BishopAccountability.org
	Priests Urge Bishop to Use Mediator By Carol Eisenberg Newsday [Long Island NY] March 8, 2006 http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ ny-licath0308,0,3095308.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines It worked for New York City transit workers, so why not for Long Island Catholics? At least that's the idea being pitched by a priests' group that asked Rockville Centre Bishop William Murphy and members of a Catholic lay group to meet with a mediator. The priests' group, called The Voice of the Ordained, has offered $1,000 toward the cost, and extolled the role mediators played in ending the recent transit strike. Murphy is one of a handful of bishops nationwide who have banned meetings on church property of Voice of the Faithful, a lay group formed during the clergy sex abuse scandals to demand greater accountability from its leaders. Many say the prohibition has further alienated the group's membership, many of whom are leaders and teachers in their parishes. The lay group is highly critical of the bishop. Citing his previous job as top deputy to Cardinal Bernard Law, it called for his resignation, saying he helped shield abusive priests in Boston -- an accusation he vehemently denies. Past efforts to negotiate a rapprochement failed. "I'm realistic about the possibilities for reconciliation, but I also hope for it," said the Rev. Andrew Connolly, a retired priest and vice chairman of the Voice of the Ordained, an independent group of active priests as well as some who left ministry to marry, who came up with the proposal. Several priests said they signed the letter because of what is at stake, but were not optimistic. "As pastors, we feel that this unresolved conflict drives a wedge between the office of bishop, which plays a central role in Catholic theology, and our people, since most members of Voice of the Faithful are among the most dedicated and active in our parishes," said the Rev. Gerald Twomey of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Manorhaven, one of six pastors who signed the letter. Connolly said he circulated the letter to 66 members, and received back 22 signatures -- of whom 13 are in active ministry. "I consider that return very good," Connolly said. "Pastors tend to be very reluctant to enter into this kind of a thing that might look like confrontation." Still, most acknowledged the chance of success was small. "In Christianity, reconciliation is a paramount value," Twomey said, "though in practice it's often very hard to achieve." Diocesan spokesman Sean Dolan declined comment on how the bishop might respond. "Letters sent to the bishop will be addressed by him on an individual basis," he said. Dan Bartley, co-chairman of Voice of the Faithful, said the priests will discuss the proposal with the group's membership at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Manhasset. "We welcome this warm gesture from these fine priests and look forward to an open dialogue about the challenges facing our church," he said.
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