Press Releases
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Eighteen years later, concerned Catholics still addressing clergy abuse
BOSTON, Mass., Mar. 3, 2020 – Eighteen years after The Boston Globe brought to light widespread clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston and after a Pennsylvania grand jury investigation found credibly accused priests throughout the state just two years ago, Voice of the Faithful, founded within weeks of the Globe’s revelations, continues to address […]
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Pope jettisons pontifical secret; Voice of the Faithful applauds
BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 18, 2019 – Pope Francis yesterday changed the Catholic Church’s Canon Law to abrogate the “pontifical secret,” the Vatican’s equivalent of “top secret,” with regard to clergy sexual abuse cases. Voice of the Faithful joins clergy abuse victims and survivors and their advocates in considering this reform long-overdue. Voice of the Faithful […]
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Voice of the Faithful members gather for 2019 Conference: Creating a Just Church
BOSTON, Mass., Oct. 3, 2019 – The present crisis in the life of the Catholic Church, which has been called the biggest “since the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century,” is drawing members of the Church reform group Voice of the Faithful together in the Boston area for their 2019 Conference: Creating a Just Church. Founded in 2002 during heightened […]
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Clergy and laypeople collaborate to confront clericalism
Joint News Release from Association of U.S. Catholic Priests and Voice of the FaithfulFor Immediate Release, Aug. 15, 2019 Clergy and laypeople collaborate to confront clericalism Pope Francis condemns clericalism, repeatedly. Catholic commentators decry it. Theologians and church historians examine its roots. Now, in a significant collaboration, the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests and Voice […]
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Catholics Concerned Controversial Prelate’s Presence Send Wrong Message
BOSTON, Mass., Mar. 12, 2014 – Voice of the Faithful®, a movement of Catholics gravely concerned about the Catholic Church’s clergy sexual abuse scandal and Church structures that permit it, said today that Cardinal Edward Egan’s prominent role this Saturday in a celebration featuring a children’s choir is ill-advised considering controversial involvement in that scandal. […]
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VOTF National Statement: Deeply Disappointed in Pope Francis’ Recent Comments on Clergy Child Sex Abuse
BOSTON, Mar. 6, 2014 — We are deeply disappointed in Pope Francis’ comments on clergy sexual abuse as reported recently in the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Pope Francis said: “The Church has done so much on this road, perhaps most of all. The statistics on the phenomenon of violence against children are impressive, but […]
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VOTF National Statement: Is Catholic Church in Ireland Backpedaling on Child Protection?
Boston, Mass., Jan. 23, 2014 — The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland appears to be backpedaling from earlier strict stances on child protection. Voice of the Faithful® in Ireland cites two examples. First, Sean O’Conaill of VOTF in Ireland pointed out that Ian Elliott, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic […]
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Sad Conjunction: Christmas & Child Abuse Reports
BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 16, 2013 – As Christians look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus, recent events underscore again the sad story of clergy sex abuse in the Catholic Church: The Minnesota Diocese of Winona today released the names of 14 priests credibly accused of child abuse. The priests had been known to the […]
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VOTF National Statement: Archbishop Nienstedt Steps Aside in Minnesota
Boston, Mass., March 11, 2014 — Voice of the Faithful® agrees with the step Minneapolis and St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt is taking after allegations he touched a boy inappropriately. News reports say he is stepping aside while the allegation is investigated. In doing so, he is following the U.S. bishops’ guidelines for protecting children. […]
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A Big Heart Open to God: America Magazine’s Exclusive Interview with Pope Francis
In an exclusive interview with America magazine and several Jesuit journals that was released today (Sept. 19), Pope Francis considers topics ranging from why he became a Jesuit to homosexuality and abortion. “The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent,” Pope Francis said in the interview. “The church’s pastoral ministry cannot […]