Prayers for a new Archbishop
These are some of the prayers submitted to the Winchester, MA Area VOTF affiliate web site on the eve of Bishop O’Malley’s installation as the new Archbishop of the Boston, MA diocese. The full story of this endeavor is in “Affiliate News – East Region.”

“ I am a parent of a victim. My prayer is that you do the right thing with your one chance. May the Holy Spirit help you.”

“I am a parent of a victim. My prayer is that you do the right thing with your one chance. May the Holy Spirit help you.”

“I welcome you, Bishop Sean, to the Boston leg of our shared journey. May God bless your efforts and ours with compassion, inclusivity, mutual respect and fruitful collaboration.”

“May the love of John and the breastplate of St. Patrick always surround you as Archbishop of Boston ad multos annos.”

“Dear Fr. Sean, We welcome you as our new shepherd and ask God to grant you strength to reach out to all who need your loving leadership and guidance. Tend to the victims, minister to your priests, and listen to the voices of the laity who long to help you.”

“I pray for your guidance to work with priests and the laity to provide an unquestionable commitment, with immediate action to ensure protection of our children and all adults.”

“Dear Lord, please continue to make our new servant leader Sean O’Malley a channel of your peace; and may all your people in Boston join hands and hearts in mutual support for your glory and the good of all the Church. Amen.”

“Bishop Elect Sean, I pray that God will give you courage to reach out to the survivor victims with compassion and to acknowledge their pain and assist them in their healing. I pray that you will be given wisdom to bring openness and accountability to the Body of Christ.”

“Our prayers and good wishes as you begin this most important ministry. Let us be instruments of peace and healing-together!”

“As a 3rd. Order member, I feel hopeful and I pray you can renew our spirit. Protect our youth and our children. Our holy houses need a thorough spring-cleaning. God guide, bless you, and give you strength.”

“Dear Bishop Sean, We rejoice in your coming to our wounded Church of Boston and pray that you will bring the peace of St. Francis with you. We, the faithful laity, stand ready to help in the formidable task you face of restoring trust in the hearts of all.”

“Dear Bishop Sean, I rejoice for our Archdiocese that you have been named our Archbishop. I pray especially for you as you with Jesus and all of us try to rebuild My Church. You have my prayers and my support. God be with all of us!”

“I pray for the gift of wisdom for our new bishop.”

“Dear Fr. Sean - we hope confidently that your election is the answer to the many prayers offered by the people of the Boston Archdiocese. Your humility and Franciscan tradition give us hope that you will seek out the laity who long to work with you.”

“Dear Fr. O’Malley. May the grace, compassion and peace of Christ’s love shine in and through you as you walk together on this journey of faith with the Boston faithful.”

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL OUTLINES 6-POINT RECONCILIATION & HEALING PLAN FOR BISHOP O’MALLEY’S FIRST 100 DAYS

Truth-telling Is the First Step

VOTF’s 6-point plan includes the following:

Phase 1: “TELL THE TRUTH”
“ Reconciliation always demands a firm purpose of amendment. It means seeking new ways to avoid the grave mistakes of the past …” – Bishop Sean O’Malley

Step 1: Acknowledge the findings in AG Reilly’s Report. Let us all know that you are aware of, and committed to transforming, the structural and cultural flaws in the hierarchical leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Step 2: Disclose the local audit process to be conducted by the Office of Child and Youth Protection. Tell us when the OCYP auditors are coming to Boston as soon as you yourself know. Announce the completion of the audit, and announce when the Archdiocese expects the results. Release the audit findings.

Phase 2: “RESTORE TRUST”
“ I am anxious to hear first-hand from the bishops, priests, parish councils and lay leaders…I know that the laity has a great role to play in the process…”“ We want to do right by the victims and at the same time, to carry on the essential elements of our mission…to serve the poor, the sick and the marginalized.” – Bishop Sean O’Malley

Step 1: Unify the Archdiocese. End divisive and hurtful bans on VOTF meeting on Church property. Meet with VOTF as collaborators. Build a 4-sided table of survivors, laity, priests, and bishops.

Step 2: Restore financial health through accountability and transparency. Disclose all RCAB financial statements across the board, not just some selectively. Accept Voice of Compassion-Boston Fund donations.

Phase 3: “RECONCILE & HEAL”
“ I hope that in some way I might be an instrument of peace and reconciliation in a Church in need of healing…” “ People’s lives are more important than money.” – Bishop Sean O’Malley

Step 1: Achieve fair and just settlements for survivors. Separate the attainment of justice for survivors from the RCAB’s reimbursements from its insurers.

Step 2: Create a new “Healing Commission” that initiates a 3-year “Truth and Reconciliation Process” bringing together the 4-sided table of laity, survivors, priests, and bishops. This Commission will provide an independent examination of the systemic and structural factors that contributed to this crisis. Ask for this Commission’s ideas, and use its wise counsel to chart a course for the future.

At the press conference, a VOTF representative read the following statement about a Healing Commission prepared for the event by Fr. Robert Bullock of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Sharon, MA, who could not attend:

“ The Attorney General's report has put us all on notice. Priests, laity, and leaders have to find their voices. For some time, many have urged the need of serious efforts to understand the environment in which the crimes of clergy sexual abuse have taken place. Were there systemic and structural factors in the Church that contributed to these crimes’ being committed in such astonishing numbers?

“A Commission, making use of the remarkable resources in our church, and in the area, is necessary for our understanding of what has happened and how. It could be a major force in rebuilding trust and confidence. I hope the recommendations of the Voice of the Faithful to Archbishop-elect O'Malley will have wide support.”

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