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VOTF
Affiliate and Parish Voice News
VOTF
Arizona
Reported by Sandy Simonson
At
a recent meeting we welcomed several members from our
local SNAP chapter who shared their stories as survivors
of priest abuse. We then brainstormed ways that our
organization can support them in their healing and in
their efforts to communicate with the Diocese of Phoenix.
Next
month our speaker will be the director of the Catholic
Newman Center at Arizona State University who will address
the crisis from a priest's perspective as well as explore
root causes.
We
have requested that Bishop O'Brien allow us to meet
on Church property but he has been unresponsive for
over a month now.
CCC-VOTF*
Colorado
Reported by Sheila Norris
As
we come upon our May 1st anniversary date of one year,
here are a few highlights of our efforts here in the
Colorado region:
Monthly
gatherings continue to deepen our sense of community
and solidarity - we now have speakers scheduled for
each of these gatherings who are our "Companions on
the Journey," sharing their personal experiences of
being Catholic. To date our guests have included clergy,
religious and members of the laity.
Numerous
attempts have been made to engage the Archdiocesan Pastoral
Council in dialogue. There is presently no interest
on their part for such conversation
We
are in conversation with The Institute For The Common
Good, an adjunct organization of Regis Jesuit University,
to mediate between ourselves and the APC around co-sponsoring
certain future events
Archbishop
Chaput has responded to our letters and emails but has
not yet accepted the invitation to attend our gatherings.
We
join in solidarity via email prayer on the first of
each month to empower us in our efforts of being Spirit-driven,
faithful voices.
We
continue to get word out to our community of local education
programs such as the Regis Univ. series on Vatican II
with both local and national presenters, along with
other educational opportunities.
A
Liturgy is being planned for June that will incorporate
the movement from struggle and voicelessness to voicing,
healing and hope.
Another
project in the works is a Celebration of the Laity -
more on that later. We shall continue to apprise you
of what the Spirit is instigating here in Colorado!
(*Ed. note: VOTF Colorado had originated as Colorado
Concerned Catholics.)
VOTF
of Southwest Florida
Reported by Peg Clark
In
Naples, our VOTF of SWFL is having a remarkably active
New Year. In January we sponsored a concelebrated Mass
where seven priests from the Greater Naples area concelebrated
and two other priests, who were unable to attend, sent
letters to be read at the Mass. In March we introduced
our Speaker's Forum to a larger-than-capacity crowd.
Our guest speaker was Eugene Kennedy, renowned author
of The Unhealed Wound. Our March meeting was
informed by VOTF Massachusetts member Penny Kirk's biographical
sketch of the actual deterioration of her son who was
sexually abused at age ten by Fr. Shanley.
We
here at VOTF of SWFL have the greatest respect for those
who have come forward and volunteered their talents,
especially Dr. Kennedy and Mrs. Kirk who have made a
marked difference in our organization, and each of whom
extended themselves personally to our members.
Our
"off season" will be devoted to the grassroots work
in the Diocese of Florida.
VOTF
Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate
Reported by Terry Ryani
Easter
greetings and Happy Springtime to everyone!
On
April 22 a group of about 100 people met at St. Alphonsus
parish for our monthly VOTF meeting, which featured
Fr. Pat Lagges, a canon lawyer from the Chicago Archdiocese,
as speaker. His informative presentation generated a
lot of questions and discussion regarding the gap between
the language in Canon Law and the reality that people
have experienced at the parish or archdiocesan level.
Our Chancellor Barbara Ann Cusack, who is also a canon
lawyer, attended the meeting.
At
the conclusion of Fr. Lagges' talk, I suggested that
perhaps the time is ripe to begin planning for an archdiocesan
synod. The last synod in the Milwaukee Archdiocese was
held in 1986, and there are many new problems and issues
that have arisen since that time that could be incorporated
into an agenda for a synod.
