Press Releases
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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…
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Milwaukee Abuse Files Released
When the Archdiocese of Milwaukee filed for bankruptcy reorganization as a way to deal with hundreds of sex-abuse claims still unsettled, it also sought to keep secret thousands of files on those cases. Last week, a day before the bankruptcy judge was to rule on that effort, the dicoese suddenly announced it would release the…
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VOTF National Statement — Voice of the Faithful Offers Prayers for Success of Association of US Catholic Priests June Assembly
BOSTON, Mass., June 20, 2013 – A worldwide movement of reform-minded, faithful Roman Catholics, Voice of the Faithful® offers its prayers for success for clergy attending the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests’ second annual assembly June 24-27 in Seattle. Like VOTF members, trustees, officers and staff, the priests of the AUSCP are working toward, among…
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VOTF Urges Pope Francis to “Act Decisively” Regarding Bishops, Clergy Sexual Abuse & His Message to Vatican Congregation
BOSTON, Mass., June 6, 2013 – Pope Francis has recommended that the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Catholic Church’s child sexual abuse prosecutorial arm, “act decisively with regard to cases of sexual abuse.” Currently, three cases in the U.S. provide an opportunity to see whether decisive action also will include holding…
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New Book Raises Voices of Roman Catholics Who Desire a Renewed Church
BOSTON, Mass., May 13, 2013 – Only a courageous person would want to try reforming the Roman Catholic Church, a 2,000-year-old institution that practiced its liturgy in a dead language as recently as 50 years ago – and a persistently courageous person to keep trying for more than a decade. A new book, Voices: Telling…
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VOTF National Statement — Voice of the Faithful Expects Pope Francis to ‘Act Decisively’ in New Jersey Clergy Sexual Abuse Case
BOSTON, Mass., May 8, 2013 – The Roman Catholic archbishop of Newark has allowed an admitted child molester to continue contact with young people, and Church reform movement Voice of the Faithful® expects Pope Francis to “act decisively” as he said last week the Church must do in cases of clergy sexual abuse. Acting decisively…