Meeting of Voice of the Faithful-Long Island
Held at North Babylon High School
North Babylon
Sheila Peiffer opened the meeting at 7:30pm.
Brother Ed Bacon led the room in the opening prayer
2. Sheila Peiffer welcomed all and introduced herself and Dan Bartley as the interim Co-Directors.
Ms. Peiffer and Mr. Bartley repeated the goals of the organization and reinforced their mission statement.
In answer to many questions regarding the meaning of change of structure, it was explained that change will evolve over time and be led by the Spirit. With the best interest of the Roman Catholic Church in mind, the hierarchy would hopefully work with the laity. It is not the intention of VOTF to remove or replace the Hierarchy. We recognize it has an essential role in the life of the church.
Ms. Peiffer reminded all that many work behind the scenes and all were invited to join the committee meeting. All committee meetings are open to any who want to attend. Refer to the handout given this evening. All committees formed after September meeting met on October 3. Each elected co-chairs and set next meeting dates. This information is available on-line
As is done at each meeting, the handouts were described.
· Blue sheet-Structure of VOTF
· White sheet-Financial report
· Green Sheet-Principals
· Forming a Parish Voice
· Business card with VOTF info and prayer
· Fr. Jerry offered Rosary handouts
· VOTF-LI envelopes
It was announce that these are the only materials that were given by VOTF.
Listening Session
Ms Peiffer reminded the audience that it is crucial to be respectful and inclusive of each speaker.
John Gomez, WLIE; Covered VOTF in April on his radio program. He had as guests Jim Post and at a separate time Bishop William Murphy. He claims that Bishop Murphy referred to VOTF as Voice of the Unfaithful and has that interview on tape. He urges Bishop Murphy to open the door to VOTF as Bishop McGann would have done. He attends to keep VOTF alive.
Speaker from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, suggests future meetings look at governance and guidance and look to achieve that goal. Reports that some diocese have lay participation at diocesan level.
Speaker from St Louis De Montfort; from large Catholic family and sick over abuse. Drawn to VOTF to effect change. Quoted church directive barring homosexuals from Priesthood. Expressed belief that homosexual Priests at root of scandal. No addressing of issue in VOTF dismays the speaker. The speakers time expires and he is given an additional 30 seconds by Ms. Peiffer.
Gene Zircel states he is here because the Bishops have lied and appointed pedophiles to our parishes. He saw VOTF and saw what they stood for and was encouraged. Previous speaker spoke about what we are not about, speaker is here because of what VOTF is about.
Gail; a member of VOTF because she spent a spirit filled day in Boston at the VOTF convention. The hierarchy must understand that they must be accountable. VOTF trying to stay identified with the three goals. May issues are thrust upon us. We must walk before we can run. We need to be about unity and respect.
Speaker from St Peters; Sees the problem as two fold. The Bishops still ail to take action although moving in the right direction. High number of Priests involved in the problem. Concerns about Boston’s invitation of certain speakers. Voiced concerns that VOTF was “working with” Jimmy Br3eslin.
Speaker; Urges crowd to write to Newsday. The average Catholic does not know what VOTF is about. Suggested we go back to encyclicals from the 1960s and look closely into the involvement of the laity.
Speaker from Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal; Spent 13 years as paralegal and dealt with pedophiles and acknowledges their sickness. However, Bishops cover up was not sickness. This cannot happen again. The children of the Laity were abused by some Priests and this was covered up by some Bishops.
Mr. Bartley explained to the room that we do not “work with” Jimmy Breslin or any Newsday writer. Carol Eisenberg and Rita Ciolli have asked for quotes.
Guest Speaker
Fr. Jerry DiSpigno, Associate Pastor , Maria Regina, Seaford.
Fr. Jerry attended last meeting and was encouraged by the presence of the people. Listened to the three statements of VOTF and was concerned that the second statement (support Priests of integrity) was not addressed. He approached Sheila Peiffer and they arranged for him to speak at this meeting. Fr. Jerry expressed concern that the wording was “Priests of integrity”. It should say to support and pray for Priests. Priests of no integrity need prayer. St. Francis wore the cross to remind himself and others that we are all loved sinners.
There are many ways to pray for Priests. He suggests pray the rosary for Priests, Stations of the Cross for Priests. In the diocese there are prayer groups to pray for Priests.
Priests need more encouragement than they are getting. Reminds that Priests were also hurt by the scandal. Priests cried and were hurt. Criticized, mocked and called names in public.
Fr. Jerry said he was proud to attend VOTF meeting. Some in his own parish were happy he would attend and others objected. He stated that Priests were never told not to attend by the Bishop. Happy to see so many Priests in attendance. Remember, police have their problems, not all police corrupt and not all Priests corrupt. Go to Jesus with prayer for all Priests; ask the Lord to Touch and inspire them.
Call out from the crowd asking for example of what Priests are doing to stop this from happening again.
