A DECADE of CATHOLIC ACTIVISM by James E

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL - A DECADE OF CATHOLIC ACTIVISM By James E. Post en years have passed since clergy To many of us, the Church simply had to sexual abuse became an unwelcome change -- it had to ensure that children T mark of shame on the Catholic would be safe, predators prosecuted, and Church, disgracing its bishops and justice be done for innocent victims of transforming the laity's understanding of clergy sexual abuse. This confluence of faith their identity as Catholics. As with the and courage produced a movement that recent Penn State scandal, American became a turning point for the Catholic Catholics have insisted that clergy sexual Church. Faith and courage were –and abuse does not define who we are, nor what remain- at the heart of the movement we our Church believes. But the image endures. called Voice of the Faithful. "Scandal" is the word most often used to Shock and Bewilderment describe how the clergy sexual abuse crisis Historian Kathleen Kilgore once observed affected the Catholic Church. It is that "the history of all institutions begins scandalous that thousands of clergy abused with the stories of individuals." Over the their power by sexually abusing thousands course of a decade, 2002-2012, tens of of children. It is scandalous that these thousands of individuals made Voice of the actions were not reported to police officials Faithful part of their personal stories, and in by those who knew. It is scandalous that so doing, part of the institutional history of hundreds of bishops and administrators the Catholic Church. Voice of the Faithful actively covered up so many cases of abuse started as a conversation among Catholic and protected a legion of perpetrators neighbors about the horrors of sexual abuse through relocation, refusal to disclose in the Catholic Church. Revelations reported records, and often stonewalling victims via in The Boston Globe (January 6, 2002) about lengthy and expensive civil litigation. Fr. John Geoghan's abuse of children in parish after parish in the Archdiocese of Countless articles have been written Boston ignited a firestorm of shock, describing the response of victims, disbelief, and anger. Like the disbelief and attorneys, journalists, bishops, priests, and demands for action that exploded around the lay people to this scandal. In my judgment, behavior of coaches and administrators at two words -faith and courage - best describe Penn State University, the allegations of the lay Catholic response to the sexual abuse clergy sexual abuse that surfaced in Boston crisis. a decade ago ignited a wrenching process of civil, criminal, and institutional action. Catholics' outrage was born of the faith that Voice of the Faithful was, and remains, an our church did not endorse, and could not important part of that story. condone, the sexual abuse of minors by clergy. As the courage of a few lonely The Boston Globe's reports revealed the victims of abuse became a torrent, and as depravity of Geoghan's behavior and more survivors of abuse came forward to complicity of archdiocesan administrators -- share their stories, outrage led to action. including Cardinal Bernard F. Law, who Page 1 approved Geoghan's relocations and the Faith, Change the Church." Within a continued priestly service. Cardinal Law's few weeks, VOTF became a focused, faith- protection of a "brother priest" exposed the based movement to press the church for dark side of clericalism: Abusive priests justice for survivors, support for priests of mattered more than innocent children. integrity, and structural change to ensure a permanent end to abuse. The mission was The shock of these revelations fueled a for reform, not revolution. righteous anger among Boston Catholics. Parishioners demanded apology, meaningful VOTF also took bold action. Its first corrective action, including the resignation international conference was organized in of Cardinal Law and others responsible for less than 90 days and drew an audience of covering up the facts. But the hierarchy was more than 4,000 from across the nation. A slow to respond, provoking parishioners to lay-administered charitable fund was further action. And the dreadful disclosures promoted as an alternative to the Cardinal's continued, day-by-day, for many months. Appeal, being boycotted by thousands of Boston's laity. Petitions and letters to Pope A Movement Is Born John Paul II were delivered to the Vatican, VOTF was a social movement before it was bringing visibility and publicity to the voices an organization. if the cause was born in the of an emboldened laity. Not surprisingly, firestorm of revelation, shock, and anger that these actions were not welcomed by occurred in 2002, VOTF's mission statement Cardinal Law or many priests. But the emerged from many hours of conversation crowds grew in size and determination. among an astonishing number of people who attended the early meetings and shaped VOTF members found themselves on a Voice of the Faithful as a grassroots spiritual journey as well. Meetings often movement in the Church's social justice opened with a prayer for survivors of abuse traditions. The steering committee included that begins, "We are the Church; we are the many talented, committed physicians, Body of Christ." Those words speak accountants, professors, social workers, volumes, emphasizing the unity of attendees teachers, writers, and more. with survivors of abuse and with those just awakening to the story of abuse in the Three points remain vivid about these early Church. These notions of solidarity and meetings. First, discussions were passionate community form a basic tenet of this but respectful, in part because gifted movement within the Church. facilitators shaped consensus from the disparate views and voices. Everyone was A Movement Rooted in Love, heard; everyone's view mattered. Second, Not Anger leaders continuously reached out to In December 2002, following 11 months of survivors of abuse and thereby broadened - unrelenting pressure, Cardinal Law resigned and deepened- our understanding of the as archbishop of Boston. He was succeeded severity of sexual abuse. Third, the by Richard Lennon, an auxiliary bishop of movement stayed centered in the church's Boston, who was named Apostolic Vatican II teachings with a passionate Administrator. Lennon's appointment, while commitment expressed in six words: "Keep temporary, proved fateful, for it forced Page 2 VOTF leaders to rethink the organization's Assessing the impact of VOTF in this direction. Should VOTF step aside and wait movement for social justice and public for a new bishop to chart a course change? accountability is complicated. On one hand, VOTF provided an important forum to The answer came in the form of a surge of which angry Catholics turned for support from lay Catholics across the nation information, serious discussion, and action. calling on VOTF to build a national network But expectations sometimes outstripped the of affiliates. A new phase of the ability of the organization and its leaders to organization's history unfolded from 2003 to satisfy. We were our own toughest critics. 2006, as VOTF expanded its membership. Working groups were created to focus on At one point, there were more than 200 issues such as child protection and financial affiliates across the nation. Cardinal Law’s reporting. Tangible accomplishments resignation marked the end of a phase, but included child protection programs and the recognition that what had happened in financial accountability standards that have Boston happened elsewhere. The sexual been shared widely. abuse crisis touched diocese after diocese as Catholics around the country, and the world, VOTF's largest accomplishment has been to were forced to deal with the ugly truth of move the conversation about clergy sexual predatory behavior and scandalous cover- abuse among bishops, clergy, and laity ups. For a decade, the Catholic community toward a new vocabulary including has been forced to respond to what has been "accountability," "transparency," and called one of the worst crises in the entire "apology." VOTF members have supported 2000-year history of the Church. organizations directly advancing the cause of survivors. Groups such as SNAP and As VOTF grew, governance became an Bishop Accountability operate with greater important issue. Election processes that effectiveness on the front lines of the war worked well at early “in person” gatherings, against sexual abuse in part because of this for example, could not accommodate a support. nationally dispersed grassroots organization. Nor could all members travel monthly to Unwavering Purpose Boston-area meetings to provide input on The organization entered another important policy and actions. The bylaws structured on phase in 2008 when attention was re-focused this localized concept did not match the on the "roots and branches" of sexual abuse. emerging governance needs. The Church's clerical culture is recognized as a contributing cause of the crisis and a In response, VOTF revised its bylaws to continuing obstacle to ridding the Church of reflect the national, even international, abuse. VOTF is now addressing the issues of character of the membership. It tested the celibacy and the role of the laity in church use of working groups and a representative reform. council to permit long-distance collaboration and consensus. It dramatically increased While VOTF leaders have avoided any email communications, and the internet suggestion that the organization is altering became an indispensable tool for both news its focus on sexual abuse, there is concern distribution and consensus-building. among some members and survivor Page 3 advocates that attention to sexual abuse may factors account for the growth of be diluted as other issues are engaged. The movements: A compelling vision; supported counterargument, however, is that the by constant communication; enthusiastic and institutional culture that permitted sexual willing workers; and a results-oriented abuse to flourish for so many years is structure.

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