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Events, Etc.

VOTF National

National Parish Voice has identified four U.S. regions for purposes of affiliate coordination, communication efforts and future regional definitions and representation:
WEST
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii, Alaska
CENTRAL
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
SOUTH
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida
EAST
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia

 

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Print Media Coverage - Be sure to check the website at www.votf.org for reprints and links to recent interviews with Jim Post and articles on VOTF in Newsweek, Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter and St. Anthony Messenger, AND the Herald Sun in Melbourne!, to name but a few.

VOTF Witness at USCCB conference, St. Louis, Mo. Excerpts from "Reflections on US Catholic Bishops' Conference" Steven A. Krueger, Executive Director June 25, 2003. Read the full text here.

The middle-American city of St. Louis was a study in contrasts during last week's U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference (USCCB).

Contrast 1 - The Agenda
In Dallas last year, the entire Conference was focused on the clergy sexual abuse crisis. In the days preceding the St. Louis Conference, the crisis was not even on the agenda. Only after the bishops were pressed by the press and the public did they insert a presentation on the topic for Saturday morning - which they then ended early.

Contrast 2 - Task versus Ministry
Last year, the bishops were remorseful in their verbal response to the crisis. This year, the bishops used language that referred to the crisis as an "issue." Their language and actions portrayed the crisis as a task to be completed, rather than a ministry that will define the Church in this century. Tasks are something you put on a list and mark off when completed. Ministry is a part of your being, strengthened by dialogue and the need to communicate to everyone, often. What some bishops do not understand is that the Church and the public demand that this crisis be treated as a ministry - a ministry for justice and healing for the victim/survivors of clergy sexual abuse and for the entire Church itself.

Contrast 3 - The Tone
Last year in Dallas, the bishops spoke out of sincerity and pain. This year, some suggested that the crisis was being exaggerated, while others said that everything that could be done was being done. Yet, many lay Catholics and victim/survivors do not agree with this assessment - as we know from attending the SNAP Conference and from our own regular experiences with victim/survivors and lay Catholics around the country.

Contrast 4 - The USCCB Conference and the SNAP Conference
While we were not allowed into the USCCB Conference, and the media was invited to attend only a portion of that meeting, we VOTF representatives were invited and welcomed to the SNAP Conference. On Friday evening, we listened to the stories of victim/survivors, many of which focused on the re-abuse these survivors have suffered at the hands of the Church, as they seek justice from the Church. These courageous people are telling us what is difficult to hear, but knowing them has brought great consolation to us. One has to wonder what transformation of the heart might have taken place for some bishops if they had been there.

Contrast 5 - Ownership of the crisis versus ownership of the solution
In Dallas and in Washington, the bishops indicated they would take ownership - accountability - of the problem in the preamble to their Dallas Charter and in calling for fraternal accountability in Washington. In St. Louis, the bishops sidestepped their accountability by directing our attention to their solutions. In this way the bishops presented themselves as having everything under control. However, the "solution" to the crisis - which occurred under the watch of many of these bishops - starts with their accountability. In taking exclusive ownership of the solution, the bishops only contribute to the systemic failures of the past. The solution must include the voices of laity, survivors, and clergy as well - it is our Church, too. Unfortunately, neither survivors nor representative laity was invited to attend, let alone participate in these discussions.

The laity must step forward and state their conviction that nothing should take precedence over a pastoral response to this crisis. As followers of Christ we are called to be leaders in promoting truth, justice, and healing. All within the Church must make an unwavering commitment to reflect the face of Jesus at every turn down this long road. Let us keep our bishops in our prayers as they find the courage to meet the challenges that face us all and that we must solve together.

VOTF East

Benefit for The Lighthouse on July 18, 7-11 p.m.
****An invitation to Boston Area VOTF Members. Please join us at a party to benefit The Lighthouse on July 18 from 7-11p.m. at Chelmsford Elks Hall, 300 Littleton Rd, Road, Rt. 110) Chelmsford, MA. The Lighthouse is a non-denominational center for survivors and victims of clergy abuse in East Boston. It is staffed and run by survivors. It is a safe, welcoming place for people to go when they need information and support from others who have survived similar abuse as they have. It is brand new and enjoyed its public grand opening on June 7. This family night is the first event bringing people together for the purpose of supporting The Lighthouse. RSVP to TheLighthouse77@aol.com so that we can reserve tickets for you! This party is being sponsored by The Beacons of Light, individuals from many groups that support The Lighthouse.

This party will be fun and casual with a great DJ, cash bar and dancing. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door; families $25.

June 7 Boston, MA VOTF Conference - Over 300 VOTF members, representing 45 affiliates in the Boston Archdiocese, gathered on June 7 for a Boston VOTF Conference. Titled, "Awakening to the Spirit, Envisioning the Future," the conference was held on the eve of Pentecost. The theme of the conference was "Our Vision for Our Parishes & the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005, And Steps We Can Take to Make Our Vision a Reality."

The day began with opening prayers developed for the occasion by the Prayerful Voice committee led by Sr. Betsy Conway. VOTF President Jim Post delivered a rousing kick-off address on "What We, and the New Archbishop of Boston, Face in our Church." Keynote speaker Paul Lakeland followed, with moving excerpts from his new book, Liberation of the Laity: In Search of An Accountable Church.

