INDIANAPOLIS (IN)
Indianapolis Star
By John J. Shaughnessy
john.shaughnessy@indystar.com
The leaders of a national Catholic laity organization that will meet in Indianapolis next week say they want more meaningful involvement in the Catholic Church.
"This is our church, and the wisdom of everyone is needed," says Kris Ward, vice president of Voice of the Faithful. "Now is the time for the wisdom of the laity to have a place at the table where all the voices of the Lord's people are heard together."
About 500 Catholic laypeople are expected to attend the convocation that has the theme "The Laity Speak: Accountability Now." The convocation will be held in the Indiana Convention Center Friday through July 10.
Voice of the Faithful was formed in Massachusetts in 2002, in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Since then, the organization has set three major goals: to support victims of abuse, to support "priests of integrity" and to shape structural change within the church, Ward says.
Voice of the Faithful leaders stress that their goal is not to change church doctrine or dogma. Instead, they want the laity to have a greater voice concerning issues facing the church.