Meeting opened at 7:40 – Anne Kerrigan, Board Member began with a blessing called “Celtic Vision” since St. Patrick’s Day is soon:

BLESS TO ME, O GOD

Bless to me, O God,
Each thing my eyes see:
Bless to me, O God
Each sound my ears hear:
Bless to me, O God,
Each odor that goes to my nostrils:
Bless to me, O God,
Each taste that goes to my lips:
Each note that goes to my song,
Each ray that guides my way,
Each thing I pursue,
Each lure that tempts my heart,
The zeal that seeks my living soul,
The Three that seek my heart,
The Three that seek my heart.

Comments: by Anne Kerrigan -
Responding to questions from prior meetings re. “Are we accomplishing anything?” Anne recounted Dan Bartley’s response that the media are now contacting VOTF regarding church and clerical issues. Newsday, CBS News, various magazines have already sought clarification from us, especially regarding financial accountability issues. More parishes have begun the creation of financial and pastoral councils.

Anne also read excerpts from the latest issue of Commonweal, pointing out a new openness of many Bishops nationally.

We also received a copy of the March 10th Newsday article by Dick Ryan re. the Rockville Centre Diocese’ lack of openness and challenge to the laity in the last paragraph. Anne also called us to pray for Dick Ryan, a great friend of VOTF and loyal Catholic who is seriously ill. His address is 124 Harvest Lane, West Islip NY 11795. Our notes, cards and prayers were encouraged.

Finance Committee - Kevin Connors, commenting on our own need for fiscal responsibility, made reference to our financial reports on the web site – monthly and annually – along with our distributions from the Voice of Compassion Fund. The RVC Diocese seems to be making a minor step forward regarding openness to a representative diocesan financial council. Kevin reminded us of the article written by Dan Bartley in our LI VOTF Newsletter explaining LI VOTF’s 3-pronged method of making our donations accountable. “Dollars Make a Difference” is one sure way that VOTF will achieve change.

Compliance Committee - Tom Myles (an expert on the Bishops’ Charter) explained that one of the necessary elements for change in the area of sexual abuse is to have standards of conduct that are well drawn up and well known. The RVC diocese uses the standards drawn by the VIRTUS program. They are inadequate. Our parents are the experts on how to protect their children and devise standards of conduct for their protection. He asked that VOTF PV’s encourage parents to design these standards for their own parish.

Vigil Committee - Leo Cuomo spoke, reminding all VOTF members to take part in the Vigils as our way to make others realize we are still around. He spoke on the Lost Sheep Campaign, which combines our attending churches with SNAP members to reach out to survivors. Handouts on the dates of the upcoming vigils were available. Leo also introduced a woman who for the past 2 years faithfully has attended the Vigils although coming all the way from Greenport.

Events Committee - Phil Megna spoke on our upcoming Conference on March 19th. This year we have sold 300 tickets so far. We anticipate selling additional tickets at the door. Our guest speakers are renowned and will draw the media. If we now have new “media power” we must keep that image alive by our attendance.

Liaison Committee - Anne Kerrigan spoke on their behalf to bring everyone present up to date re. the status of that group. The last meeting was 1/19/05 in bad weather – that contributed to shortening the meeting. Our representatives explained what VOTF means by structural change – (i.e., this is not doctrinal). The call for the resignation of the Bishop was briefly discussed, and the meeting ended with the understanding that the Bishop’s representatives would get back to VOTF’s team. By coincidence, a note in the parish bulletin at E. Islip mentioned that the Bishop had met with his representatives on 2/14.

OUR GUEST SPEAKER

Juan Vaca, just turned 68, was born in Mexico, introduced to the Legionaries of Christ at the age of ten, and spent most of his life as a member of the Legionaries of Christ in Spain and in Rome as an ordained priest, and as an appointed Superior of his congregation. He served also in the Rockville Centre diocese. He has been the organizer with his former companions in the Legion of a lawsuit against Father Maciel, the Legion’s founder. From his own youth he was sinned against and encouraged by Maciel. His life in the highest positions in the church has made him aware of the wiles and the rules, which govern the positions of power. Vaca left the priesthood and married in 1993. He has a daughter now 10 and his mission is to prevent and protect his daughter from the environment that not only perpetrates sexual abuse but also condones it by covering up. He recounted from his experience the reality of sexual abuse and cover up throughout the years of church governance by several popes. He believes steadfastly in the Holy Spirit, which has kept his faith intact only by God’s grace. It is the divine Jesus who told us about life, the poor, the truth and love. Abuse of power is human, as is cover-up and cynicism. He exhorted us by saying we have opened our hearts by the acknowledgment of sins of sexual abuse – now open our minds to see that popes and cardinals and other leaders in power have made mistakes, have sinned, and have been part of crimes. We must keep our faith and pray that the human weaknesses will disappear.

We viewed a 7-minute sequence from a 20/20 program aired in 2002 regarding Maciel.

Despite all that the Legionaries themselves knew about Maciel he was/is still very highly regarded in the Vatican. Vaca gave details of his own experiences in Spain and in Rome. His experiences seemed to have made him bewildered. He was abused, then punished, then rewarded with power. In 1976 he came to tell Bishop John McGann of his Roman experience. He tried to tell Bishop McGann about the politics of Rome and that his letter writing on Vaca’s behalf would not work. He served as a priest in the Rockville Centre diocese from 1976-88. He waited until his father died before he began his own pursuit of justice. Then he had to face himself also. He had been ordained and then promoted in the hope that this promotion would encourage silence concerning the abuse. He realized he did not have a vocation to the priesthood (having entered the minor seminary at age 10) and in 1988 sought a dispensation so he could marry. It was Bishop Daly of Rockville Centre who intervened for him and in 35 days he received a dispensation from the priesthood, but with no acknowledgment of his sexual abuse. He was married in the Church in 1993 and is a parishioner in Good Shepherd Parish. He could not answer our questions regarding church financial support, indicating that these decisions must be based on our own conscience.

He recommended several books – two of them in Spanish, but the one Vows of Silence by Jason Barry is in English.

Mr. Vaca graciously answered questions and comments from the audience.

Anne Kerrigan closed the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer

Respectfully submitted
S. Regina McAuley CSJ