Please send comments to leaderpub@votf.org
(Watch for our anniversary Special Edition this month and be sure to visit our Web site)

In the Vineyard
March
Vol. 2, Issue 3

This rather is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.

Isaiah 58:6-7

As VOTF hastens toward the Lenten season alongside Catholics the world over, our members are focusing on this liturgical opportunity for re-dedication to our mission and goals as well as finding new ways to witness our faith.

In the Boston, MA Archdiocese, VOTF members will join other groups for a peace-filled "Silent Watch" that will mark the sorrow felt by so many on behalf of the survivors. Organizers have also spoken of their hope for a just honesty in acts of repentance. The watch will take place at the Chancery, the seat of the Boston archdiocese, from noon to 3 p.m. throughout the forty days of Lent. Other affiliates around the country are planning similar actions. Contact Andrea Johnson at andreajohnson@attbi.com for more information.

At the recent VOTF Representative Leadership Council meeting in MA, attendees participated in an anniversary rededication liturgy written by National Prayerful Voice - it is on our Web site (http://www.votf.org/Prayerful_Voice/pvevents.html) for use by VOTF affiliates and parish voices planning Lenten services.

As we consider our Lenten journey 2003, we are reminded of our earthly challenge put so simply by Thomas Merton: "'God's will' is found in anything that is required of us in order that we may be united with one another in love." You will find in this issue the measure of VOTF members' dedication to those words.

• The New Jersey affiliate recently hosted a talk by one of VOTF's loudest critics - reaching beyond itself to advance a pro-active and engaged dynamic - to "unite in love."
• The Winchester, MA VOTF affiliate completed a survey of priests, furthering our collective understanding of VOTF's second goal - to "unite in love."
• From coast to coast, affiliates are moving into public places to advocate for the protection of children - to "unite in love." Two of our affiliates similarly engaged on opposite coasts, Washington and New York, report on legislative activity as they work toward ensuring a safer, healthier church.
• In Minnesota, a budding affiliate looks to its first healing service they have planned with survivors, clergy and growing numbers of area Catholics - to "unite in love."
• Two major regional conferences (noted in "Events") will focus on justice and compassion for survivors of sexual abuse by clergy - to "unite in love."

Isaiah's words, too, are played out wherever there is a VOTF - none will turn their backs.

Peggie L. Thorp, Ed.

If you think communicating with members and the public about VOTF activities is important, donate now to support our communications efforts. https://app.agnisoftware.org/jsp/donation/donations.html

From the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of our first year anniversary months. Formed in February and March 2002, VOTF has grown in unbelievable ways in the past twelve months. From a listening session in the basement of a church, VOTF has grown into an organization with over 25,000 members, 150 affiliates, a Representative Council, and a national office. But we are more than just a growing organization with an annual affiliate growth rate of over 100%. We are a community of mainstream Catholics who seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to build a stronger and healthier Catholic Church, and who support one another - and the Church itself - in this ambitious and courageous undertaking.

Many Catholics who support the efforts of VOTF but who have yet to join us, as well as our own members, are asking several questions appropriate for consideration at this moment in our formative history. "

• "What does VOTF offer?" "
• "What has VOTF accomplished?"" "
• "Where is VOTF going from here?" and "Who can we become?"

As a strategic planning process is undertaken during the next six weeks you will be hearing more from us about the answers to these questions, particularly the last two. For now, allow me to offer some thoughts about these questions and invite you to share yours.

First, VOTF offers hope - hope for a Church that will heal and feed the survivors of clergy sexual abuse, priests, and the laity, by "walking the walk" as well as "talking the talk". VOTF is hope in action galvanized by a commitment to do something - something out of love for our Church, God, and one another. Our hope is reinforced by the success of our truth.

Second, VOTF offers opportunity and empowerment. As Catholics we have learned the significance of one universal Church and the importance of community. VOTF offers us the opportunity for our "voices to be heard" as a community of Catholics who can offer solutions to the problems confronting our Church. In community with one another and the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to act in accordance with our conscience and to dream of the Church we hope for.

Third, VOTF offers consolation. Whether you are fortunate enough to be part of an affiliate, or a member seeking community in one, from our own experience and those we have heard, the hope, opportunity, and empowerment we have experienced have revealed to us the presence of the Spirit. This revelation has provided survivors, priests, and the entire VOTF community with the consolation that can only come from God's presence in our lives.

Hope. Opportunity. Empowerment. Consolation. Can you imagine what your life and relationship to the Church would be like, if our community did not exist? As we enter this Lenten season many of us will reflect on the effect the past year has had on our lives and in our Church. As we discern where we go from here and who we can become, it may be helpful to reflect on what we have already given to one another and to the Church. We invite you to share your reflections with us. You may email them to anniversary@votf.org.

