From VOTF Affiliate SE Wisconsin
Reported by Terry Ryan, Coordinator

Christmas greetings to all VOTF members throughout the world! We offer a prayer of thanks 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 that we have witnessed and experienced has been a sign of hope for our Church.

We did not hold a general meeting in December but various working groups met to develop action plans for the new year. With the help of a canon lawyer and a theologian who are VOTF members, the Structural Voice group wrote a scholarly letter to Archbishop Dolan that analyzed the revised norms adopted by the USCCB in Washington, DC. The letter raised specific questions and also highlighted areas that need further clarification. In addition, the steering committee submitted a letter to Archbishop Dolan requesting full disclosure of the extent of clergy sexual abuse in our Archdiocese and the associated costs. We received a brief response to the first letter and are awaiting a response to the full disclosure request.

Our next meeting on 1/9 will feature Michael Crosby, OSBC, who will speak on "The Voice of the Faithful in a Clerical Church." Peace and Courage everyone!

From VOTF Indiana
Reported by Lola McIntyre - Regional Indiana Coordinator

VOTF-Indiana sends a warm "Happy New Year" to everyone. Our membership is growing, and there has been a request to start a new affiliate in Fort Wayne/South Bend. We have established monthly meetings in Indianapolis through May, when we will install our first elected officers in the Indianapolis affiliate.

The winter months are devoted to investigating cases in Indiana (specifically in Indianapolis at this point) and learning more about our Indiana laws and elected law makers.

We will have 4 brainstorming sessions this January, one for each goal, and the fourth for membership growth. Last October, we were delighted to share our Hoosier hospitality with the New York Times. We were surprised to be called by NYT correspondents Sam Dillon and Laurie Goodstein. They flew to Indianapolis, interviewed several VOTF-Indiana members, and wrote a very favorable article for VOTF; it was published on the front page of their 11/10 Sunday edition, just before the Bishop's meeting in November. We were happy to hear from many of you who read the article that it helped to increase your membership. There has been a turn of atmosphere in all e-mails received since early/mid December. Perhaps the resignation of Cardinal Law, release of more damning records, and the favorable nationwide media coverage for VOTF, is building interest and action among more Indiana Catholics.

From VOTF Affiliate NE Iowa, Dubuque
Reported by Dave Wanamaker, Coordinator

Here in Dubuque we will be contacting our legislators to ask them to enact a law requiring all clergy to be mandatory reporters of child abuse. Currently, all teachers and most state workers in Iowa are so required.

A nearby parish adopted a rule in November that all non-parish affiliated groups may not use the facilities unless they provide proof of insurance - a "convenient" way to deal with VOTF.

The Archbishop of Dubuque, Jerome Hanus, has steadfastly refused to release names of 19 priests, credibly-accused of sex abuse (Dubuque Telegraph Herald, 10/26/2002). Eight of these priests are still alive. Archbishop Hanus's Review Board has refused communication with VOTF. In 1994, Archbishop Hanus said at a Linkup Conference that "the Church must learn the language of those who have endured sexual abuse….I'm firmly convinced that full disclosure, the widest possible, should be our policy as long as it doesn't further hurt the victim." It is difficult to reconcile the Archbishop's 1994 remarks with his behavior since then.

From Nashville, TN Parish Voice
Reported by Elizabeth Warren

Nashville VOTF began in July 2002. Our firstt meeting was held at a public library and then at St. Ann's. On August 17, 2002, Bishop Kmiec met with and responded to questions presented in writing by members.

The group broke into the following committees: Healing; Supporting Priests/Spirituality; Protecting Children; Policy and Practice; and Structure and Leadership. The committees drafted goals and committee mission statements that were used to create a mission statement and list of major goals for the entire group. Our first major goal is the re-establishment of a diocesan pastoral council for the Nashville Diocese, the majority of whose membership is selected by the laity. In mid-December, we sent Bishop Kmiec a letter requesting the prompt re-establishment of such a council and enclosed the signatures of over 200 Catholics who wished to indicate their individual support. We have not yet received a response from the bishop.

