Catholic
Citizens of Illinois
Dissenting Group VOTF Meets with Cardinal George in Chicago
Cardinal George indicated he believed that the VOTF motto, "keep the faith, change the church", was "problematical."
Friday,
April 04, 2003
By
Karl Maurer, VP, Treasurer
Francis
Cardinal George's spokesman claims VOTF's agenda is unclear and still in
formation, in spite of VOTF being banned in several major Catholic dioceses
nationally.
Dr.
James Muller M.D. is a Boston based cardiologist and co-founder of
VOTF.National dissenter group Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) continues to
organize in Chicago. A rally was held on Sunday, March 30, at Dominican
University (formerly Rosary College) on Chicago's west-side that drew 240
people from at least 15 different parishes. While virtually all the attendees
were older Catholics, meeting organizers were surprised and encouraged at the
turnout. Meeting announcements for Sunday's event appeared in bulletins of
three local parishes, St. Edmund's, St. Giles' and St. Bernardine's.
This
is the second meeting organized by the Chicago VOTF this year, evidently with
the approval of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In November of last year, Cardinal
George was one of 10 U.S. Bishops to respond to VOTF requests to meet with VOTF
residents, which took place on Monday, March 31.
VOTF,
a group with a heterodox agenda that includes democratization, lay run
parishes, and "equality for women" has been banned from using
diocesan property in a growing number of U.S. dioceses, though there has been
no such public restrictions issued in Chicago.
Speakers
included Steve Shimek, Bobby Sitterding of the Link-up network of sexually
abused Catholics, and James Muller, who discussed the history and mission of
VOTF for the majority of the evening.
Muller
contends that the laity needs a stronger voice in the Catholic Church in order
to save a "hierarchical Church in crisis." To address this problem,
it was VOTF's intention to become big enough to impact the flow of funding to
the Church. He spoke of the power of the purse and economic power to force
change.
The
goals of VOTF were presented as being to support the (sexually) abused, support
"priests of integrity", and shape the structural change within the
Catholic Church. Just what was meant by "priests with integrity" was
not explained. In other dioceses, VOTF has actively supported priests with
radical agendas for "modernizing" the church, including ending
priestly celibacy, allowing for married and women priests, and recognizing homosexual
relationships.
Muller
acknowledged the gulf between conservative and liberal factions regarding the
abuse and cover-up crisis in the church. Liberals, said Muller, believe that
outdated celibacy requirements, lack of women priests, secrecy and too little
of Vatican II are to blame. Conservatives, said Muller, believe that
homosexuality, a secular, permissive society, too little prayer and too much
Vatican II are to blame. But the underlaying cause of the crisis, in VOTF's
view, is the centralization of power in the Catholic Church, and "no voice
of the faithful."
While
VOTF was pleased with presentation and turnout, their enthusiasm Sunday paled
in comparison to their joy following a meeting with Cardinal George on Monday, March
31. The Chicago Tribune interviewed Muller following his meeting with the
Cardinal, and reported the results on Tuesday, April 1. In Muller's view it was
one of the most productive meetings he had ever had with a U.S. Bishop. The
meeting lasted for over an hour.
Also
in the Chicago Tribune article, Cardinal George's spokesman responded to
questions about concerns over VOTF's agenda, and the signals sent by meeting
with them, saying that the Cardinal meets with many groups, some he agrees
with, some he does not. In the case of VOTF, the Cardinal believed this was a
new group, and their mission was still under development and unclear. This
opinion is not shared by several prominent Bishops in the U.S. who are battling
well established VOTF groups in their own diocese.
Recognizing
that VOTF is emerging as umbrella group for heretical action, several Bishops across the country have forbidden them from
using Church property for organizing. Citing the VOTF's refusal to accept
the Bishop's authority, Cardinal Law in Boston banned VOTF from Boston Diocese
Churches. In New Jersey, Archbishop John L. Myers of Newark banned the group
saying they were "anti-Church and, ultimately, anti-Catholic,"
calling VOFT "a cover for dissent." Roman Catholic parishes in New
York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have also banned the group from
Church property, forcing them to meet privately in homes or public facilities.
In
a letter to VOTF and Jim Muller prior to the meeting -- which Muller discussed
on Sunday evening -- Cardinal George's invitation to meet included several
comments. Cardinal George indicated he believed that the VOTF motto, "keep
the faith, change the church", was "problematical." The Cardinal
also indicated that he believed the best was to increase lay participation was
to strengthen the present structures of lay participation put in place after
Vatican II. Cardinal George also noted that any renewal of the Catholic Church
must first begin with the "renewal of Christian discipleship."
Looking puzzled as he read the words, Muller promised he would ask the Cardinal
personally just what that meant as the crowd at Domincan University laughed in
amusement.
For
Catholics who recognize that the crisis in the Catholic Church is a lack of
faith, and that dissenters are using the crisis as a means to further their
political agendas, Muller's inability to grasp the Cardinal's comments related
to spreading the message of Christ comes as no surprise. Indeed, the lack of
any discussion of Christ and salvation at either of the VOTF organizational
meetings held in Chicago speaks volumes.
Given
the lack of interest among young people and the majority of Catholics for
VOTF's brand of dissent and restructuring, it is difficult to gauge the level
of interest that will ultimately be generated in Chicago. Chicago, like most
dioceses in the U.S., has not experienced scandal and financial stress anywhere
comparable to VOTF strongholds like the Diocese of Boston. In spite of the slow
start for VOTF in Chicago, it appears that the greatest success they have had
here is the fact that Cardinal George met with them at all, which organizers
can, and no doubt will, use to leverage meetings with other U.S. Bishops.