Call out from the crowd why didn’t anyone blow the whistle.
Call out from the crowd that Bishop Murphy stonewalled investigations and is named in lawsuit.
Ms. Peiffer ends call outs from the crowd.
Mr. Bartley restates second goal and suggests that different ways to support Priests be taken up in committee.
Guest Speaker
Jill Cannon Kern, CSW
Ms. Kern explained some of the characteristics of children vulnerable to abuse as being immature, lack of adult supervision, insufficient nurturing among others. Some children don’t’ get their needs met and get vulnerable, have low self- esteem. Some children are lonely and have not close friends.
Some information taken from perpetrators who target children are that these children sometimes crave attention. They cannot discriminate good versus bad attention. That the need for attention overrides their internal alarm.
Abusers approach their victims with force and seduction. With force they use their power or authority. These include clergy, teachers, grandparents, etc. These also include intimidation and threat of violence to selves, the child or the child’s family.
With seduction gifts and special treatment is used. The parents usually have no clue to the hidden agenda of the perpetrator. The abuser is usually a respected member of the community.
Abuse just once if rare. It is ongoing. Abuser keeps child silent with continuing threat against child, self or family member. Also with the promise of rewards. They also blame their victims for their own participation. They prey on loyalty or attachment child already has.
Before adolescence, the child opts for adult’s version of what is good and what is wrong. In healthy situation, this is valuable. In an abuse situation, this results in compliance even when the actions feel wrong to the victim. The pull to surrender power is impossible to resist if the abuser is loved and respected.
Victims often suffer form shame, guilt, selfdoubt, anxiety, depression, despair, numbness, PTSD and suppression. Most children compartmentalize especially if there are some good experiences with perpetrator.
Some symptoms include acting out, nightmares, night terror, social alienation, aversion to abuser, precocious sexual knowledge, among others.
Some manifestations include mistrust of people and attachment to animals
Ways to help include being aware of a child’s ambivalence to others. When the child is questioned he may feel interrogated, may forget or not know what happened. Create a safe environment and believe what is told to you. Reassure the child that it is ok to tell. Reassure the child that is in no way their fault. Let he story unfold. Get the child to appropriate therapy and get therapy for yourself.
Ms Kern thanked all who attended for helping in the healing process.
Reports from working Committees.
Finance Committee, Jim Godfrey, tri-chair
“Hi, my name is Jim Godfrey and I’ve been asked to speak for he Finance Committed, following our meeting this past week. The Committee is comprised of a number of talented individuals, two of whom I’ve coerced to join me her…Kevin Connor and John Mulvey. John and Kevin and I are the Tri-Chairmen of the Committee. The professions represented in the Committee that I am aware of to date include Insurance, Motherhood, Accounting and Law. We are happy to encourage participation in this Committee and hope that following this meeting there will be additional professions represented…..philanthropy would be nice.
The Committee has been charged with two very simple missions;
To ensure the Lon Island Voice of the Faithful’s finances are sufficient to meet the basic costs of running the organization and
To set in place a mechanism to distribute those funds which the Long Island Voice of the Faithful receives which exceed those basic costs. That’s it. Nothing more.
Now for me, comes the remarkable part….At one of the meetings I understand the speaker said “This is how you know we are part of the Catholic Church…we are asking for money!” Well, it’s that time here. But first, let me explain to you why there is a request for money in the first place..
As I mentioned, there are two simple missions for us, the first which deals
with the Organization’s expenses.
These expenses are fairly nominal, but they are real and include;
· Insurance
· Meeting Site Rentals
· Printing
· Web Site development and maintenance, and
Incorporation filings and Filings for Tax deductibility
It should be noted that as of today, any donations to Long Island Voice of the Faithful may or may not be tax deductible pending approval by the IRS.
When it comes to expenses, it’s important to remember that all members of VOTF-LI are volunteers and contribute their services happily, but some real aspects of what we do have costs.
The second mission of the committee is to set up a mechanism, for the distribution of those funds we receive which exceed our basic costs. In other words, to set up a mechanism for funding charities.
Now why are we concerned with this?
As good and faithful Catholics we believe that the trust which once existed between the laity and the hierarchy of our church has been broken. The events of this year up in Boston, here on Long Island and all across the United States have given us all too clear picture of the entity that our dollars have supported. We have watched as our local Priests have been accused of unspeakable crimes, watched while the victims of decades old abuse have been asked to come forward and recount horrors of their childhood and watched while our Bishops have sat in hand wringing inaction, resolved to do no further harm, while not convincingly doing any prospective good. Locally, we have also been witness to a perplexing display of wealth and position, which we as a Diocese appear to have unwittingly funded.
Unfortunately, for the charities that base a large portion of their income on support from this diocese, we expect that this breach in trust will result in a drop off in pledges to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. We only need to look north to Boston to see that traditional funding mechanisms like the Cardinal’s Appeal, which normally supports many wonderful Catholic based Charities in that region, last year was severely under funded.