In the meantime, we continue to work on other goals. As part of our effort to support priests, we sent Christmas greetings to all ofthe priests in the diocese. We plan on having additional activities of support for our priests and the survivors.

From New York City, NY VOTF Affiliate (Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island)
Reported by Maria Coffey and David Pais, Regional Co-Coordinators

Here in NYC we're feeling that, indeed, the new year does bring with it hope and a renewed sense of purpose. We're preparing for elections of new leadership in February and we prayerfully anticipate a Spirit-driven infusion of energy and ideas.

Our affiliate has been extremely fortunate in having the consistent support and encouragement of St. Francis Xavier's pastor, Ned Coughlin. Since our first meeting at Xavier, on 7/15/2002, in the small side-chapel, we have prayed and listened and examined various ways to be true to the VOTF Mission and Goals, and to what we have heard in our listening sessions. We have now outgrown the chapel but VOTF members come together monthly to welcome new people, listen, plan, discuss and, sometimes, disagree.

In an effort to address the three goals, we've invited SNAP and survivors to speak at general meetings; we have also been addressed by Fr. Coughlin. We have wrestled in Steering Committee meetings and in general meetings with Goal #3. Hopefully, the many questions raised will be answered in 2003.

We hope to refine our NYC VOTF goals and develop stronger relationships with others in the greater NY area and with VOTF nationally. We are particularly grateful to Jim Post for coming to speak to us on a frightfully rainy evening in October. We're sure he recognized in this NY audience the sadness, outrage, sense of betrayal and bewilderment that marked the beginnings of this movement in Boston.

We also want to thank the many people in Boston who have answered endless questions and guided us to where we are now. We look forward to a prayerful, strong, supportive and compassionate National VOTF in 2003.

From VOTF Diocese of Brooklyn, NY
Reported by Melissa Gradel

VOTF is alive and growing in the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY! Encompassing NYC's two most populous boroughs, Brooklyn and Queens, this diocese has 1.8 million Catholics and is the sixth largest in the US.

Banned from diocesan property, Brooklyn VOTF has been meeting at St. Francis College. Started in October by nine parishioners from the Oratory Church of St. Boniface, this affiliate now has 140 members from 21 parishes. Our 12/10 meeting featured guest speaker Fr. John Bambrick, a New Jersey priest and a victim of clergy sexual abuse. He has become an outspoken advocate for victims and for change within the Church. Over 100 people attended this emotionally powerful meeting. Thanks to the hospitality of St. Francis College, VOTF will meet again on 1/15.

The Rockaway Beach (Queens) VOTF affiliate, initiated by parishioners from St. Camillus, St. Rose of Lima, St. Thomas More and St. Francis de Sales, has planned a 1/29 meeting at an American Legion Hall to tell others in the Rockaways about VOTF. In Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, a third affiliate is in formation drawing members from St. Augustine, St. Savior and St. Francis Xavier parishes.

The Brooklyn and Rockaway Beach affiliates have been working together to plan an observance of Epiphany on 1/6. Together with VOTF friends from Manhattan, we will gather at St. James Cathedral to mark this feast when three wise (lay) men presented their gifts to the infant Jesus. With song and scripture readings we will pray for God's guidance in the wise employment of our gifts. Noting that 1/6 is also the anniversary of the Boston Globe's first major story about the cover up of clergy sexual abuse in Boston, and also noting that Bishop Daily's ban of VOTF is in fact a rejection of the gift of lay participation, we will offer our gifts symbolically to the Church - Wisdom, Courage, Real Life Experience and Financial Acuity.

On a hopeful note, Bishop Daily has assigned a committee to meet with us to begin dialogue about his decision to ban VOTF meetings. On 1/18, six VOTF members will meet with the committee, which was headed by Auxiliary Bishop Ignatius Catanello. Please pray for reconciliation and openness in Brooklyn!