Warm regards for a fruitful Lenten season,

Steve Krueger
Executive Director

What Can You Do for Lent?

Perhaps something you haven't done before - participate in a prayerful vigil in your region, attend a VOTF meeting, call a priest and share your support, read a book on our church history, a biography of one of the many Catholics who have made a difference in our time, all of the psalms or a religious poet you might have been avoiding.

Plan a Lenten liturgy using "A Liturgy of Rededication and Reconsecration" (http://www.votf.org/Prayerful_Voice/pvevents.html) or use the VOTF liturgy as a model for creating your own.

Begin a personal retreat or find a prayer partner (or two or twenty!) and conduct your own retreat. St. Anthony Messenger Press publishes a series of retreat paperbacks. These offer readers clearly presented outlines for each session and an opportunity to choose among some of our greatest mentors - from Job to Dorothy Day and Oscar Romero to Hildegard of Bingen.

Write to VOTF and share your own idea or someone else's that resonates in a particular way. Whatever you do and wherever you are, know that we move through this most profoundly spiritual season as One People.

Perhaps you have always given up something for Lent -- that cup of coffee you buy every day, or dessert at lunch. Why not take the money you would normally spend and donate it to a survivors' group or to the Voice of the Faithful to support our efforts. To donate to VOTF, click here: https://app.agnisoftware.org/jsp/donation/donations.html

(Inger Weik from Minneapolis, MN is a frequent visitor to VOTF National. Her story reignites yours and mine in its contagious energy. We place it here because "What can we do?" remains such a weighty question for Catholics - Inger and her fellow Catholics, not unlike thousands of others, asked that question. This is their answer. What was your first response to this crisis? What did you do? We want to know and urge you to write to VOTF at leaderpub@votf.org.)

I call the group from Mary Mother of the Church our "MN Wellesley group" because they began in the same vein - just a few meeting after Mass last summer/ fall saying, "This situation in the Church is bothering me; is it bothering you?" Discussion after discussion followed. Several are members of Voice of the Faithful and I do see an affiliate forming after the work involved with the healing service is complete.

This small group wrote a letter to Archbishop Harry Flynn in September asking him the basic questions and he did not respond. Jim Zappa is the pastor of Mary Mother and he hand-carried the letter to Abp. Flynn, a letter with almost 1,000 parishioner signatures. These were obtained quickly after masses one Sunday. The group had only a few people with clipboards at each mass and felt they could have obtained everyone's signature with more members present but it was a last minute idea.

Another letter was sent almost two months later. In December, Archbishop Flynn responded with a scathing, condescending letter. This was the worse possible action he could have taken but we see it over and over again. Now the group is on fire!! Meetings were planned and commitment focused once again on healing and the survivors. At one of these meetings, a new parishioner, a victim "who had found her home" that Sunday when they were asking for signatures, came forward and the healing service began to take shape.

The service is scheduled for the first Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2003 at 4:00 PM @ Mary Mother of the Church in Burnsville, MN with a meal to follow the service - the entire church is backing the EVENT!!! Flyers with a bulletin attachment article have been sent to every parish in the diocese. Last Sunday after just a few flyers had been circulated seven people from different parishes came to mass at Mary Mother of the Church asking for information. The pastor has invited priests as well as nuns. I personally invited 11 priests. Two will be out of town but would have come - three have changed plans in order to be able to attend in addition to the other six.

Initially we did not know what the turnout was going to be but we did not care. We were doing this for the survivors/ victims and because we had to do something. We had waited for the clergy (Abp. Flynn) to do something and when he did not, we, the Body, moved. Now it appears the service will be standing room only.

The service will not include a mass. We are learning that this service is for the victims and many are not even comfortable in a church. Also, the priest is in control at mass - at our service everyone is equal. We will have prayer, music and apology. For those who want to participate, a lay person, a nun and a priest work as a team with "public" apology with individual victims as well as the general apology from the entire congregation. This will be followed by dinner.

I have been praying to find the right home in Minneapolis as the first Voice of the Faithful affiliate. There are many caring and active parishes but the clergy here are very quick to apply labels. The Holy Spirit brought this to me in the most remarkable way. I read an editorial in the local newspaper from one of the Mary Mother of the Church members and decided to call her. She and the group had many questions about VOTF and now feel very connected to it through me. I hope to return to Boston for the March Council meeting.

Inger Weik

Announcements and Events of Note

*** VOTF National is pleased to announce the formation of the Saanich Peninsula Parish VOTF in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. While VOTF has individual members in over 21 countries throughout the world, the Saanich Peninsula Parish VOTF is our first official international Parish Voice affiliate. Welcome and blessings to our Canadian VOTF-PV brothers and sisters!

***WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES OFFERED AT BOSTON COLLEGE http://www.bc.edu/church21/

Boston College's Institute for Religious Education & Pastoral Ministry (IREPM) announces three upcoming lectures and workshops that will be held on the Chestnut Hill campus.

The three lectures are free and will be held on Wednesday evenings in March from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. To register for any of these programs, please contact Maureen Lamb at the IREPM at 617-552-8057.

On March 12 Fr. Donald Cozzens, author of The Changing Face of Priesthood, will present a lecture entitled: "The Pain and the Privilege: Reflections on the Crisis in the Priesthood in light of the Decree on Priestly Formation." Attention will be focused on the vocation crisis in Western Europe and North America, the issue of psycho-sexual maturation and formation of seminarians and priests, and the spirituality of the diocesan priest. This lecture will be held in Cushing Hall, Room 001. Cozzens is a member of the Department of Religious Studies at John Carroll University.

On March 19, Fr. Robert Imbelli, a member of the Theology Department at Boston College, will present a lecture entitled: "The Priest in the Church: Seeking the Eucharistic Center." Given the cultural revolution of the late 20th century and the abuse and leadership crisis of the new century, this lecture will address the importance of discerning anew the nature and task of its ordained ministry. This lecture will be held in Cushing Hall, Room 209.

On March 26, Dr. Thomas Beaudoin, Visiting Assistant Professor at the IREPM at Boston College, will present a lecture entitled: "No One Comes to the Father Except Through Me(dia): Ministry and Media Culture in the Light of Vatican II's Decree on the Means of Social Communication." The lecture will carefully consider the Church's relationship to the media and explore the opportunities and challenges that contemporary popular media culture offers to ministry. This free lecture is open to the public and will be held in Campion Hall, Room 303.

On Saturday, March 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fr. Daniel Harrington, S.J., will present a workshop entitled: "The Bible in Catholic Life Before and After Vatican II's Dei Verbum." After comparing the Bible's place in Catholic life before and after Vatican II, the session will sketch the history of biblical study, note modern developments, describe the scientific study of the Bible, and consider the main points of the Constitution on Divine Revelation. (Dei Verbum). The workshop will be held in Fulton Hall, Room 453. Registration fee is $40. To register, please contact Maureen Lamb at the IREPM at 617-552-8057.

Please continue to check the Boston College Web site for updates and recaps of the many lectures and discussions offered to the public by the Boston college initiative, " The Church in the 21st Century - From Crisis to Renewal" at http://www.bc.edu/church21/.

***Paul Kendrick from our Maine affiliate points out a Web site that readers might appreciate. Go to www.fairfield.edu/calendar/webfeatures/kolvenbach/httm. There you will find a speech given in March of 2000 by Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. at Santa Clara University. Paul finds Fr. Kolvenbach's powerful message embodied in the work of VOTF.

***Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development, 30th Annual Convention to be held March 30-April 2, 2003 in Louisville, KY. "Leadership for Today's Church: Practice and Presence" will offer news, discussion and seminars. Participants will explore the challenges of leadership in changing organizations and identify strategies for effective ministry in their own settings. Contact M. O'Rourke at the CPPCD office, 314-579-9577 or email info@cppcd.org. On-line registration and payment by credit card is available at www.cppcd.org. (From VOTF member, Mary Freeman)

*** Suffolk County, NY Grand Jury Report http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/da/DRVC%20GRAND%20JURY%20REPORT.pdf

***The Web site below is for messages from parishioners grateful to a priest for his service. I came across it months ago and posted a letter about a former pastor. Strangely, the Web site asks for first name and last initial for any priest mentioned. I asked why and they said priests wanted it that way. I just thought this might be a good way to compliment priests of integrity with a megaphone. This alerts priests who have not spoken out in any way to the presence of their brothers willing to do so. Visit http://www.thankyoufather.com/default.html -to read sent messages and/or info@thankyoufather.com to send a message. (From Carolyn Disco, Merrimack, NH VOTF)

***VOTF-Indiana warmly announces contacts and formation in every diocese throughout the state of Indiana. Holy Spirit, bless us during our formations and continued discernment. Amen. For meeting and contact information, go to: http://home.indy.rr.com/votfindiana.

***Major Regional Conference - Metro New York Survivors Support Conference co-sponsored by VOTF Greenwich, CT and Survivors First. Saturday, March 22, 1-5 pm, Christ Church, 254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT. Contact: Tom Malarkey at tomalark@aol.com or call 914-946-7315; Anne Barrett Doyle at barrett.doyle@attbi.com or call 781-944-7010

***New England Tri-State GOAL #1 Forum co-sponsored by VOTF-NH, VOTF-ME and VOTF National Survivor Support Working Groups. The Tri State Meeting is at St. Thomas More Church in Durham, NH on March 29, 1-5 p.m. Bear left in front of the church and there is a parking lot 50 yards on the right. For details, contact Andrea Johnson at andreajohnson@attbi.com or call 781-237-2417.

***Conference, Boston, MA - Taking Action to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Strategies for YOUR Community. Saturday, April 5, 8:30am-5pm, John Hancock Conference Center, Boston, MA. VOTF is a partnership member of the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership, which has organized this conference. See additional details under Protecting Our Children or visit our Web site at www.votf.org. Additional info available at www.masskids.org.

VOTF's magnificent logo was designed by Healys' Graphic Ark. Please visit their Web site, http://www.healysgraphicark.com/VOTFlogo.html, where you can purchase many items bearing the VOTF symbol.

Working Group Reports
Survivor Support Working Groups

(Ed. Note: In this issue, we have decided to group all exclusively survivor-related work, events and letters together. VOTF affiliates around the country also note the work each is doing on behalf of and with survivors - these have been left within their reports and appear in Voices, Voices Everywhere!)

St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, Chestnut Hill, MA
Steve Sheehan reports that on 1/28, Barbara Thorp of the Office of Healing and Assistance Ministry of the Archdiocese of Boston addressed the VOTF affiliate at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill, MA. Ms. Thorp discussed the mission and functions of her office in securing and financing therapy for those abused. She also noted the distress to her office as well as to survivors over the recent announcement that lawyers for the archdiocese would now subpoena therapists' records on survivors engaged in litigation against a perpetrator or the archdiocese. Ms. Thorp stopped short of saying that survivors entering her program would be forewarned of such an eventuality. The loss of assured confidentiality has caused many survivors to feel revictimized.

St. Gerard Magella VOTF Parish Voice, Canton, MA
On Friday, 2/21, the Parish Voice of St. Gerard Magella hosted "Celtic Night in Canton," a benefit for members of the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests (S.N.A.P.) in their church hall. Bill Gately, the New England co-coordinator for the Network was present for an evening of song and step dancing, storytelling and art exhibits. Participants and entertainers included the O'Shea-Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance, Joe Keane, Mairin Keady, and the Aisling Gallery. In his report of this event, Steve Sheehan noted, "This writer's usual streak of luck prevailed and he went home with green and white balloons defined, as he usually is, by being filled with hot air." Steve also congratulated John Hynes for a well-done and innovative fundraising effort

NH-VOTF letter of support to survivors on release of documents
Merrimack, NH (February 25, 2003) - The Survivor Support Working Group of New Hampshire Voice of the Faithful (NH-VOTF) is mindful of the possible impact on survivors of the release of the 9,000 documents by the New Hampshire Attorney General's office on Monday, March 3. In anticipation of that event, Carolyn Disco, the group's chairperson, wishes to publish a Voice of the Faithful letter restating our support for survivors in their healing journey. "We wish to be present to survivors in whatever ways are helpful to them, publicly acknowledging our solidarity and support," Disco said.

The documents will reveal the actions that led the state to investigate a criminal indictment of the Diocese of Manchester. The settlement between the church and the attorney general avoided a likely conviction on child endangerment charges through the release of these documents. "All New Hampshire Catholics will now know the truth that survivors have lived with for decades. Let us allow ourselves to be horrified and reach out where we failed to do so before," Disco concluded.

The following letter was written by Mary Scanlon Calcaterra, former chair and continuing worker for the Survivor Support Working Group.

Dear Survivors,

This letter is meant to convey our unconditional support to you and your families as you advance in your personal healing journey. We are inspired by your courage. We are deeply grateful for your generosity despite your profound personal loss as you reach out, not only to each other, but to us all. You help us to understand your experience and assist us in facing the sorrow, anger, and shame that has become our experience in the Church.

We express our deep remorse at the mental and physical violation you have suffered. We know that words cannot erase the injury and insult to your human dignity. We are outraged at the betrayal by those who lead the Church, especially those designated to care for our young. We are filled with shame at the inadequacy of our Church's apologetic response to the offenses against you.

We are sorry if our silence has increased your pain and suffering. We are sorry for our ignorance, our failing to act in a timely manner on accumulating evidence of widespread abuse, and our perceived willingness to believe that particular incidents of sexual abuse were exceptions. We know that whether innocent child, youth, or vulnerable adult, you were defenseless in the face of a powerful person and institution. We attest that the abuse of children by priests and the cover-up by Church leadership are not only sinful acts but also criminal offenses.

