Keeping the Faithful Out
When a group portrays itself as a
grassroots organization, one would imagine that it would
encourage maximum member participation.
However, it would appear
that it is not that easy to participate with fellow members
at the Providence Rhode Island branch of the Voice of the
Faithful (VOTF). Local members at Christ the King parish
had hoped to attend the monthly gathering last June 13.
Upon arriving, however,
they found a large sign announcing that the meeting was
a closed working session for VOTF members only.
This should have posed
no problem for Mark Gordon and his friend Larry Burns. Mark
had joined VOTF in late January, shortly after attending
his first meeting. As a resident of the Diocese of Providence,
his name and member status was duly forwarded to Ed Greenam
of the VOTF Steering Committee in the region. He has been
regularly receiving email newsletters and solicitations
from the national organization like any member.
Larry had joined VOTF
at Christ the King Church in February when he filled out
his membership form. He, too, has been receiving email from
the national organization which indicated his application
had been processed.
Nothing could be more
natural than two members checking in. However, in a recent
email, the two reported their surprise when Mr. Greenam
tersely invited them to leave since their names were not
on his membership list.
Both Mr. Burns and
Mr. Gordon are (or rather were) outspoken VOTF members.
They made no secret of the fact that they disagree with
many of the liberal opinions and policies expressed at local
chapter meetings. Now, strangely, both names have disappeared
from VOTF's local rolls and they abruptly ceased to belong
to the alleged 30,000 “mainstream” practicing
Catholics who make up the ranks of VOTF.
This treatment hardly
corresponds to what VOTF President James Post referred on
their website as “a grassroots network of caring, concerned
Catholics.”
Indeed, even if their
membership status was irregular, one could hardly imagine
what could possibly be so secret about a parish working
meeting. In the interest of the so desired transparency,
the two might have been admitted. One wonders how a pressure
group can call for transparency and yet close its meetings
from those who registered as members?
Like the St. Louis
Faithful meeting in Missouri where organizers shut off the
microphone of faithful who wanted to speak, or the VOTF
in Louisville where a tape recorder was ordered shut off
against the will of the assembly, it appears only certain
faithful have a voice.
If VOTF is the mainstream
group which promote democratic participation that it claims
to be, it should invite its members of all opinions to discussing
openly the teachings of the Church.
And again, if it is
going to call itself, Voice of the Faithful, it should let
all the faithful in.
Important Campaign Documents: