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Survivor Support Events and News
On the Manchester, NH Solidarity March, January 26
THE LONGEST LINE - Reported by Bill Fallon

Catholics are used to waiting in long lines - at Mass for Communion, at Confirmations, funerals, etc. On a cold Sunday morning in late January outside St. Joseph's Cathedral in Manchester, New Hampshire, a group of 83 Catholics waited single file in the longest line of all. They waited to step up to the podium, hold high a poster picture of a victim taken at the age of abuse, and announce the brief caption - "Jamie, abused from age 10 to 14," "Patricia, abused at age 11," "My son, Andrew, abused and raped by Paul Shanley," "Suicide victim #1." For more than half an hour the posters were read, as the silent crowd of about 200 people, herded behind police barriers, listened respectfully as the mournful strains of Barber's Adagio played endlessly.

When the last poster bearer had finished, the crowd joined them in a silent single file march around the cathedral block, more than completely encircling it. A few short speeches by leaders of survivors groups ended the moving two-hour Solidarity March program, and the crowd dispersed to all parts of New England. They'll long remember the biting cold, the graciousness of the Episcopal Church across the street in letting marchers use their facilities when the cathedral authorities refused such a request (and guarded the doors), and the absence of the focus of it all, Bishop John B. McCormack.

For almost ten years Bishop McCormack was a central figure in the Boston Archdiocese practice of shuffling abuser priests from parish to parish. The crowd came to demand his resignation, and will likely come again and again. Each time, as new victim revelations continue, the long line will grow longer.

From our Maine Affiliate
Reported by Stephen Sheehan

Meeting at Most Holy Trinity Parish in Saco, ME on January 22, 2003
Speaker: Fr. William Clark, SJ
Subject: The Role of the Laity in the Catholic Church in the 21st Century.
Contact: Paul Kendrick, VOTF Maine

Summation of Presentation:

The fact of the clergy sexual abuse crisis has deeply compromised the ability of the Church to take a firm moral stand. The underlying causes of the crisis must be addressed and remedied before the Gospel message can be heard.

The laity can no longer adopt a passive role. We must now assume the role bestowed by our baptism as sharing in Christ's threefold role as prophet, priest and king.

The Church is a sacrament. Its mission is to point out the Kingdom of God and to make it happen. The authority of the laity to participate fully is not dependent on the hierarchy, on Canon Law or on the traditions of the Church but derives from God through our baptism. In Lumen Gentium, these rights and responsibilities are noted in the first section of the document, before the roles of the hierarchy and the religious.

The Church is a mystery, not an institution. It is manifested as a relationship with God. This can only be properly understood when seen from within. Members enter this relationship through baptism.

Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) has a right to exist. This right is clear in Canons 208 - 231. We have the right to associate and to meet to discuss our concerns and a right, sometimes a duty to make our concerns known to the hierarchy in fulfillment of our priestly role.

VOTF must be a broad-based organization with modest but firm goals, initially focused at the local level in order to build a stronger, larger group, similar to the church in the first two centuries.

Tools that are used against us:

Our response to these tactics:

Priests and VOTF, Naples, FL
Reported by Richard Caldarone

On Thursday, January 23, about 250 Catholics from Naples, FL attended a Mass concelebrated by priests and deacons from five Catholic churches located in Naples and neighboring Bonita Springs. The principal celebrant was Fr. Jack Donahue of St. John the Evangelist church in North Naples who gave the homily. Fr. Donahue said that the sex abuse crisis has seriously injured the institutional church and caused a crisis of confidence. He referred to the victims as his spiritual children. He also expressed compassion for his brother priests who had victimized those most vulnerable in our church. He described them as part of our broken human family. He also talked about the effect the scandal has had upon the honorable and chaste priests who now are often looked upon with distrust or suspicion.

He said that he welcomed more participation in parish affairs from finance to hiring of church employees, but said that this involvement may not be easy going since many priests have been used to running their parishes in their own way for many years. Fr Donahue stated that the church has weathered worse times and that "through our pain, we are forming and giving birth to a renewed church." Fr. Glockin, the pastor of St. John's, said that he welcomed the parishioners' involvement and that it's "the people's church".

After the Mass, Peg Clark, founder of the local VOTF group, introduced the board of directors of the Southwest Florida Chapter of VOTF. She felt that the many retirees in the area had the time and energy available to work for a stronger church and that they could offer to volunteer in local charities and to participate in the recovery of the church. She said "Maybe God gathered us here in Southwest Florida for this unique purpose."

Prior to the mass, the ushers greeted those who came and distributed a folder stating the purpose of VOTF and information for those who might wish to become involved.

The following letter came to the In the Vineyard mailbox from a priest in California. It is a special grace to know of Fr. Tureman's support.

Dear Friends,

I want to thank you for your newsletter and the amazing work you are doing to help heal our shattered institution. As a priest, this has been the most painful time I have ever experienced, both professionally and personally. As I hear the revelations coming out of Boston and other areas, I keep wondering how much more shock can I take. Just when we have seen the worst, there is more. This crisis has undermined the good work that the vast majority of my fellow priests do.

I have never seen a crisis that has hurt so many good people both within and outside of the institution. I was pleased when VOTF and the local clergy in Boston finally demanded Cardinal Law's resignation. Your work and witness have given me hope that out of this will come a better day. But I do believe that Cardinal Law is only the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully, this will translate as the first step in a serious reform of the entire institution. This may be the only action that might restore any credibility to our Church.

My prayers and support are with you and VOTF. I know you will keep those of us trying to share God's hope and love in your prayers as well. Keep up the good work and we will walk in solidarity with you by doing the best job we can do, here in our parishes.

Yours in our Savior
Fr. Tom Tureman, SDS

Notes From Members

From Terry McKiernan
"If you are concerned about female victims and the Edwards/Foster case, please take a moment to look at www.parcc.org, where you will find a letter written by Susan Gallagher -- a survivor herself, a teacher, and a close analyst of the crisis -- assessing the Globe's coverage of these two issues and providing extensive backup.

Some of you may feel it is wrong to criticize a newspaper that has been such an advantage to the movement, or that it is a strategic mistake to do so. I can see the force of those arguments, but for me, the neglect of female victims and the implications of the Edwards/Foster case are too serious to be ignored. Many of you are not in the Boston area, but I think the issues are important for you, too."

From David Sanderson
"As pastor at Our Lady Help of Christian's in Concord Massachusetts, Fr. Austin Fleming has been outspoken about the church crisis in parish listening sessions, in dozens of homilies and letters, in the Boston Priests Forum, and in his support of Voice of the Faithful. Fr. Fleming will be the Guest Speaker at the Concord MA Area VOTF Parish Voice Meeting on Wednesday, February 12th at 7:30 PM. All are welcome to attend."

Date: Wednesday February 12th
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Concord Massachusetts. The meeting will be held in the parish hall of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, located on Church Street between Main Street (route 62) and Commonwealth avenue, just up the hill from the West Concord MBTA station, one mile Southwest of the corner of Route 2 and Route 62.

Links:

Representative Leadership Council Report - covering the 1/23 Council

Working Groups - ongoing progress reports on goal-related work

Reporters at Large - members covering key events in Naples, FL and Manchester, NH

Voices, Voices Everywhere! - updates from affiliates coast-to-coast

Notes from Members - members share information about resources supportive of female victims of abuse and an upcoming talk by Fr. Austin Fleming in Concord, MA.

Jim Post's Speaking Schedule