To you, the survivors of sexual abuse by priests, we pledge: ·
To listen to you. ·
To seek ways to help you. ·
To support recovery services for you and your families.
To advocate for criminal prosecution for the perpetrators of abuse and those who obstructed justice in the pursuit of these crimes.
To work for reform of civil laws and Church institutions that have contributed to the offenses against you.
NOT to interfere with your spiritual journey, but to nurture your individual quest as you seek solace.
In all these things, we stand in solidarity with you.

Protecting Our Children
Reported by Mary Lanigan

At the February 22nd meeting of VOTF's Representative Council, Kathy Mullaney introduced the POC membership, its mission and goals. Marilyn Donlan then described the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership and the April 5th Conference* that Protecting Our Children is facilitating. Marilyn, who with David Crane represents us on the Partnership, identified the Massachusetts Citizens for Children as lead agency and Jetta Bernier, Executive Director (a speaker at the POC break-out session on July 20, 2002) as designer of a proposal accepted for funding by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven private and four public agencies, Voice of the Faithful, and the MA Chapter of Survivors, Parents, and Partners make up the statewide Partnership. The MCSAPP Conference * will present child sexual abuse PREVENTION programs of proven effectiveness to representatives (parents, community leaders, educators, professionals, concerned adults) of communities from across the state that are potential pilot sites. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC), a member of the Partnership, will evaluate the pilot programs.

Most current programs are designed either to teach children how to protect themselves against sexual predators, or to teach adults the signs to look for once a child has been abused. In contrast, the CDC project challenges the Partnership to implement strategies that PREVENT child sexual abuse before it happens and shift the burden from children to adults and to the community as a whole. The goals are as follows:

• To educate adults/communities about behavioral warning signs of potential abusers
• Build skills and resources to respond appropriately when signs are identified
• Give parents/communities tools to create environments that foster healthy sexual development and eliminate the conditions that allow child sexual abuse to occur.

Marilyn concluded with a heartfelt wish that such community-based child sexual abuse prevention programs had been in force to save two of her students who, she has since learned, were sexually abused as children. She urged VOTF members to join POC both in preparation for and attendance at the MCSAPP Conference.

* Conference announcements and registration forms were distributed at the February Council meeting. They were published in the February In the Vineyard and are also available on the Home page of www.votf.org and at the Protecting Our Children link.

The keynote speaker for the MCSAPP April 5th Conference is Dr. Vincent Felitti of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Kaiser Permanente in California. He was a principal investigator with the seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, conducted in conjunction with CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Dr. Felitti will describe the findings of the ACE study and its implications for prevention.

Voices, Voices Everywhere!

VOTF Nashville, TN
Reported by Patricia Newton

On Tuesday, February 25, 2003, the Nashville, TN VOTF Committee Supporting the Priests hosted a dinner for priests of the diocese at St. Ann Parish Life Center. Six priests attended, joining Nashville VOTF co-facilitators and committee members. Together, this group discussed VOTF goals, planning and recruitment of new members.

To further the recruitment and retention of new members, the Nashville VOTF Chapter will have a general meeting to hear a presentation by two experienced organizers, Rev. Ray Sells (a Methodist minister) and Irene Boyd (a member of the Nashville Catholic community), from Tying Nashville Together (TNT). The location is the St. Ann Parish Life Center. This will be held on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003 at the St. Ann Parish Life Center.

TNT is a faith-based organization that began about 10 years ago in Nashville and now has over 50 churches, synagogues and mosques as members. TNT has accomplished much for the people of Nashville, including the creation of a mediation center, which takes hundreds of minor cases from the courts each year, an after school program in 12 Metro Nashville Schools and higher wages for workers at the Metro Nashville Nursing Home.

Nashville VOTF is making plans to participate in the 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day celebration in Nashville on March 16.

The Nashville VOTF Chapter issued its first monthly news letter in January 2003. The newsletter can be seen on the St. Ann Parish web site at www.saintannparish.com.

The Nashville Chapter is especially grateful to Father Phillip Breen, Pastor of St. Ann Parish, and the St. Ann Parish community for the wonderful support extended to Nashville VOTF.

VOTF-Greater Fort Meyrs, FL
Reported by Goz Gosselin

After accumulating experience with my VOTF colleagues in the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT., I came to Fort Myers, FL ready to locate other Catholics interested in forming a new affiliate. With a core group of fourteen, including my non-Catholic wife Terri, we organized our first "general meeting," advertised as a VOTF Informational Meeting. Over 85 people attended and 31 are official members of our new affiliate. Our steering committee is planning a second meeting to be held on March 10th. Plans are to show the Fr. Tom Doyle tape from the July VOTF Conference. A listening session will also be part of our program, as we feel this is a most important part of what VOTF is about. Unfortunately, we are still meeting off church property, but hope to change that, after our visit with a chancery official.