From VOTF Affiliate New York City East Side Affiliate
Reported by Francis X. Piderit

The New York East Side Affiliate of VOTF held its first meeting on 12/17 with members in attendance from Church of the Holy Family on East 47th Street. We had a vigorous discussion on the state of the American RC Church today and how, through this crisis, the laity is being called to a much greater role in the work of the Kingdom. We discussed the specific issues surrounding Cardinal Law's resignation and the recent modifications to the national guidelines. We also discussed the larger question of how we can prepare others and ourselves in our faith community to assume the new responsibilities to which we are called. We believe it is possible and very important to reach out to the leadership of the Archdiocese in a positive rather than a confrontational spirit. We hope to demonstrate that we are fellow workers in the Church prepared to support in every way possible the priests who are our shepherds.

The collective energy of the American laity has scarcely been tapped and VOTF is just beginning. We are excited about the work to be done, and plan to meet monthly through 2003. While turnout was hurt by many Christmas activities, we received many e-mail messages of encouragement, having reached out to the parishioners of St. John the Evangelist on East 55th Street. We plan to be in touch with parishioners at St. Ignatius Loyola on Park Avenue and introduce ourselves to the respective pastors of these communities. Our next meeting is 1/28.

From VOTF Affiliate Northern New Jersey
Reported by Maria Cleary

Things in New Jersey are as hectic and spirited as ever! Almost 200 people attended our November meeting at St. Mary's in Pompton Lakes to hear Tony Massimini. Tony's talk was wonderful and inspiring, but drew some folks from Faithful Voice who spoke out with an opposing point of view. Despite having to ask one person to leave, we kept the meeting under control and are forewarned for future meetings.

We had a beautiful liturgy for the holidays with some of our team and their families, and another liturgy at St. Joseph's in Mendham with our SNAP brothers and sisters. We hope to add some regular prayer gatherings to our schedule for the new year.

Our next meeting is on 1/15 at Our Lady of Mercy in Whippany. We are privileged to have Fr. John Bambrick, a survivor of sexual abuse by clergy, speak to us. February's meeting will feature Deal Hudson from Crisis magazine, an oft-quoted critic of VOTF. Deal will give us his thoughts on the root causes of the problems in the Catholic Church.

In response to our members' interest in action, we have formed a few Action Committees; survivor support, priests' support, prayerful voice and finance. The Finance Committee has asked for and received the financial statements from our diocese for the past 10 years. We encourage other VOTF affiliates and Parish Voices to do the same.

Our New Year's resolution is to strengthen the ties that bind us within VOTF. We were delighted to make the trek to Boston on 12/7 to meet our New England colleagues. It was such a joy to put faces and e-mails together! Some of our tri-state friends from NY and CT have already been in touch as we try to network our Parish Voices. We're working toward regular regional contact as well as greater contact with Boston.

We are starting an on-line chat room on Sundays from 8-9 pm on AOL Instant Messenger as a first step to networking. We would appreciate any additional input from other PVs on the subject of community building around the VOTF world.

From VOTF Affiliate Hartford, CT
Reported by Mary Ann Murray, Regional Coordinator

Greetings to all. The Greater Hartford Archdiocese is planning a meeting of all the Parish Voice affiliates along with VOTF National representative Mary Ann Keyes on 1/18. Each affiliate will submit discussions points. This will be the first time all six affiliates will meet to discuss future plans and procedural process. We are looking forward to working together for the healing and renewal of the Catholic Church.

From VOTF Greater West Hartford, CT
Reported by Jayne O'Donnell

The Parish Voice group of Greater West Hartford has drawn up and passed with full consensus of our membership a "Resolution of Solidarity and Support." The Parish Voice of Sts. Patrick and Anthony, Hartford, have also signed the Resolution. We have sent it to the Hartford Courant, our citywide newspaper, and believe they will print it in a year-end piece.

We pray for a new year filled with Christ's peace.

(Ed. Note: Readers are welcome to contact Jayne for a copy of the Greater West Hartford Resolution at JayneDIrish@aol.com.)

From St. Thomas More Parish Voice, Durham, NH
Reported by Lorraine Graham

St. Thomas More Parish Voice had our first Listening Session in September and has continued to meet on the second Wednesday of each month. We have welcomed parishioners from churches in Dover, Exeter, Somersworth, Portsmouth, Lee and Durham.

