NAPLES (FL)
Naples Daily News
Voice of the Faithful (VOF) was formed nationally in 2002, in the wake of the wave of publicity surrounding “pedophile priests,” Catholic clergymen who molested children, and the long cover-up by the church hierarchy. The local group was established the same year.
“We have three goals — to protect and support survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, to support priests of integrity in any way we can, and to reshape the institutional Catholic Church — the bureaucracy.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 29, the local group, about 75 of approximately 400 total members locally, met for an anniversary Mass in the cafeteria at St. Matthew’s House, the homeless shelter on Davis Boulevard in East Naples. Surrounded by the prep work of an institutional kitchen, a retired Catholic priest, the Rev. Thomas Glackin, set up his candle and chalice of wine on a folding table, and offered comfort and Holy Communion to the VOF members. He spoke of Bishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, “who lost his voice for speaking truth to power. None of the bishops stood with him, and he was assassinated,” recounted Glackin.
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