Florida has only three official affiliates, with ours being the third. We have one located in N. Naples, and the other in Sun City Center. We are helping folks in the Palm Beach area get started, and there seems to be interest on Marco Island. Florida is basically untapped, and much work is to be done. We have unusual conditions here, as so many of us are "snow-birds." Finding year-round leadership has been troublesome, but all will work out, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

(Ed. Note: Since Goz filed his report, the News-Press in Fort Myers, FL noted the following:
"Bishop John J. Nevins of the Diocese of Venice is not opposed to Voice of the Faithful, a lay Catholic group that soon might have three chapters operating in his diocese. 'Bottom line, Bishop Nevins is not opposed to Voice of the Faithful and their main goals as we understand them to be,' said Gail McGrath, diocese spokeswoman.")

VOTF Northern New Jersey Affiliate
Reported by Maria Cleary

Deal Hudson, oft-quoted VOTF critic and publisher of CRISIS magazine, was the featured speaker at our February meeting. We made the decision to invite Hudson because we felt strongly that we should be open to dialogue with all voices, whether supporters or detractors. To the surprise of many in our audience, Deal identified much common ground in our concerns about the Church and its future.

We have begun weekly "Prayerful Voice" gatherings at a lovely little chapel in Whippany, NJ. It is wonderful to have a chance to be spiritually refreshed by sharing some scripture and song with our VOTF brothers and sisters.

We're reaching out to our priests in a much more active way by sponsoring a series of "Priests' Forums." One of our local churches is providing us with space, and we've invited every member of the clergy from the Paterson diocese to attend any or all of four discussion groups. Our March meeting will also feature a panel of local priests who will discuss how the church crisis has affected their lives and ministry.

Pray for us as we discern whether or not we can handle a Tri-State Regional Conference for NY, NJ and CT sometime this year. We'll keep you posted. Blessings from all of us Jersey folks to our VOTF family across our country and the world.

VOTF St. Agnes Parish Voice, Reading, MA
Reported by Pat Coppola

Our Parish Voice has been actively involved in implementing a process for the laity to have a voice in the selection of their bishop. We are in the early stages of creating task forces for the nomination process and soliciting key candidates to be part of a search committee. Fr. Robert Bullock, head of the Priests' Forum in Boston, will be coming to speak with us on 2/26 to discuss the selection of a new bishop.

In March, we invite other members of the Boston Archdiocese to participate in an archdiocesan-wide meeting of laity and clergy. For further information on this meeting contact Marie Collamore at bishopsearch@yahoo.com.

If anyone is interested in learning more about this process (remember there will be many bishops approaching retirement in the future), we have information we can send to you. Please contact us at the above email.

Our committee to support our priests of our parish has initiated prayer vigils held twice a month, including day and evening hours.

The committee of Survivor Support has asked members to email or write the Office of Healing/Barbara Thorpe at the Archdiocese to demonstrate our outrage of their decision in making public the confidential files of sessions held with survivors in therapy.

VOTF Merrimack Valley, MA
Reported by Stacey Quealey

I would like to compliment and acknowledge the recent success at St. Augustine, Andover, MA Parish Voice.

Emilie Gilbert is the Parish Voice leader for St. Augustine (as well as the Regional Coordinator for Texas). Upon hearing about the Archdiocesan requirements for parishioners to be CAP trained, she single-handedly alerted her pastor, educated him about the necessity of it, and recruited four of her Parish Voice VOTF Steering Committee to attend the training!! Because of Emilie's hard work, one more parish will be successfully trained in the prevention of child abuse.

This is just one wonderful example of how we can work together to Protect the Children and to encourage the active involvement of the Laity in our church.

VOTF Winchester, MA
Reported by Bob Morris

This month our Priests' Support Group announced the results of a major survey of 30 priests from the Archdiocese of Boston. The results were based on in-depth interviews of priests conducted by our members over the past several months. The survey revealed the need for an open and collaborative relationship between priests and laity as well as a swift and due process for priests accused of clergy sexual abuse - punishing the guilty and exonerating the innocent. Priests noted overwhelmingly their diminished quality of life within the tarnished image of the Catholic Church.