Members
are also discussing effective ways to support various
priests in our archdiocese who have taken actions based
on their convictions and suffered consequences. One
of the priests, Fr. Dave Cooper, recently allowed the
Women's Ordination Conference to hold a prayer service
in his church. This service received publicity in local
papers, and Fr. Cooper was then summoned to meet with
Archbishop Timothy Dolan. As a result, Cooper issued
an apology in the archdiocesan newspaper and the editor
of that paper issued a formal written clarification/apology
for reporting on the prayer service.
Some
of the survivors of clergy sexual abuse are in the process
of mediation with the archdiocese in the hope that restorative
justice will be achieved. Recently their request to
allow the presence of an attorney at the mediation sessions
was granted.
VOTF
members continue to focus on the need to secure passage
of legislation in the state of Wisconsin to make clergy
mandatory reporters of abuse, to extend the statute
of limitations, and to allow civil suits in our state.
A bill has been drafted but not yet introduced. Our
next meeting on May 20th will feature former Congressman
Tom Barrett, who will talk about the legislative process
and ways to effectively lobby for passage of legislation.
VOTF
Chicago Area, Illinois
Reported by Terry O'Connor
During
Dr. Jim Muller's meeting with Cardinal George, the cardinal
agreed to meet with the Chicago leadership of Voice
of the Faithful. Meetings are currently being held to
identify areas for an agenda. A date for the meeting
will not be requested until committee discussions are
completed and refined to a few points in an agenda.
Our target date is mid-June.
In
conjunction with the planning process, VOTF in the Chicago
area continues to organize with other communities and
Voice of the Faithful nationally. We are also looking
toward a new level of growth. Our goal by the end of
this year is to be a network of 225 (65%) parishes within
the Chicago diocese. Very shortly, a new network of
communications through parish affiliates will be completed
in the hope of even exceeding this goal.
We
are encouraging VOTF National registration on the VOTF
website as well as the formation of new affiliates.
In both cases, we are offering whatever assistance might
be needed as well as contact information. We are also
asking for help as we move forward one person and one
parish at a time.
VOTF
Washington, DC Metro Affiliate
Reported by Evelyn Mercantini
The
April 15th meeting of the DC Metro VOTF affiliate continued
the efforts to support priests of integrity and to reach
out to survivors with compassion and an understanding
heart. At our monthly meeting on April 15, we had a
very hope-filled meeting with three local priests whose
openness was deeply appreciated. We explored the clergy
sexual abuse crisis through the lenses of these priests,
and we considered some ways in which to reach out to
survivors in a parish setting
As
a next step, we plan to meet with priests to discuss
concrete steps that they might consider in their own
parishes. We will continue to invite survivors from
our parish vicinities (via pulpit messages, church bulletins,
etc.) for fellowship with a caring and concerned church
group. We will explore the opportunity for healing masses
and/or prayer services as opportunities to bring survivors
together with a Church that must not forget the responsibility
of caring for these injured souls. We will seek, also,
to refer survivors to support services (e.g., SNAP,
local counselors, Healing Voices) and secure parish
space for survivor support groups.
DC
Metro VOTF Tri-State Coalition Summary, March 22, 2003
The
first-ever tri state coalition of VOTF and SNAP met
on Saturday, March 22, 2003 at the Dunn Loring Firehouse
Hall in Vienna, Virginia. SNAP and the DC Metro VOTF
affiliate co-hosted the meeting. Representatives from
Holy Trinity VOTF (Washington, DC,) Montgomery County
VOTF (Gaithersburg, MD,) the Relay VOTF (Relay, MD)
were also in attendance. Combined 43 VOTF and SNAP members
attended.
The
day started with Mark Serrano, national spokesperson
for SNAP and regional leader, who described the SNAP
organization, its goals and objectives. Mark told us
about the Broken Angel Fund, which supports a young
girl in New Britton, CT who was abused by a priest and
whom her pastor blamed from the pulpit. (Funds collected
at this meeting were contributed to this fund.) The
Washington Diocese just published a new guide on handling
sexual abuse allegations. Neither Mark nor survivors
were asked to review or participate in this publication.
Since
we were unable to have a national VOTF representative
attend this meeting, Bill Casey gave an overview of
the national organization and explained how the DC Metro
group came into existence back in July 2002.
