the Spring. Goal 2: The first dialogue session with
our priests was attended by 10 clergy and nine members.
Topics included needs, expectations and ideas to promote
healing. Members found it to be a positive experience.
Goal 3: The broadness of the topic is challenging and
members are focusing on small steps. Committee members
will be working on a letter to be sent to the Archbishop.
VOTF
CENTRAL
VOTF
Chicago Archdiocese, Il
Submitted by Terry O’Connor
60
Seconds through the Archdiocese and Beyond on 12/4/03
- VOTF-Archdiocese
Dialogue Team offers their gifts to Cardinal George
to launch a Chicagoland plan to support dialogue,
change and healing in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The Cardinal is apparently not ready for such a
meeting with VOTF. Through the Vicar General, he
indicated, “he is not saying yes and he is not saying
no” to such a meeting.
- VOTF-Parish
Affiliates congratulate Cardinal George for meeting
personally with victims of sexual abuse and offering
approximately $ 25,000,000 in financial settlements.
However, they assert that the bishops and cardinal
need to do more by taking the leadership role in
dialogue with the laity in the Archdiocese.
- VOTF-Parish
Affiliates continue to cite support for Priests
of Integrity as one of several keys to goal # 3
(systemic change) in the Archdiocese of Chicago,
as well as, in the United States.
- VOTF-Dialogue
Team sees a network of 175 parishes as not enough
to get the attention of Cardinal George. We all
need to increase effort to expand our memberships.
Friends can join quickly via a Google ‘Voice of
the Faithful’ search.
- Action
for Renewal springboards off Father Richard McBrien’s
presentation to schedule a January 27th evening
with Judge Ann Burke, Chairperson of the National
Lay Review Board on the Sexual Abuse Crisis. This
will take place at Holy Family, Inverness. Watch
for VOTF flyers announcing the event.
- Action
for Renewal is in the planning stage of a Forum
for Priests of Integrity (next spring). Details
to follow after the preliminaries and structure
of the Forum are more defined.
- On
a sad note, we have been advised by SNAP that apparently,
“the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois and the Christian
Brothers have asked a Judge to overturn the new
law on the statutes of limitations for cases of
sexual abuse in Illinois as unconstitutional.” Also
mentioned in the SNAP release, “Catholic leaders
from Chicago’s St. Laurence High School, also Christian
Brothers, have made the same request.” Both, allegedly,
are defendants in two entirely different cases –
just when we thought we had reached the bottom in
Chicago! For additional information contact: snapblaine@hotmail.com
- Celibacy
on unofficial agenda: “There are different venues
that might be possible,” said Cardinal George, adding
that he had promised to raise the issue after being
urged by about 115 Chicago area priests who wanted
optional celibacy and about 175 others who thought
it should at least be discussed. “I think it has
to be discussed, I’m not sure this is the venue.”
For additional information contact: theinen@journalsentinel.com
Peace
be with you and have a great Christmas season.
Voice of the Faithful-Chicago Archdiocese Coordinator
at: toconnor847@mynex.net
VOTF
Cleveland/Akron, OH
Submitted by Tom Byrne
The
Cleveland/Akron Diocese affiliate has initiated a Priest
Sounding Board with strong support in accordance with
Goal #2. Fr. Robert Wendelken, Pastor of St. Rita parish
in Solon, Ohio will initiate and help coordinate its
formation within the diocese. Both John Bongiovanni
and Tom Byrne supported the St. Christopher Parish Voice
Affiliate meeting on November 22 and clarified VOTF
goals and mission statement.
VOTF
St. Mary’s, Ann Arbor, MI
Submitted by Anne Laurance
St.
Mary’s Student Parish of the Diocese of Lansing formed
a Voice of the Faithful group in November 2002 and has
been meeting monthly since that time.
St.
Mary’s is the parish at the University of Michigan and
carries pastoral responsibility for all Catholic students
at that institution, a number that approaches 8,000
young adult Catholics. It is the consciousness of this
responsibility that continues to energize the VOTF members
at St. Mary’s. In this knowledge, the group made the
decision to limit the outreach of the group to persons
who come to St. Mary’s for worship and to minister with
the parish.
Early
in the work of St. Mary’s VOTF, one of the members held
a meeting with the Diocesan Chancellor as well as the
Moderator of the Curia. This meeting was most cordial
and positive. The purpose was to explore ways in which
parish leadership could facilitate transitions when
pastoral changes were to be announced by Diocesan officials.
The suggestion was that the Diocesan Pastoral Council
be the vehicle for working with Parish Pastoral Councils
to help in this process. The questions raised in this
discussion are under review at the present time.
The
group agrees that, in the main, the Diocese of Lansing
has handled cases of sexual abuse well. There are several
ways in which screening is done among which is that
of fingerprinting all who work with children in the
Diocese.
This
St. Mary’s VOTF group has produced a brochure that has
been presented to the parish by the Administrator. The
brochure is designed to publicize help by service agencies
to anyone who has a problem with sexual abuse. Persons
who have suffered abuse reviewed the text in order to
keep “victim” language at a minimum. Faculty of the
University of Michigan School of Social Work have screened
the piece as well as two attorneys with experience in
this area. The brochure is now at the stage of a first
printing.
Voice
of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
Voice of Compassion, VOTF logo(s), Parish Voice, and
Prayerful Voice are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful,
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