The survey is divided into three distinct portions: background information, current parish situation, and working for the future. Excerpts from the survey are as follows:

• Survey Question: What is your current image of the Catholic Church?
  Of those surveyed, 40% responded with a negative image, 27% with a positive image and 33% were indeterminate.
• Survey Question: In many ways for the Catholic Church, this is the best of times and the worst of times. What is "Best" and "Worst" for you?
  "Best" -- Thirty-nine percent highlighted the opportunity to work with people, 35% the opportunity to effect change, and 12% indicated support from parishioners. Fourteen percent fell into an "other" category.
  "Worst"-Forty-one percent noted the laity's distrust of priests, 28% the performance of the Catholic Church's leadership, and 14% indicated despair, embarrassment, loneliness or betrayal. Seventeen percent indicated an "other" category.
• Survey Question: At this time in your priesthood, what do you need from us, the people of the Catholic Church?
  Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed responded with the need for affirmation, 30% with the need for the laity to press for reform; and 3% indicated "other."

Complete survey results may be obtained at our Web site (www.votfwinchester.org). We owe an enormous debt of thanks to Christina Hurley, who led the Priests' Support Group in this effort, and also to Mary Deyst, John Deyst, Elinor Downey, Marie Doyle, Clare Keane, Jean McCarthy, and many others who contributed to this effort.

On February 3, our group approved a letter of invitation to Bishop Richard Lennon, which was mailed shortly thereafter. While no response has been received, it is our fervent hope that the bishop responds favorably to our invitation. It is our view that face-to-face contact with the loyal Catholics who make up Voice of the Faithful will go a long way to dispelling any mistrust that the hierarchy may feel toward VOTF.

On February 10, our group welcomed Fr. Thomas Nestor. Fr. Tom, who is on the faculty of St. John's Seminary in Brighton, and who is also in residence at St. Eulalia's Parish where we meet, addressed the education afforded priests in training. He also fielded questions for over an hour, addressing a wide variety of issues in an open and thoughtful manner. One of his many comments that rang true was calling VOTF the "conscience of the Catholic Church" - a designation which we strive daily to live up to.

St. Bernard's Parish Voice, West Newton, MA
Reported by Martha Rowlands

Mary Jo Tecce requested that a liaison from St. Bernard's join the national Prayerful Voice working group. Joe Drake agreed to serve in that capacity.

Several members volunteered to help with the 3/19 fundraising phonathon at the office in Newton, MA.

We continue to work on a letter to Bishop Lennon, the interim administrator for the Boston Archdiocese. We have relied on several communications including Bishop Gregory's detailed response to our letter in November.

VOTF Orleans, MA
Reported by Patricia Clock

Our still-new VOTF group had a very successful second meeting at St. Joan of Arc Church. We had about 50 people show up on an ugly, foggy, rainy afternoon. Father Roy dropped in for a brief time at the beginning and reaffirmed his hospitality just by his positive presence. We broke up into four brainstorming groups to discuss where we wanted to go as the Orleans group and allowed the "personality" of the gathering to emerge. We generally have a very positive and hopeful group who are looking to establish a supportive presence to priests of integrity as well as find our voice as the priesthood of the baptized.

A strong group has come forth to assume planning and leadership and will meet together prior to the next meeting of the larger group, which is scheduled for March 23 at 2:30 in the parish center. We are also working on a database.

VOTF Saint Ignatius of Loyola Affiliate, Chestnut Hill, MA
Reported by Stephen Sheehan

The Saint Ignatius Affiliate of VOTF was blessed with a combined retreat and planning conference at the Jesuit Retreat House on Cohasset for the weekend of January 31 to February 2. This was a gift to us from out Pastor, Fr. VerEecke.

The weekend began with dinner and a gathering on Friday evening, with time to become acquainted with our guests. On Saturday, the program included a focus on spirituality as well as a look at organizing grassroots efforts. Time was allocated for conference, personal reflection and group discussion.

Margaret Roylance discussed the current working paper of the Structural Change Working Group, again with conference, reflection and discussion. (See the Web site at www.votf.org for details.)

The afternoon ended with a liturgy provided by Rev. Ken Loftus, a member of our steering committee. Supper led us into an evening of relaxed community and sharing with each other our personal feelings and thoughts.

Sunday, after an informal breakfast, we concluded the retreat with prayer and a steering committee meeting to translate what we had discussed into future program planning.

All came away feeling spiritually renewed and with a much better sense of what we expect to accomplish and how to approach the coming year in terms of scheduling, programming and spiritual orientation.