Again, as good Catholics, we believe it is our obligation to do whatever we can to support the Charities and the good works that would normally be funded by our won Diocese’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal. To this end, we are setting out to establish an alternate path for Catholics who are unwilling to donate to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal because of a conflict of conscience, but who want to support the unmet needs of Church Ministries and Programs. The Finance Committee is developing a list of such Charities and seeking to ascertain the needs and expectations of each fort the upcoming year. To the greatest extent possible, we will seek to direct contributions received by Long Island Voice of the Faithful to those Charities.
Two last housekeeping items….when you arrived hopefully you received and envelope which had imprinted on it the Long Island Voice of the Faithful P.O. Box number. I would encourage everyone here this evening to make any contribution you can afford to Long Island VOTF by enclosing it in this envelope and mailing it in. In this hall we are precluded from “passing the hat”
Also, we had hoped that our web site address would also be on the envelopes. It is not. Our web site address is votf-li.org. Our site is being revised, but we have information on a funding path available to directly support charities normally supported by this Diocese’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal. This site will also provide you with the Financial transparency that you should expect regarding the way your contributions are being used.
Thanks for your time. God Bless You.”
Special Events
Joe Kern
This committee is concerned with creating special events for gatherings. Last month, we had a guest speaker named Bob who spoke of his abuse.
On December 8 at 3pm we will celebrate the Liturgy at Maria Regina in Seaford to come together in unity. Encouraged all to invite parish Priests and Staff to attend.
Parish Voice
Gene and Pat Zircel
Referenced handout on beginning your own Parish Voice.
If questioning why a need for a parish voice, time for sharing here is limited
Due to great numbers. In a parish setting in smaller group, sharing is deep and striking. All can share pain, hurt, anger and be listened to. Structural change begins on the parish level.
Gene and Pat discuss that they are part of the Membership Committee and will attend first Parish Voice meetings to assist if asked. They will provide the aims and goals and get chapters started.
Some pastors are supportive and some are not. Continue to be a prayerful Voice. All were encouraged to take all the handout cards. “Hand them out! Make us print more!”
Gene Zircel reminded all to say the one sentence prayer each day at noon. Then we all pray together. “ We are a prayerful community. Pray with us”
Sheila Peiffer encourages room to establish Parish Voices in their community.
Ms Peiffer Asks anyone who feels they can, to write Bishop William Murphy, 50 North Park Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY to urge the Bishop to allow faithful Catholics to meet in their own buildings. The Bishop needs to hear everyday from his people.
Ms. Peiffer asked all to please fill out the white form and join VOTF. It was explained that anyone who felt concerned could join “blind” and their information would be kept confidential.
Sheila Peiffer
“As this meeting draws to a close, I want to share a few things with you. At the last meeting I spoke of how I was first drawn to VOTF by reading an article in the newspaper. I felt a call-a real pull on me as I read about this organization which began in the Boston area. As I have become more and more involved in everything about this organization, I have come to realize that that call was not just about me and my finding a way to use my talents to serve God and the people of God - the call is about all of us working together to bring to further fruition something that began 2000 years ago.
Most of us here are here because we have recognized that if we want the church to grow into the church that Scripture and tradition have taught us to envision, hen we are going to have to work at it. The days of letting “Sister” or “Father” do it are over. But we are not replacing that with “Let Dan do it” or “Let Sheila” or whoever else in you r parish may seem to be pretty involved - this is about all of the People of God all working together.
The kind of power that is enjoyed right now by the hierarchy of our church is a power very open to abuse and misuse. This is a “zero-sum” kind of power, where when one person has power another doesn’t - but there is a different model of power which looks to the concept of relationship. Rather than some being strengthened at the expense of others, relational power is endlessly enriching , dynamic and collaborative - and the more diverse the relationships, the more power. This relational power is mutually expanding and, using the capacities of all involved, is creative, offering new possibilities. We have a chance to change the way power functions in our church. We are not trying to tear down the church or do away with bishops - we are trying to enrich our church with the gifts of the full panoply of the People of God. We want full use of the gifts and accomplishments of the laity in collaboration with the hierarchy. We want new models of how power can be used for the good of all.
I believe it was St. Augustine who said that Hope has two daughters; anger and courage. We must draw on both these daughters as we work together to change outmoded models which refuse to provide accountability, transparency, participation.
I send you out today with the mission to spread the word about Voice of the Faithful - the true word, not the distorted one being encouraged by some. Write to the Bishop and tell him that you want to be able to meet in your own parishes. And start to meet as Parish Voices so that our desire for participation will bloom where it is rooted - in our local parishes.
Sheila Peiffer announced that the next meeting would be Thursday, November 14 at North Babylon High School, North Babylon.
Orientation for new members would be at 7pm and the meeting would begin at 7:30 p.m.
Brother Ed Bacon led the group in the closing prayer.