At our November meeting, Diane Lavoie from Sexual Assault Support Services conducted an informative workshop on child sexual abuse.

We plan to move from a Steering Committee to officers and a more established affiliate in January. Also, on 1/22 we will sponsor a presentation by Sr. Carole Descoteaux, CSC, to discuss "The Role of the Laity - Their Rights and Responsibilities." Sr. Carole has been enthusiastically received by other NH affiliates.

From St. Pius V, Lynn, MA
Reported by Jack Whelan

We are proposing a citywide VOTF meeting for Wednesday, 1/29. Several parishes participate in our group so this will be an opportunity to show other concerned Catholics throughout the City of Lynn that we are here as fellow Catholics ready to work together.

We purchased 50 of each of the buttons that were developed by the Healeys for VOTF. Each current and active member is to get one of each and will choose which one they will wear to liturgy and other parish activities and the other they are to give to a friend in the hope of generating interest and participation in VOTF. By spring, we hope to see these VOTF buttons visible at all liturgical celebrations.

We are also preparing to "break bread" with Bishop Irwin who is coming to St. Pius to meet with and learn about us. We hope to discuss how best to reconcile VOTF membership with our ongoing activities in every one of the 24 St. Pius V ministries.

From St. Michael's, North Andover, MA
Reported by Stacey Quealey, Co-Coordinator

Here at St. Michael in North Andover, we are looking forward to a new year of working more closely with our neighboring parishes, St. Augustine and St. Robert Bellarmine (both next door to Andover) and St. Anthony in Lowell (we hope to get them fully affiliated soon!)

To kick off the year, we are having a multi-parish meeting on 1/14 and a Voice of Compassion presentation by David Castaldi and Ken Gosselin.

Every month brings more opportunity to spread the world about VOTF and make more contacts within the organization. We are looking forward to a productive year that will include standing in support of survivors and the crucial rebuilding and revitalization our Church so desperately needs.

From The Plymouth Cluster (Plymouth, Kingston, Carver), MA
Reported by Kathleen Leslie

The Plymouth Cluster recently collaborated with the Duxbury group to have a Healing Mass at St. Mary's Church in Plymouth. It was a wonderful event with the church filled to capacity. The local Knights of Columbus assisted us with the closing candlelight procession. The Mass attracted much publicity in the local media. Until this Mass, there had been no VOTF-associated event held in a parish facility in any of our towns. The pastor involved was comfortable since we were having a Mass - perhaps this is a thought for others not yet fully established in their parishes. Mass was followed by a social gathering in the parish center.

To plan the Mass, we met with the pastor and used the prototype from the VOTF website with some changes.

From Westford-Chelmsford, MA - Area Parish Voice
Reported by Mike Gustin and Lauren Franceschi

We are blessed with a terrific group of dedicated and, as you will see below, very active individuals in our Parish Voice. At the risk of seeming to monopolize space, we offer this list for the benefit of other PVs just getting started and/or unsure of next steps. The work noted began in September.

