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	Voice of Faithful May Close Needham-based National Headquarters By Steve Ryan Needham Times July 13, 2009 http://www.wickedlocal.com/needham/news/x631626017/Voice-of-Faithful-may-close-Needham-based-national-headquarters After moving its national offices to Needham last month, Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic reform group founded in response to the priest sexual abuse scandal, might decide to close the office doors and continue as an all-volunteer organization. Voice of the Faithful originated in Wellesley and had headquarters in Newton before making the move to Hillside Avenue in Needham last month. The chairman of the organization’s board, Bill Casey, said the move was a cost-cutting measure and reduced costs in half. But even with that move, the organization doesn’t have enough money to run the office. Closing the office is a “worst-case scenario,” Casey said. “The last year or two with the economic crisis has dried up revenue for us,” Casey said. “We’re not able to sustain operations at that level without an infusion of cash.” The Voice of the Faithful is looking to raise about $60,000 to save the office. The organization’s revenue comes directly from donations, Casey said. He reiterated there are no intentions of ending the organization. But if the office does close, it would be an all-volunteer organization working through local chapters. “The main message is that we are in the same boat as many other charitable organizations,” Casey said. “We’re struggling like them. We’ll make our appeal and hopefully our members can get us to where we need to be.” Voice of the Faithful was founded in 2002 in response to the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal. It started in the basement of a Wellesley church before moving to offices in Newton. On its Web site, www.votf.org, the organizations states its three goals as: “support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church.”
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