Early this summer, we posted news about the cable TV show "Coming Out of the Shadows of Sexual Abuse." In the program, Bill Casey, a leader of the Child Protection/Survivor Support Team for Voices in Action and a VOTF trustee, interviewed three survivors of sexual abuse for Laurel Cable TV Network. The show is available for airing on other television stations, and you may obtain DVDs from the show for use at affiliate meetings or other venues (to request one, see the cable station's web site at http://www.laurelcabletv.com/productions.html). 

The DVDs are still available. But now you also can view the show right here on the VOTF web site; it's posted here: http://votf.org/14775.

Voice of the Faithful is pleased to announce the establishment of the Emily and Rosemary Fund for Women in the Church, a grants program initiated with a $75,000 donation from Lynette Petruska of St. Louis MO.

Grants from the fund will help women who face financial hardship after losing their jobs in the Church as a result of injustice or discrimination. Grants also may be awarded to women who are working to bring about justice and equality in the Church.

"Gender biases become more apparent each day in the Roman Catholic Church," Ms. Petruska says. Women who report sexual misconduct may be especially at risk. "I want Catholics who see, suffer, or suspect sexual misconduct in the Church to speak out and make the Church safer for everyone, and I want other women who do this to know that they are not alone."

You can read the details here. The first round of grants opened Aug. 10, with a deadline of Oct. 10, 2010, for grant submissions. 
 

The sexual abuse scandal that has swept across the United States, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and many other countries has finally been recognized by the Vatican as a global crisis—one that has reached the very top of the Catholic Church. It took too long.

We cannot wait longer for the hierarchy to take the steps needed to prevent similar outrages in the future. We must insist on accountability that exposes and penalizes those who enabled the ongoing abuses and coverups. Then we must begin the process of restoring our Church.

Voice of the Faithful has developed a list of 10 reforms that can help heal our Church.

Over the last few months we have seen the momentum of change in the Church begin shifting at last, towards recognition, even at the highest levels, that structural reforms are essential. For years, Voice of the Faithful has made this same call, highlighting the many ways that transparency and accountability could begin to restore the Church. Published reports in recent months show that many, even in the hierarchy, finally see the same needs. We have compiled a few of what we call “Prophetic Voices” for our members. We encourage you to read them and pass them around. There is a permanent link to the page in the left menu column. We will continue to post such “voices” as they arise. If you have read or heard something you think is particularly prophetic, please send it to office@votf.org and we will try to include it.  Click here to view the page.

Become a 21st century disciple! We encourage lay Catholics to participate fully in transforming our Church at all levels—especially by increasing lay input into its governance and guidance. We hope each of you will download and print our brochure and distribute it in your parish church, to friends, to relatives, to everyone who cares about addressing the reforms we need. Click here for the brochure.

Help us break through clericalism and promote transparency and accountability with this one simple step: send a Catholic Certification of Accountability to your diocese the next time you return a donation envelope. The certificate prints out on your home computer, and there are extras to pass to friends. Change in the Church begins with us. Today. 

If you missed the last VOTF national conference, you can still hear the energizing speeches by Sister Joan Chittister and Father Tom Reese, or the acceptance speeches by our Priest of Integrity and Catherine of Siena Award winners. DVDs from all the presentations, and for the entire conference are still available. You can order them online or print an order form and mail it.