1. Authored "Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers Working with Youth," which was distributed to pastors.
2. Volunteered three VOTF members along with other parish reps to attend the Archdiocese training session and report back to parishes in order to assist parish staff in training volunteers working with youth.
3. Held a Prayer Service for the Healing of our Church and Victims of Abuse with Eucharistic Adoration for all parishioners; held a Mass of Hope and Healing for all parishioners. Both services were planned and executed by VOTF members with the pastor's help. VOTF hosted fellowship following Mass.
4. Offered to pay for five members of the Clergy and Staff of each parish represented by our membership to attend a seminar at Merrimack College on "How to Develop a Pastoral Response in the Current Crisis our Church is Facing."
5. Hired renowned Catholic speaker Eileen Snow to speak to all members of our parishes on Church History and Vatican II
6. Repeatedly invite all clergy of our parishes to our meetings for their valuable input. We have members of the clergy of our parishes who attend meetings regularly and speak openly.
7. Had interview with the pastor to discuss lay support of our priests.
8. Encouraged all parishioners in bulletin messages to support priests with letters and other gestures of appreciation.
9. Encouraged pastors to continue to pray for survivors, as well as bishops and clergy during the Prayers of the Faithful at every Sunday Mass.
10. Hosted speakers from Survivors of Joe Birmingham to enlighten us on their experiences and tell us how we can be effective in supporting survivors.
11. Met with Bishop Emilio Allue to discuss VOTF and correct mistaken impressions of the group. Wore our VOTF badges to the Mass he visited at our parish. VOTF members participated in the Mass as Eucharistic ministers, singers, musicians and ushers during Mass with the Bishop. He said he was impressed by our dedication as parishioners.
12. Invited the cast of "Godspell," which was being performed at Westford Academy, to sing a few songs to open one of our PV meetings. It was great for the students as well as our members!
13. Supported four members of our PV who are running for open seats on the Pastoral Parish Council. This was directly linked to the direction set by the Structural Change Working Group.
14. We contacted local radio station WCAP and were guests on the AM talk show for 1 ½ hours. We invited Olan Horne, representative for Survivors of Joe Birmingham, to come and speak for survivors. We have been invited back.
15. We contacted local newspapers and had front-page coverage for two consecutive weeks in the Westford Eagle and Chelmsford Independent. Reporting was accurate.
16. We set up our own website for local info with a link to the National VOTF site. We are also listed on the town's website under "Churches and Religious Organizations."
    We have taken additional steps specifically in support of survivors.
17. Raised over $2,000 cash in "Honey Money" from the donation of honey provided by Gus, our bee keeper member. We donated goods (pre-paid gas and phone cards) given directly to Survivor Support advocacy groups. The funds raised helped to send survivors to the Bishops' Conference in Washington, DC.
18. Since the VOTF Convention in July, we have had reps from our PV standing in solidarity with survivors outside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, nearly every Sunday.
19. We had 20 people, including one person in a wheelchair, from our PV attend the Candlelight Vigil outside the Chancery in October in support of the Ford family.
20. We had ten people from our PV attend the Candlelight Vigil in North Andover, in support of female survivors.
21. We have joined with Survivors of Joe Birmingham in a project at the Catholic Charities Food pantry in Lowell.
22. We have forwarded articles to our priests that put a human face on how the individual survivors and their families have been devastated as a result of sexual abuse by clergy - alcoholism, drug use, depression and suicide.
23. Some of our PV members have become involved with SurvivorsFirst.

From VOTF Winchester Area, MA
Reported by Bob Morris

Our group has been meeting every Monday night (holidays excluded) since 5/13. We held three meetings in December. At our 12/2 meeting, Thomas Carr and Sister Katherine Donnelly of the Pastoral Response Assistance Team discussed the issue of sexual abuse by clergy, focusing on the problems faced by victims in asserting claims of abuse. In their presentations, Tom and Sister Katherine drew on their wealth of hands-on experience in abuse cases. Their talk was greatly enhanced by a video of Phil Saviano's speech at the July VOTF Convention in Boston. Phil is the former New England Regional Director of SNAP.

On 12/9, we discussed the VOTF motions calling for Cardinal Law's resignation. The discussion was sober and thoughtful and represented everything that VOTF stands for - respecting the voices of all the laity in our Church. Approximately 100 attendees voted overwhelmingly in favor of the resolutions. We instructed our Council Rep to support the resolutions, which were passed by the Lay Leadership Council on 12/11.

On 12/9, Fr. Ronald Gomes celebrated Mass for our group. Fr. Gomes was one of the 58 signatories to the clergy letter calling on Cardinal Law to resign. The liturgy was planned by Regina Pontes and others in our group, including St. Eulalia's Choir Director Andy Smith. Ten members of St. Eulalia's Choir generously donated their time and extraordinary talent to help make the Mass truly inspirational. It was a most fitting way to end our first year together.

Throughout November and December, we raised money for the "survivor baskets" put together by Susan Renehan. The baskets cost $90 apiece and we were able to donate enough for nearly 11 baskets. We are so grateful to Susan for her extraordinary work and to the many who gave so generously.