Ten action-planning workshops made up the core of the conference. Topics, which had been determined by affiliate responses to a pre-conference questionnaire, included "Justice for Survivors," "Protecting our Children," "Fostering Collaboration Between the Laity and Clergy," "Financial Control and Decision-Making," "Lay Education," and "Renewing Local Faith Communities." Talented VOTF volunteers served as the facilitators for the workshops. The action plans developed in the workshops will be published in a post-conference report. Conference participants also provided feedback on a draft vision statement, which had also been developed based on responses to the pre-conference questionnaire.

A Franciscan to lead Boston, MA Archdiocese - see extensive coverage on our website at www.votf.org.

Wellesley, MA - JUNE: no working group meetings. Tues. JULY 15 and Tues. AUG. 12: 7:30-9:30 for all working groups at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley, MA. SEPT: No monthly or plenary meetings scheduled. OCT. 14: Monthly working group first meeting; to be held the second Tuesday of each month. MONTHLY PLENARY: the fourth Tuesday of each month; first meeting OCT. 28 will include our 12 Western Region Affiliates: St. Bernard's, Our Lady Help of Christians, St Ignatius, Natick Affiliate, St. Joseph's, St. Zepherin's, St. Mary's, St. Anselm's, People's Promise (Belmont), St. Jeremiah's, St. Paul's, St. John's. Contact: jfmcconville@attbi.com.

A Musical Tribute - On September 28, 2003 at 5:00 pm, a chamber music concert will be performed at the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA. Admission to the concert will be free. Concert attendees are asked to make a good will offering to support SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).

The program will be presented by John Ferrillo, Elizabeth Ostling and Elita Kang of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Carol Rodland of the New England Conservatory, and Hugh Hinton of the Longy School of Music. Attendees will hear works by Bach, Schumann, DeBussy, Barber, Loefflre and Messiaen. PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS! For further information please click here or contact Steve Sheehan at: sheehan1777@aol.com

VOTF Tri-State Conference Planned for October 25th at Fordham Prep/University in New York City, NY. Twenty-six of us from NY, NJ, and CT affiliates met on June 14 on site in order to plan the event. Speakers and topics will be publicized shortly so we ask the entire VOTF family (and friends) to watch this space for upcoming details. Meanwhile, mark your calendars!

The Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College is offering several courses through its summer program, which might be of particular interest to the members of VOTF. For more information call 617 552-8440 or 800-487-1167, e-mail irepm@bc.edu or visit www.bc.edu/irepm.html. Among the courses being offered is "The Parish as Covenant: A Call to Pastoral Partnership."

Well-known writer Paul Wilkes is directing "The Boston Pastoral Summit," October 6-8, 2003 (Monday-Wednesday) at the Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA. "A Time of Rebirth and Renewal" is the theme for this Lilly Endowment-sponsored national church conference. The Pastoral Summit conference will bring together both Protestant and Catholic pastors and lay leaders for three days of pertinent workshops, inspirational worship, and powerful keynote speakers who will tackle key issues all churches face. The emphasis at the Pastoral Summit is how to make each local church "the best it possibly can be."

The Boston conference comes on the heels of two other well-attended Pastoral Summit gatherings held this year in San Antonio in April and Indianapolis in June. The Pastoral Summit provides-by one definition-the most diverse groups of Christian pastors, staff and lay leaders ever assembled in America.

"What came through loud and clear in the resounding success of our first two Pastoral Summits this year was that Catholics and Protestants too seldom get the chance to talk and learn from each other about their local churches," said Paul Wilkes, best-selling author and founder/project direct of Pastoral Summit. "This is not surface talk but deep talk about what works, how new people can be reached, what we can learn from each other's traditions and practices, how faith can be deepened, and how the local church can radiate light and hope into its community."

JIM POST will be one of the featured speakers at a workshop entitled, "The Flowering of Lay Initiatives: Voices Rising from the Wilderness". There will be an opportunity to share VOTF's mission and vision in a specially planned workshop of our making. We can also promote the tri-state (NY/NJ/CT) conference New York on November 15th.

Please log on to www.pastoralsummit.org for more information, but note that not all the Boston-specific workshops are listed in the program yet. Information will be sent to area Parish Affiliate coordinators, as well as being posted on the website. Opportunities for VOTF input abound, and volunteers are needed for help at the conference itself. Please contact Svea Fraser at 781 237-7560, or sveafraser@comcast.net for more information.

VOTF Central

Chicago, IL VOTF Action for Renewal/Voice of the Faithful is supporting a series of discussions of interest to Catholics. The second meeting focused on the role of the bishops in the Church crisis. The program, "Journey to Integrity," is ongoing and informal. It is held at St. Thomas Becket Parish Hall, Mt. Prospect. For information about future gatherings, call 847-690-9970. Terry O'Connor

Dr. Jim Muller will be in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday, August 8, 2003. Dr. Muller will meet with the leadership of the Cincinnati and Dayton VOTF affiliates' leadership teams. Cincinnati and Dayton VOTF will host a talk, open to the public, by Dr. Muller at 7 p.m. on August 8 at St. Francis DeSales Church on Madison Road in Cincinnati. More information is available on the VOTF Cincinnati Coordinating Committee website at cincinnativotf@earthlink.net or e-mail Mary Buchert at buchert@zoomtown.com.

 

Voice of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
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Prayerful Voice are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful, Inc.

Voice of the Faithful is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.

 

In the Vineyard
July 2003
Volume 2, Issue 8

Page One

Survivor Support News

Survivor Voices

Working Groups Report

Parish Voice News

Books for your Short List

Events, Opportunities & News

Letters to the Editor

Commentary

Request a Copy of Annual Report

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