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	Voice of the Faithful Makes Spokespeople Available During Papal Visit AScribe Newswire April 7, 2008 http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20080407.113344&time=12%2004%20PDT&year=2008&public=0 BOSTON — Voice of the Faithful has spokespeople available from its national office in Boston, Mass. — and local spokespeople in many cities around the country — to provide a lay Catholic's perspective on the state of the U.S. Catholic Church on the occasion of the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict to the U.S. April 15-20, 2008. The organization's members believe the Catholic Church faces many serious challenges and unresolved problems due, in part, to insufficient meaningful participation by the laity in decision making on issues such as Church management and finance. It is this lack of lay involvement and dialogue, members believe, that made the sex abuse scandal possible and are now at the root of financial problems, including Church closings, mismanagement and embezzlements, that plague the Church. However, Voice of the Faithful members also believe the Church is capable of transformation and envision a Church that is open, transparent, and accountable and look forward to a Church that embraces the gifts and talents of the laity. Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The group's mission is 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. Its goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching. You can learn more about Voice of the Faithful at http://www.votf.org/ . Pope Benedict will be arriving in Washington, D.C., on April 15, making several appearances in our nation's capital on April 16 and 17, and then going to New York City for appearances April 18 and 19 before departing the U.S. on April 20. Contact: To arrange interviews with Voice of the Faithful representatives from the national office or from your local area, please contact John Moynihan, 617-558-5252, cell 617-680-2131.
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