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  Voice of Faithful Letter Is Circulated by Parish

By Kathleen A. Shaw
Telegram & Gazette [Sturbridge MA]
Downloaded March 21, 2003

STURBRIDGE - The parish council of St. Anne and St. Patrick Church circulated to parishioners a copy of a letter sent by Worcester Diocese Voice of the Faithful to Bishop Daniel P. Reilly asking that he be forthcoming with information on the sexual abuse scandal in this diocese.

The Rev. Norman Meiklejohn, A.A., pastor, said he and the parish council approved distribution of the letter in the interest of presenting a full range of information to people in the parish "so they can make up their own minds.'

The letters were handed out at all Masses last weekend and parishioners were asked to sign them and return them in the collection basket. The council will send the signed letters to the bishop.

"To be honest, we have gotten less than a handful back, but we wanted to give them the opportunity,' he said.

The letter was sent recently by Voice of the Faithful to the bishop commending him for steps he has taken to deal with the crisis but asked that he divulge information to area Catholics on how many minors and women were victimized, how many cases were reported to legal authorities and the disposition of those complaints. The organization, which includes lay Catholics, also wants full financial disclosure on the cost of the scandal.

 
 

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