News & Issues
Dominican is jailed; order is sued - Friday, July 04, 2008
7-3-08 Police in Montgomery County have arrested a priest on sexual abuse charges stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred in 2001 and 2002, while he was serving at a parish in Germantown. Attorney Jeff Anderson of St. Paul, Minn., said he has documented proof the Dominican provincial leaders knew about the Maryland allegations against the priest, but chose to keep him in active ministry involving youths in another part of the country. (full story) |
Former Cleveland Diocese official convicted - Friday, July 04, 2008
7-3-08 A federal jury on Thursday convicted the former top accountant at the Cleveland Catholic Diocese of tax charges in a case that involved alleged kickbacks and secret church accounts. The jury in the trial of Joseph H. Smith, 51, of Avon Lake, returned the verdict after beginning deliberations nearly two weeks ago in U.S District Court. The prosecution portrayed Smith as a manipulator who arranged $785,000 in kickbacks and secret payments because he felt he was underpaid. A judge earlier dismissed money laundering charges, and Smith was acquitted Thursday of more serious charges of mail fraud related to the alleged kickbacks. (full story) |
Father Bob gets three years in prison - Friday, July 04, 2008
7-3-08 The former pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Washington drew a three-year state prison sentence today after pleading guilty earlier this year to theft-related charges. The Rev. Robert Ascolese, 46, known to his former parishioners as Father Bob, will become eligible for parole in nine months. In April he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, admitting he stole money from the church raffle and two corporate charity programs to help keep the financially ailing parish afloat. (full story) |
Office manager charged with taking school's money - Friday, July 04, 2008
7-3-08 During fiscal year 2007-2008, St. Anne and St. Leo Catholic schools in Lancaster should have taken in $434,093 in tuition payments. But the Harrisburg Diocese was reporting that it only received $357,679. Lancaster city police filed two felony charges against the Lancaster woman, Michelle A. Hildebrand, saying that she went so far as to "fraudulently" open a savings account under the school name, from which she took money — according to the police affidavit, "to pay for her husband's medical bills and her son's drug addiction." (full story) |
VOTF-Atlanta announces new treasurer - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-3-08 After five years of excellent service, including face-to-face meetings with Archbishops Donaghue and Gregory, one of our founding members, Dick Higgins, has stepped down from his position as Treasurer of VOTF-Atlanta. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dick for his generous contribution to VOTF. Jeff Gimpel, a telecommunications consultant and graduate of St. Peter's College with an MBA from Pace University, has come forward to take Dick's position. We welcome Jeff aboard and look forward to working with him toward VOTF's mission and goals. (full story) |
What did they know and when did they know it - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-1-08 One of the common defenses employed by bishops as a way of excusing their response to clergy sex abuse has been their assertion that they knew nothing about this issue until the eighties. These claims that they were unaware of clergy sexual abuse or the serious nature of such abuse prior to the 1980's are empty and contrived in light of information that has been uncovered in the various civil and criminal trials since 1985, which includes documents issued by church authorities and various studies conducted under church auspices over the past 50 years. (full story) |
Church's aim: Save priest's career - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-3-08 Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver officials were determined until 1993 to salvage the career of priest Harold Robert White, accused in 30 cases of sex abuse against children between 1960 and 1981, according to internal documents released by victims' attorneys Wednesday. Diocesan officials knew in the 1960s of White's "boy troubles," and at least some officials believed even then that such men "carried the affliction with them to the grave." (full story) |
Canadian survivors call on Pope to apologize - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-2-08 Canadian survivors of abuse inflicted by Catholic clergy during the 20th century are demanding an apology from Pope Benedict XVI similar to the one he offered to victims in the U.S. in April. "I believe he should apologize," said Don Courchene, a former student at the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School in Manitoba. Courchene, who has made a career of promoting First Nations businesses and projects in Manitoba, told CBC News that he has mostly come to terms with his experiences at the school. But he said he still believes the Pope must take the next step. (full story) |
Judge rules against family of autistic boy - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-3-08 The mother of an autistic boy who has been barred from attending Mass at a rural Minnesota parish said she was shocked by a judge's June 27 decision to uphold the ban and will continue working to overturn what she considers a violation of canon law. Carol Race, whose 13-year-old son Adam was the target of a restraining order sought by St. Joseph Church in Bertha, Minn., in May, said the case should have been based on the laws of the church rather than the parish's concern over legal liability. (full story) |
Atlanta's Eucharistic Congress - Thursday, July 03, 2008
7-3-08 The 13th annual congress drew 20,000 to 30,000 Catholics to the cavernous Georgia International Convention Center in College Park June 20-21. The convention center mirrored the diversity of the 750,000 people who pray regularly in the 100 churches and missions in the 69-county archdiocese. The congress theme was "I Am the Living Bread." Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory reminded people in his homily June 21 that bread is a staple worldwide. "This common substance that exists in many and varied forms throughout the human community was chosen to serve as a symbol of God's bounty and his compassion for his people," he said. (full story) |
News & Issues Archive
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Voice of the Faithful-Atlanta
is the Atlanta affiliate of National Voice of
the Faithful, founded in Boston
in January, 2002 in response to the sex abuse scandal. VOTF is working to
prevent further abuse, scandal and cover-up. VOTF-Atlanta was formed in April,
2003 to promote the mission and goals of VOTF in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
The Mission of VOTF is:
To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the
Faithful (who comprise more than 99% of the Church) can actively participate in
governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.
The Goals of VOTF are:
- To support those who have been abused.
- To support priests of integrity.
- To help shape structural or cultural change within the Church, in order
to help prevent further abuses and scandals.
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VOTF takes no position on other issues of dogma, doctrine and discipline that
face the Church today. A mainstream, centrist organization of concerned,
faithful Catholics who acknowledge the teaching Magisterium and spiritual
direction of the hierarchy, VOTF has nearly 40,000 registered members in 207
affiliates in 50 states and 39 countries. Please
join us in our efforts to heal and restore our beloved Church.
Pray Each Day at Noon
Jesus, Lord and Brother, help us with our faithfulness. Please hear our voice
and let our voice be heard. Amen.
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Prayer for Priests
Heavenly Father, grant that our priests be strengthened and healed by the power
of the Eucharist they celebrate. May the Word they proclaim give them
courage and wisdom. We pray that all those whom they seek to serve may see
in them the love and care of Jesus, our Eternal High Priest, who is Lord for
ever and ever. Amen.
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