Legislative Reports

From Washington VOTF
Reported by Lisa-Ann Oliver

There are currently 3 bills dealing with sex abuse before the Washington state legislature. One adds clergy to the list of those who MUST report suspected child abuse. (Currently in Washington, clergy are not required to report suspected child abuse.) It does make an explicit exemption for the clergy-penitent confidentiality and it raises the statute of limitations for failing to report abuse to 10 years (instead of the current 2 years - so that if you fail to report, criminal charges can be brought against you for up to 10 years after you failed to report). At our last general Puget Sound VOTF (PSVOTF) meeting, we unanimously voted to support this measure. We believe it is IMPERATIVE that the sacrament of confession remain confidential and refuse to put our clergy in the position of having to choose between obeying the Church or obeying state law. At the same time, members of the clergy have extensive contact with children and others in their parishes, and (like teachers, health care professionals, social workers etc), we believe they must be required to report suspected abuse to the civil authorities.

We are a sacramental church, and if you start picking the sacraments apart, pulling out an exception here, and exception there, it's no longer a sacrament, nor is it even a church (my opinion - though the great majority of the PSVOTF group agrees).

The other two bills deal with removing the statute of limitations on sex abuse cases (one deals with civil cases and the other with criminal cases). This means that regardless of when the abuse occurred, a victim can file a lawsuit (in civil court) or the prosecuting attorney can press charges (in criminal court). We as a group didn't come to any clear consensus on either bill. On the criminal bill, we were in favor, though there were several abstentions. On the civil bill, we weren't even close to reaching a decision.

From Northwest Nassau, NY Parish Voice Affiliate
Reported by Joe Bongiorno

This past November I discovered that New York State had a clergy exemption from the requirement of mandatory reporting of cases of sexual abuse. At that time it was also clear that the US Bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People," recently approved by the Vatican, only required compliance with local laws as far as reporting allegations of sexual abuse is concerned. So I suggested to VOTF-Long Island in January that it think about trying to influence our state legislators to remove the clergy exemption from New York State law. I was happy to hear announced at the February regional meeting of VOTF-Long Island that a Legislation Committee has been formed to explore legislative initiatives.

I found out that bills to remove the clergy exemption in the future and retroactively over the past 20 years were introduced in both the New York State Assembly and Senate last year. However, the bills did not pass last summer. Many legislators incorrectly anticipated that action by the Catholic Church would resolve the matter. Also, there were concerns that the bills as written would also mandate school guidance counselors and women's health clinic workers to report sexual relationships between teens. The sponsors will introduce revised bills this year that take these concerns into account and the bills are expected to pass. The sponsors are Senator Stephen M. Saland from Poughkeepsie and Assemblyman John J. McEneny from Albany. I have written to both men to encourage them and to indicate that I would try to get VOTF-Long Island to endorse the legislation. Assemblyman McEneny has sent me a copy of his revised bill (A1516) and indicated he "would be very happy to have the backing of the Voice of the Faithful in this endeavor." A summary of the bill and the complete text can be found at www.assembly.state.ny.us.

With regard to penitential confidence, the proposed New York State bills contain an exception for allegations learned through confidential communications to clergy that are privileged. Specifically, unless the person confessing or confiding waives the privilege, a member of the clergy is not required to make a report if the confession or confidence was made to him in his or her professional character as a spiritual advisor. This exception, however, does not prevent reporting of information obtained by clergy in a non-confidential communication and does not exempt a member of the clergy from any legal requirements to prevent further abuse. While the danger exists that some might use this as a ploy for covering up any incidence of sexual abuse, I think it would be politically unwise not to have this exception. Moreover, the bills as proposed would effectively nullify the changes made by the Vatican to the original US Bishops' "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People." I believe it is more important to accomplish this goal rather than risk defeat of the bill over the complex issue of the sanctity of the confessional.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island encompasses the counties of Nassau and Suffolk. The District Attorneys of both counties, Dennis Dillon in Nassau and Thomas Spota in Suffolk, support changing state law to make it mandatory that anyone who works with children should report suspected child abuse to law enforcement. I also gather from news reports that our Bishop William Murphy is not opposed to such a law since he has adopted a mandatory reporting policy for the diocese. A 180-page Suffolk County [see web address in Events of Note] grand jury report on the sexual abuse issue also recommends changes in state law including eliminating any statute of limitations in cases involving sex crimes against children. The statute of limitations is now five years, generally, in New York. I am not aware of any pending legislation in this regard and would recommend that VOTF establish a position on this matter after researching the issues involved.

Surely five years is too short a time, but I would like to hear the opinion of legal experts and mental health care professionals eliminating all statutes of limitation in cases involving sex crimes against children. In a recent Newsday article, it was stated that the grand jury's recommendation about extending the statute of limitations in civil and criminal cases would be a much more difficult fight. The Newsday article stated that "Robert Perry, legislative counsel to the New York Civil Liberties Union, said his group would oppose removing or extending the deadlines" and "faulty memories and lack of evidence are reasons those statutes of limitations exist in the first place."