From VOTF Worcester, MA Diocese
Reported by Dan Dick

Currently, we are urging our members to complete the forms and submit same to their pastors for nomination to the Worcester Diocesan Pastoral Council. We hope to have representatives on this new DPC.

We are developing a process for victims and parents of victims of sexual abuse by church personnel so that they can register the name of the abuser. We find that, in some cases, either the abuser is dead or the abused family does not want to come forward. They do, however, want the abuser exposed by being on a list such as is maintained by SurvivorsFirst or SNAP.

We are somewhat ill at ease with the Sexual Abuse policy approved by the bishops and the Vatican in that it puts final decisions into the hands of the bishops. It seems like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.

We are in the final stages of setting up an elected table of organization - moderator, recorder, treasurer and a steering committee composed of the chairs of our various action committees (education, finance, liaison with National VOTF, parish outreach, planning, priest support, public relations, victim support and website.)

From St. Theresa's in the Worcester diocese
Submitted by Joanne Helhowski

Our meetings are held monthly in our parish hall. At our last meeting in November, we were very grateful to have a victim attend and share with us his personal experiences of abuse and his personal journey toward recovery. The courage it takes for someone to come forward and share his or her sorrow is inspiring and heart wrenching and we felt blessed by his presence. Victims gather their strength to relive the past and speak for those who are not yet strong enough and speak to protect the innocent children. Along with his personal story of humiliation and tragedy, some simple suggestions were given regarding how we can all help survivors. Let us all take these to heart and do our best to help the abuse survivors, keep the faith, and change the Church!

• Bring hot coffee to the vigils held each Sunday outside the Cathedral in Boston. Stand beside the survivors during the Vigil.
• Work to remove the statute of limitations on clergy abuse.
• Provide donations to SNAP (http://www.survivorsnetwork.org), The Linkup (www.thelinkup.com), Survivors First (www.survivorsfirst.org). They could use the donations to help for cell phone expenses, travel expenses to go to press conferences, etc.
• Send letters to the editors of newspapers when you hear things in the news that disturb you about this crisis.
• Fight for mandatory reporting of abuse by clergy in the 30 states without such a law.

In the Vineyard
Table of Contents

Page One

From the Executive Director

Working Groups

Voices, Voices Everywhere!

In the News

• VOTF Named One of the Most Inspiring of 2002 by Belief.Net

• VOTF Cited In "Who's Next 2003" in Newsweek's Year End Wrap-Up

• Keep the Faith, Change the Church
  Founding President Jim Muller, MD shares a Nobel Prize for his fight against nuclear arms. Now he's taking on the Catholic Church. By Richard Conklin '59M.A. Notre Dame Magazine

In Brief

• Linkup asks for VOTF's support for their Annual Healing Conference for survivors.
  
  

• Please join the Paulist Center Community as they honor the recipient of the 2003 Isaac Hecker Award for Social Justice, Thomas P. Doyle, O.P. Canon Lawyer, Chaplain. More information
  
  
• Jesuit Theologian Bill Clark to Speak in Maine Parishes on "The Role of the Laity in Today's Church" Fr. Clark to Speak in Saco on Jan. 22 & Calais on Feb. 2. More information
  
  
• Jayne MacDonald, Chair of Membership and Recruitment, reports a suggestion from member Bill Sheehan. Bill proposes that every VOTF member identify ten contacts - friends, colleagues, extended family - and ask them personally to visit the VOTF website at www.votf.org. Bill believes it is bound to grow our numbers, an imperative of future success.

• Please note Jim Post's speaking schedule in the event you are in the area he is visiting and the meeting is open to the public. Jim would certainly value the support and the opportunity to meet fellow VOTFers.
  
  
• Remarks by Steve Krueger at Feast of the Epiphany Memorial Vigil.
  
  
• Print out the entire In the Vineyard newsletter to read at your leisure or distribute to friends who don't have internet.
  
  
• Your donations to VOTF help us maintain our website, assist new affiliates, and provide regular communication to members and the media. You can donate online or mail a donation to us at PO Box 423, Newton, MA 02464. Thanks for your generosity, which has been tremendous.

Please forward submissions to In the Vineyard to leaderpub@votf.org.