12/13/02

The oldest national Catholic Church reform organization in the country expressed gratitude today to the Catholic people and priests of the Archdiocese of Boston for their work in bringing new leadership to their local church.

"The reform movement salutes the Catholic people and priests of the Archdiocese of Boston. Your courage in naming the truth, and in demanding principled leadership is a model for the whole Church," said Linda Pieczynski, spokeswoman for Call To Action. "We are encouraged to know that the Vatican finally heard your cries for justice," she continued.

Call To Action is hopeful that the example in Boston signals a new future for the Catholic Church in which protecting authoritarian control at any moral cost is no longer an option. "The Catholic laity and priests of the Boston Archdiocese have shown all of us the way toward leadership with accountability. We cannot go back to a hierarchy divided from its priests and people. We must gather the wisdom and experience of all of the faithful as we make decisions in the future," said Pieczynski.

"Cardinal Law was forced by the civil authorities to reveal his conduct. But we will not be able to resolve this crisis unless the bishops of every diocese come forward of their own accord about their handling of clergy sexual abuse. The Catholic people and clergy deserve the truth about what has happened to their children and their dollars," said CTA staff person, Claire Noonan. Call To Action sent a letter to every American bishops calling for full disclosure.