FaithfulVoice.com
Editor’s note:
The
following is a 29 Dec. 02 communication from VOTF National..
They
are coordinating a nation wide protest on 6 Janruary , 2003.
Sealed
packages will be brought to churches in each diocese.
It
is our hope that the contents of these packages will be inspected .
Does
this effort of VOTF fall within the RICO statute ?
Does this
effort of VOTF fall within the RICO statute ?
Dear
Friends,
What are your New Year's resolutions
for 2003?
Here
at Voice of the Faithful, our resolution is to use sunlight and cooperation as
tools to reclaim our beloved Catholic Church. Children must be protected, and
priests and bishops must be held accountable through a due and fair process.
U.S. bishops as pastoral leaders need to provide a new and collaborative
leadership in order to bring all sides together - bishops, priests, survivors
and laity - in open and honest dialogue. Bannings of VOTF meetings on
Church property must end. Only through this type of collaboration in all the
dioceses of our nation can we put the clergy sexual abuse crisis - and the
ensuing cover-up - behind us. And in the process, by addressing the systemic flaws
that allowed all this to occur, we will build a stronger and healthier Church.
As a People of God, and baptized
Christians we are called to be part of the solution to these problems.
In what ways can you, as a member of VOTF,
help to make our New Year's resolution a success?
We need to send an unquestionable
message to all the bishops in the United States that Voice of the Faithful is
here to stay to fulfill our stated mission and goals. We ask for all our
members - and Catholic everywhere - to help us.
* Participate
in the candlelight vigils our Parish Voice affiliates are organizing for
January 6, 2003 - the Feast of the Epiphany and the one-year anniversary of the
first revelations of the sexual abuse scandal (see box at right).
* Forward this email to others who you
think share our views.
* Contribute
your time and talents to form a local VOTF chapter or support one near you.
* Encourage
others you know to join VOTF through our online registration process - membership
numbers are vital to our success.
* Ensure
our continued financial stability by making a donation - if you haven't
already - to the VOTF year-end appeal. Your tax deductible gift, which you can
donate online or via the mail, is more critical now than ever.
We thank you for all your support and
your continuing prayers. We are here to serve you. May you have a blessed and
healthy New Year and we hope to see you at the candlelight vigils and at our
VOTF affiliate meetings in 2003.
Sincerely,
Steve KruegerExecutive Director VOTF
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.
Action Bulletin No. 1 - 2003
January 6th - Feast of the Epiphany
Candle Light Vigil
The Voice of the Faithful Parish Voice
affiliate in Brooklyn will hold a candle light vigil and prayer service on
Monday January 6th — the Epiphany — in respectful response to the
ban that has been instituted against VOTF from meeting on Church property in
the Diocese of Brooklyn. The idea has been embraced by several other Parish
Voice affiliates who also face bans. We want you to be aware of their planned
action in case you want to support their efforts by planning or participating
in a similar vigil in your diocese.
The current template is as follows.
VOTF members and other Catholics will assemble at their diocesan cathedrals on
Monday, January 6th and in a symbolic gesture present our gifts —
as wrapped or labeled
boxes —
to the Church.
The
Brooklyn Parish Voice affiliate suggests each service includes prayer and song.
As Catholics and as members of VOTF we are a sacramental people and rooted in prayer. Envisioned as a symbolic gesture reflecting the message of the Epiphany and the Three Kings, is the offering of gifts; the gifts of the Holy Spirit we have received and wish to acknowledge. These gifts include our presence to the survivors, the courage they have instilled in us through sharing their stories, and the redemptive power of their suffering - offered up for our healing, reconciliation and new life. Other gifts might include: faith, hope, charity, love, wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, piety, awe, compassion, prudence, discernment, patience, vision, justice, responsibility, accountability and others that may have particular meaning for you or your Affiliate.
The significance of this action is as
follows:
1. From
a concrete perspective, for those who are banned it represents that when we are
locked out of our parishes, our gifts are also being rejected. Bannings are
illogical and self-defeating.
2. From
a general perspective it is symbolic in terms of Vatican II. By not embracing
the gifts we have to offer, bishops are limiting the full potential of the
Church. We are called to build up the Church and our gifts are building blocks
which are not being cultivated and fully utilized by the Church.
3. Additionally,
January 6th is the first anniversary of the revelations made public in Boston
of the Geoghan case. These revelations sewed the seeds of the crisis we face
today and inspired the formation of Voice of the Faithful in response to it.
4. Finally,
January 6th — as the Epiphany —represents the universality,
inclusiveness, and greater mission, of the Church — themes that speak to
our rights and responsibilities as baptized Christians in building up the
Church.
In the event there is a Church service,
as faithful members of the Church, it would be natural that we participate.
However, in any event, the VOTF mission statement reminds us that we always
strive to provide "a prayerful voice attentive to the Spirit." Some
guidelines to help us maintain our prayerful voice:
1. All
actions should be appropriate and respectful of our common faith and
traditions.
2. All
actions should conform to civil laws and regulations.
3. All
actions should occur outside the cathedrals or churches unless given permission
by the bishop or pastor to meet inside.
We will keep our Regional Co-ordinators
abreast of developments in the coming days. If you have any questions of vigils
being planned in your area, contact your Regional Co-ordinator listed in the Parish Voice section
of our Web site.