Our
next speaker was Mary Liz Austin, founder of Healing
Voices, Inc. Healing Voices is a recently formed non-profit
group with the specific goal of serving survivors of
clergy sexual abuse. Mary Liz's presentation included
the following:
"Healing
Voices wants you (survivors) to know that there are
Catholics and people of faith who want you to hear these
words….
- I
believe you.
- It
wasn't your fault.
- No
one should ever have to experience what you did, not
even once.
- SPEAK
YOUR TRUTH! TELL YOUR STORY.
- We'll
go with you. We'll support you. We'll hang in there
with you for as long as it takes.
- You
are not hysterical, go ahead and be angry …..and make
us earn your trust.
- Healing
Voices is committed to being around long enough for
some of these words to actually sink in."
We
then heard from each of the local VOTF affiliates:
- Holy
Trinity is now officially a Holy Trinity VOTF affiliate
with approximately 140 regular attendees. For more
information about Holy Trinity VOTF you can contact
Ellen Murphy at 202.337.2840, extension 122.
- Montgomery
County VOTF, which meets at St. Rose of Lima, has
focused on the VOTF #1 goal, to support the survivors.
They have taken a strong role with the Maryland legislature
and have attended and spoken at these meetings. For
more information about the Montgomery County VOTF
you can contact Judy Miller at 301.330.4211.
- The
Voice at Relay VOTF affiliate meets at The Church
at Relay, Maryland on the 4th Tuesday of the month.
For more information about the Voice at Relay contact
Frank Dingle at dingle1@comcast.net
or www.voiceatrelay.org.
- Bill
Casey represented the DC Metro VOTF. The DC Metro
group has approximately 50 members who are interested
in VOTF but only about 15 attend the regular monthly
meetings. Because our group is small, we have chosen
to focus primarily on one of VOTF goals - to support
the survivors.
Five
survivors spoke briefly about their personal abuse and
recovery journeys.
After
a break, we regrouped and heard from Mark Serrano again.
He introduced a new SNAP program "Search and Rescue."
Mark spoke about the strong possibility that there are
clergy abuse victims in our area who have not come forward.
Since this is such a transient area they may not have
been abused here but are now living here. What can we
do to reach them? How do we get them to come forward?
What can we do to help them? These were some of the
questions we discussed next.
We
broke into groups, which offered some suggestions:
- Hold
small group meetings/listening sessions in homes for
a survivor(s) who would be invited to a home where
the host/hostess has invited a number of people from
his/her parish/area to listen to the survivor and
to provide encouragement and fellowship. This was
thought to be a good way to get the stories when it
can't be done in a parish or larger group session.
- Put
together a website of "better practices" which shows
how other parishes/dioceses were dealing with the
crisis; groups such as VOTF affiliates, trying to
organize and work with this crisis, will have a foundation
from which to work.
- Approach
parishes where the pastor might be open to reaching
out to survivors, and offer assistance to accomplish
outreach.
- Write
to Bishop Loverde and ask him to make public the names
of his sexual abuse panel, and request that he formally
charge them to review every case of clergy sexual
misconduct in the past 30 years; have the panel submit
a report to him and the laity on their findings and
have these printed in the Herald within six months.
This would dispel any mistrust about the status of
clergy abuse in the Arlington diocese.
- Withhold
contributions made to the Church until they respond
appropriately to the crisis.
Our
final speaker, Ed Grefe, a professor from George Washington
University and an expert in grassroots organizations
reminded us that we as the Church have a right
to serve. We should do something bold but primed for
success (not a short term outcome). He advocated activities
focused on transparency and accountability in the management
and administration of Church activities (as opposed
to theological statements or beliefs). He strongly suggested
development of a plan that has specific tasks with concrete
messages and utilizing volunteers in their areas of
strengths.
The
groups agreed to meet again in June at a date to be
determined. The Holy Trinity VOTF affiliate agreed to
host the next session.
