Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Lay Catholic group fears demise amid budget woes (Bye bye VOTF!)
AP ^ | July 14, 2009 | DENISE LAVOIE

Posted on 07/14/2009 7:33:55 AM PDT by NYer

BOSTON — A lay Catholic group founded in the worst days of the church's clergy sex abuse scandal said Monday it may be forced to cease operations because of a downturn in donations.

Leaders of Voice of the Faithful sent out a fundraising letter Monday to members saying it is "at the crossroads of financial survival" and needs $60,000 by the end of this month.

Bill Casey, chairman of the group's board of trustees, said Voice of the Faithful has been hit hard by the economic downturn and is making an "emergency appeal" for donations. The group is based in the Boston suburb of Needham.

"Our revenue has been dropping. We've made significant reductions in our operating expenses. We've cut salaries, we have cut contracts," Casey said.

"But I think for us, the killer has been the inability of people to continue to contribute because of the economic crisis."

Casey said that after meeting in an emergency session on July 9, the board decided it was faced with two choices: either cease operations or make an emergency appeal to members. He said the board is hoping to raise $60,000 by the end of this month to pay operating expenses for July and August.

In August, the group plans to send a new strategic plan to members that it hopes will renew interest in the group and raise additional money for it.

Voice of the Faithful was founded in 2002 during the clergy sex abuse crisis with the mission of giving lay people a greater role in the Catholic Church. The group's long-standing goals remain helping victims of clergy sex abuse, supporting priests of integrity and increasing the role of laity by having more say in financial management of dioceses.

(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: catholic; votf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

1 posted on 07/14/2009 7:33:55 AM PDT by NYer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; nickcarraway; Romulus; ...

Good riddance, ping!


2 posted on 07/14/2009 7:34:39 AM PDT by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Good riddance, indeed.
3 posted on 07/14/2009 7:36:40 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NYer

To paraphrase Natalie Manes, “FYVOTF.”


4 posted on 07/14/2009 7:38:11 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam is a religion of peace, and Muslims reserve the right to kill anyone who says otherwise.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Matt 5:45

“Barack’s programs will crash ~ equally ~ the funding of the good and the wicked.”

Incredulous Joe 7:14

Hasta La Vista Voice of Subversion


5 posted on 07/14/2009 7:43:23 AM PDT by incredulous joe ("No road is too long with good company" - Turkish Proverb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Gosh, can I send them a negative donation?

They can't cease operations soon enough for me.

But . . . if Obama's appointing all these faux-Catholics to positions of power, why isn't VOTF rolling in dough? I don't get it.

6 posted on 07/14/2009 7:46:28 AM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ministrix of ye Chasse, TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary (recess appointment))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

They should call ACORN.


7 posted on 07/14/2009 7:49:56 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (If Dick Cheney = Darth Vader, then Joe Biden = Dark Helmet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer

I don’t want to start a poopstorm here—I’m asking this sincerely. What did VOTF do that was so bad? I’d heard of them before, but only in the context of reporting about the clergy abuse scandal. Were they up to something else?

}:-)4


8 posted on 07/14/2009 7:52:57 AM PDT by Moose4 (I took my car in for an alignment. Now my front end is chaotic evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NYer
Good riddance is right!

Our Lady's Warriors>Dissent>Organizations

Voice of the Faithful (VOTF)

From their mission statement, they are attempting to "3. Shape structural change within Church." This is intended to make a "democratic" Church which clearly violates the hierarchical structure which has always existed and is reemphasized in Vatican II Lumen Gentium. The chairman James Muller states in a National Catholic Reporter article on April 26, 2002, ÏWe have donation without representation, and we have to change that.Ó Also on a CNN interview dated April 29, 2002, the chairman desires cafeteria Catholicism: "... our goal is to provide a democracy for the laity, so that the laity can decide what they want and then counterbalance the absolute power, which we have now of the hierarchy." See more details below.


9 posted on 07/14/2009 7:57:13 AM PDT by Salvation (With God all things are possible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Moose4

**What did VOTF do that was so bad? ..... Were they up to something else?**

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2292253/posts?page=9#9


10 posted on 07/14/2009 7:59:33 AM PDT by Salvation (With God all things are possible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

Bump to read later.I never donated to them nor joined the group but they did have a lot of info.


11 posted on 07/14/2009 8:05:08 AM PDT by fatima (Free hugs today :).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Moose4

They wanted a more democratic Church with the laity having power over the clergy. For the Ultramontanists (and many believing Catholics who are not Ultras), this is a big no-no.


12 posted on 07/14/2009 8:07:36 AM PDT by Clemenza (Remember our Korean War Veterans)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Yeah, buh bye!


13 posted on 07/14/2009 8:08:40 AM PDT by fortunecookie (Please pray for Anna, age 7, who waits for a new kidney.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: fatima

Probably half-truths info, correct?


14 posted on 07/14/2009 8:11:06 AM PDT by Salvation (With God all things are possible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NYer

Maybe they can get some TARP money, ACORN money, or Obortion money from the federal “stimulus” funds...

I am sure 0bama can figure out a way to fund these gay priestess abortion advocates.


15 posted on 07/14/2009 8:13:06 AM PDT by Notwithstanding
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clemenza

And the people have voted with their wallets. Guess the people don’t like the $H|+ sandwiches these folks have been trying to sell.


16 posted on 07/14/2009 8:15:50 AM PDT by Notwithstanding
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: AnAmericanMother
But . . . if Obama's appointing all these faux-Catholics to positions of power, why isn't VOTF rolling in dough? I don't get it.

You know, that's a good point. I keep wondering why O is filling his cabinet with cultural catholics. It's not like there aren't other well qualified candidates in the pool. Perhaps VOTF should have broadened its objectives rather than keep them so focused on the sex abuse crisis. The real CINO winners are CFFC. They have benefited the most financially. Still, its good to see one group keel over. Their LI chapter still has this October's guest posted on their web site. None other than the much loved and respected Sr. Joan Chittister. (/sarc). With guests like that, it's no wonder the organization is imploding. Young Catholics are not drawn to these wackos.

17 posted on 07/14/2009 8:21:29 AM PDT by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone"- Benedict XVI)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Salvation

Well I have not been to the site for years.They started with a Bishop and had a lot of backup info.Then they reached out to other states and became a force.They sent out letters,contacted newspapers and I think gave interviews.I am very careful in joining groups because sometimes the original intent is lost.Then they get to use your name but they do not support what you believe down the line.I saw that happen with a local group and it was a scandal because I didn’t join and it was for Our Lady.Sure enough in one year they send letters to the Cardinal that did not represent their original intent but using the names of the members.


18 posted on 07/14/2009 8:33:06 AM PDT by fatima (Free hugs today :).)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: NYer

**Young Catholics are not drawn to these wackos.**

And for that we can give thanks!


19 posted on 07/14/2009 8:38:44 AM PDT by Salvation (With God all things are possible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NYer

A good sign that what is not of God will crumble. VOTF is one of them.


20 posted on 07/14/2009 12:59:08 PM PDT by Biggirl (Is 2010 President Obama's 1994?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson