Voice of The Faithful - Founding, Growth and Mission

Founding, Growth and Mission

VOTF began when a small group of parishioners met in the basement of St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley, Massachusetts, to pray over allegations that a priest had abused local youngsters. Its meetings soon became well attended, as well as attracting significant media attention. A conference it held in July 2002 attracted over 4,000 lay Catholics, victims of clergy sexual abuse, theologians, priests and religious from around the United States of America and the world. Less than a year after its founding, VOTF was able to claim 30,000 members worldwide. VOTF currently has members in all 50 states and in 21 nations, with over 150 Parish Voice affiliates.

Jim Muller, one of VOTF's co-founders and its first president, has written a book about the group's founding called Keep the Faith, Change the Church.

VOTF's mission statement is: "To provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church."

It has articulated three goals:

1. To support victims of clergy sexual abuse;

2. To support priests of integrity; and

3. To shape structural change within Church.