VOTF
NW NASSAU, Long Island, NewYork PARISH VOICE AFFILIATE
Reported by Carol Bongiorno, Moderator
The
NW Nassau Parish Voice Affiliate is a cluster of several
parishes with a total membership of 87. In addition
to all members, minutes are sent to the pastors of members
in our Affiliate. Membership now numbers approximately
1200 across Long Island.
For
letters from Bishop Murphy concerning Pastoral Councils
and Sexual Misconduct of Priests visit www.votf-li.org.
You can also link to the complete Suffolk County Grand
Jury Report on the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
LOCAL
NEWS: St. Aidan's Parish in Williston Park held
a meeting of its Stewardship Council where, as one of
the agenda items, the possibility of listening sessions
was discussed. St. Joseph's Parish, Garden City, hosted
two listening sessions, which revealed the desire of
parishioners' collaboration with the pastor in the operation
of the parish and for new procedures for the appointment
of local bishops.
Our
main presentation "One Victim's Story" was delivered
by Robert Nesbit. Bob recounted a moving narrative of
his experience of abuse by a priest when he was twelve
years old in Pittsfield, MA. His ordeal impacted him
throughout his life. He also pointed out shocking statistics
regarding sexual abuse by family and extended family
members and emphasized the need, as a means of prevention,
for combined parents and children sex education programs.
At the same time Bob expressed concern for those priests
who are falsely accused, and are denied due process
in a timely manner.
Bob
told us of his disappointment with the formal response
to a letter sent to Bishop Murphy describing his suffering
as a result of being abused by a priest. The response
was written by the Bishop's aide, Fr. Robert Batule,
with no word from the Bishop himself and no subsequent
contact.
Bob
attributes the rekindling of his faith life to his wife,
Carol, whom he described as his "angel." For many years
he was a member of St. Aidan's parish. While there he
became an Extraordinary Minister and graduated from
the Diocese of Rockville Centre Pastoral Formation (Pre-Deaconate)
Program. Currently Bob is a member of Our Lady of the
Miraculous Medal parish in Wyandanch. He is the co-founder
and chairman of Star of the Sea Shelter for Homeless
Women and Children in South Jamaica and is active in
an interfaith evangelization movement.
A
group discussion was led by Jim Howard in response to
the question: "What suggestions would you give to Bishop
Murphy to help with the healing process?" Replies included
permitting VOTF to meet on Church property, having the
bishop hold listening sessions, calling for the bishop's
resignation and meeting with victims.
Joe
Hassan, Treasurer, handed out a detailed financial report
on the status of our group's finances. - Joe reviewed
the status of the Long Island Voice of Compassion Fund,
now tax exempt, and the list of charities it supports.
- Joe also mentioned that according to VOTF-LI Finance
Committee, the Budget Report issued by the Finance Council
of the Diocese of Rockville Centre did not achieve the
openness and transparency it claims. After careful review
committee members found a number of exclusions (i.e.,
twelve Diocesan organizations are not mentioned). It
was disclosed that the Diocesan bank holds $326,000,000
donated by our parishioners. Why this huge amount? Long
Island Catholics expect and deserve full financial disclosures.
The Finance Committee stressed the need for expert lay
financial advisors and the establishment of a Diocesan
Council.
Joe
Bongiorno gave a legislation update. Bills before the
NYS Senate (S2818) and Assembly (A-1516) can be read
on the websites www.senate.state.ny.us and www.assembly.state.ny.us
Senator Duane and Assemblymen McEneny sponsored these
bills, which carry a provision for the mandatory reporting
of clergy sexual abuse. An exception for the sanctity
of the confessional is provided. Joe led a discussion
on the matter of VOTF support of legislation:
Should
we take a corporate stance or should we instead educate
our membership to follow a wise course of action on
their own? After taking a sounding of the group, which
voiced opinions pro and con, Joe urged us to do our
homework, i.e., become knowledgeable about the bills
by visiting the websites. More discussion will follow
at our next meeting.
VOTF
of Eastern Connecticut
Reported by Grace and Bob Marrioni
The
snowbirds have started flying North, so the attendance
at our meetings will increase. At our monthly meeting
on April 30, we will have a speaker on "The Impact of
Sexual Abuse." The speaker is our daughter, Faith Marrion,
who has 20 years' experience counseling survivors of
sexual abuse.
