Catholic reformers hold historic meeting

With members traveling from as far away as California,Texas, Canada, and Germany, Saturday's convention will be an important test of Voice's momentum. Paul Baier, the group's Internet maven, says convention goals are to "pray together, educate ourselves about the duties of the laity, and organize action programs." Several theologians who've thought deeply about church history and the role of the laity will speak.

"This is part of a great awakening in the laity," Dr. Post predicts, "as people discover the excitement of ideas that have been percolating but nobody knew about."

Melissa Gradel, a grant writer coming with a group from her Brooklyn parish, appreciates the opportunity to become active in a productive way. "We have to get out of the practice of acting like children and accept the responsibility that we are the church and this is our problem and responsibility to solve it," she says.

Keeping away from controversial issues like married priests and women's ordination, Voice focuses on three objectives: supporting survivors of abuse, supporting priests of integrity, and seeking structural change. They've held fundraising activities for survivor groups, and will encourage the church hierarchy to match them dollar for dollar, Mr. Baier says. There's need for a national hotline for victims, and for operational resources for survivor support groups – which victims say have been their most helpful avenue of healing. They're working on ways to collaborate with the Priests' Forum – a Boston-area group formed to deal with dilemmas that pastors are facing.

"The desire is that the whole church build bridges for dialogue and rebuilding trust," says Svea Fraser, a chaplain at Wellesley College.

And as it became clear that many Boston Catholics were not contributing to the annual Cardinal's Appeal as a protest, Voice created an alternative fund to provide a vehicle for financial support to local charities. This has not helped relations with the cardinal's staff. Some believe his aides have encouraged pastors to close down Voice chapters in their parishes.

Still, Post thinks the lines of communication remain open. "We are in the sizing up stage – they are trying to understand us and what we mean by 'change the church,'" he says.

The archdiocese did not respond to requests for comment.

A key question is how long the commitment among the members can be sustained if there is no clear opening to interact with church hierarchy. The group recognizes it will be a long process.

Encouraged by strong support from prominent theologians, from a significant base of local clergy, and even, if only privately, from some big church donors, Voice of the Faithful is moving into "stage two." It's establishing a full-time professional staff, and the systems to support research and the growing number of local chapters.

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