(Rev. 1.0)

Our Mission: To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.

Our Goals: support victims of abuse, priests of integrity and that structural change which acknowledges the right and responsibility of laity, flowing from their baptism, and authenticated by Vatican II, to use their God-given gifts for the good of the Church.

Our Approach: LIVOTF will continue its focus on the four categories of activities defined in our original Strategy Statement, issued in March of 2004. In addition, efforts will be directed at the development and implementation of Governance and Guidance structures to open the window of opportunity for all members of the faith community to use their God-given gifts for the good of the Church.

The five categories of activities that LIVOTF considers deserving of attention over the next 3-5 years are as follows:

I.          Developing and Implementing Governance and Guidance structures to open the window of opportunity for all members of the faith community to use their God-given gifts for the good of the Church.

1. Monitoring diocesan accountability in regard to creating and implementing structures to prevent sexual abuse of minors by church personnel.
2. Monitoring diocesan accountability in regard to creating and implementing structures that care for victims and survivors.
3. Fostering our own programs for education of the laity in the diocese.
4. Monitoring diocesan structures of financial accountability

Our Strategy

At the Parish Level:

Through parish ministries, the local pastoral council and Parish Voice, make our voice heard.

1. Expand and energize Parish Pastoral Councils throughout the diocese.
2. Promote election of PPC members and open meetings.
3. Initiate educational programs for parishioners to promote informed dialogue and collaboration.
4. Discuss parish needs with pastor and offer help.
5. Promote nominees to the diocesan Pastoral council.
6. Energize Parish Finance councils and insist on full transparency and financial accountability.
7. Insure compliance with the Dallas Charter, Empower members, committees and Parish Voice members to insure compliance at the Parish Level.  Areas to be monitored include (but are not limited to)
8. Background checks of staff and volunteers
9. Education required by the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
10. Educational Programs for parents and children- (voluntary).
11. Require promulgation of a Code of Conduct.
12. Provide outreach to parish victims of clergy abuse.
13. Promote in each parish an active committed faith community engaged in ongoing dialogue and collaboration with the pastor, all ministries and the diocese.
14. Collaborate with other parishes via LIVOTF in sharing experiences, resources and insights.
15. Work to attain proper representation on the board of the Parish Corporation by promoting election of the lay members (trustees) and an increase in the number of lay members.
16. Establish a consultative role in the selection of pastors.

Note: These initiatives also serve the three national goals of supporting victims, supporting the faithful clergy and promoting structural change.

At the Diocesan Level

1. Insure compliance with the Dallas Charter by monitoring Diocesan commitment to fulfilling all requirements of the Charter, including the publishing and wide dissemination of Standards of Conduct (as referenced in the Charter) and the isolation of credibly accused clergy.
2. Insure that the diocese provides outreach to victims of abuse. LIVOTF will monitor and – where appropriate- support these efforts, which may include (but not be limited to) reporting hotline with an appropriate-trained human responder, appropriate psychological counseling and a companion program for victims and/or families.  (We strongly believe that only a “third party provider” can effectively render these services rather that by diocesan personnel.)
3. Parallel these support efforts with LIVOTF initiatives including forming strategic alliances with other support groups such as SNAP and conducting vigil, prayer gatherings and Eucharistic celebrations.
4. To the extent permitted by law, lobby for legislative changes consistent with child abuse prevention, redress for victims and justice for molesters.
5. Monitor diocesan finances for consistency with Church teachings.
6. Promote revisions to the Diocesan Pastoral Council to insure greater lay representation.
7. Work to establish an elected Representative Diocesan Finance Council to work along side the appointed Finance Council to make sure that spending priorities reflect the values and priorities of the entire faith community.
8. Monitor diocesan finances for consistency with the values expressed in the gospels.
9. Through regional meetings, annual conferences the internet and newsprint, serve as an advocate and source of relevant news and resources for the education of the laity and the development of effective mission-oriented action by members, PVs and parishes.
10. Develop a cohesive public relations effort – both inward to membership and outward to the general public – to promote and explain the mission and goals of VOTF.
11. Act as a clearinghouse in engaging parishes with one another for their mutual benefit.
12. Support those diocesan actions that are consistent with our goals and criticize those that are not.
13. Promote open, ongoing dialogue among all the stakeholders – the faithful, the religious communities, the clergy and the hierarchy.

At the National Level

1. Support and actively seek LIVOTF representation on the National Representative Council.
2. Assist National VOTF in promulgating information, implementing national programs and convening our collective views on issues and actions related to our mission and goals.
3. Share with National VOTF best practices and other local experiences having regional or national applications.

Conclusion

We believe that LIVOTF’s success with the foregoing priorities will constitute real and measurable “structural change” within the Church, and that our efforts will also constitute support to the abused and priests of integrity.