On
our minds: One of our strengths is the ability to
say that we are not affiliated with any group that takes
a stand on one of the "hot-button" issues. We are a
centrist organization that includes, in the case of
our affiliate, militant pro-lifers, members of the Knights
of Columbus, and men and women who believe women should
be ordained and celibacy should be optional for our
priests. They have all agreed to "check at the door"
their positions on everything except our goals and mission.
At
our first meeting, we were asked if we were affiliated
with Call To Action. Our bishop, in refusing to permit
us to meet on Church property, said that we were associated
with We Are Church - apparently because one of its leaders
spoke at the July 20 convention. We can't avoid being
unfairly criticized but we can and should continue to
focus on the issues that brought us together.
VOTF
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Reported
by Jim Alvord from chairperson/ president Joe O'Callaghan's
Easter message
We
have been busy grape-growers numbering 200 plus from
35 parishes in the diocese of Bridgeport, CT.
In
a recent interview published in The Hour (4/11)
Bishop William E. Lori was quoted as saying "I don't
know who the membership of Voice of the Faithful is
and I'm not making any effort to track it." He further
aspersed the good name of members of VOTF by suggesting
that we do not share the same faith, the creed, and
"all that flows from what the Church believes in faith
and morals." Nevertheless, he did not specify just what
he meant by that. The implication of his words is that
all of us who are members of VOTF are somehow unorthodox
and unfaithful Catholics. By banning us from meeting
in our churches he has engaged in a subtle form of excommunication,
encouraging other Catholics to shun us and to hesitate
before attending our meetings.
VOTF
does not propose "to reinvent the church," as the bishop
stated (and his spokesman, Joseph McAleer, reiterated
in an interview with the Stamford Advocate), but rather
to reform and renew the Church so that tragedies such
as the one that currently afflicts the Church can be
averted in the future.
We
will be meeting to discuss the continual efforts of
Bishop Lori and Mr. McAleer to condemn VOTF and will
include a report of this gathering in next month's In
the Vineyard. We will also be electing new leadership
and planning our activities for the coming year 2003-2004.
Some of the tasks we might consider are an annual calendar
of meetings and various formats for these meetings,
the use of the Congregational Church, recruitment, publicity
and the formation of a correspondence committee and
a website.
VOTF
Winchester, MA
Reported by Bob Morris
On
April 13, Mary Gail Frawley O'Dea spoke to our group
regarding her categorization of priests who abuse minors.
Dr. Frawley O'Dea was the only person to address the
June 2002 meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops in Dallas on the issue of clergy sexual abuse.
Survivors of clergy abuse, including Arthur Austin and
Susan Gallagher, attended the meeting. At the close
of the meeting, Art Austin presented Dr. Frawley O'Dea
with a sword, in commemoration of her speech to the
Bishops in which she urged the Bishops to raise the
Sword of Shannara - a sword which reveals to the sword
bearer every aspect of his or her being.
On
Saturday, April 26, our group hosted a Potluck Supper
in support of priests. Nine priests from the Archdiocese
of Boston attended the dinner, as well as about 85 of
our members. The wonderful food, good company, and live
musical entertainment after dinner created an atmosphere
of support and good will to the priests who serve us.
Special thanks are due to Christina Hurley and all the
members of her wonderful priest support team.
On
April 7, we welcomed Fr. Walter Cuenin of Our Lady of
Help Christians Parish in Newton. Fr. Cuenin's talk
underscored for us the theological roots of VOTF, and
how closely related VOTF is to changes brought about
by Vatican II. About 150 people attended, despite the
threat of a snowstorm.
Throughout
Lent, several members of our group, especially Marge
Bean, Eileen DiGangi, Jan Dolan, Paul Kellen, Jeanne
Martin and Suzy Nauman kept the Lenten vigil for survivors
at the Chancery in Boston. Their commitment and dedication
have been an inspiration to all.
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,
Inc.
Voice
of the Faithful is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.
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