Voice of the Faithful ®

Hello *Fr. Day,

I am a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (USA) where I serve as the pastor of two parishes in Sheboygan, and I am an advocate for victims/survivors of Catholic clergy sexual abuse.

Today (July 24, 2012), a leader of SNAP here in Wisconsin forwarded to me an article that you wrote, A new conversation about Church sex abuse, as it appeared on eurekastreet.com.au.

Thank you for such bold writing. You call for a new conversation that would generate a long-term, collective, coordinated and global response. I agree and count me in.

The whole and complete truth about this crisis must come to light. Indeed, without knowing the whole truth, there can be no justice; and without justice, there can be no healing.

Next September 15 (Sept. 15 2012), I will be speaking in Boston at the “Voice of the Faithful 10th Year Conference,” noting ten years since the Boston Globe published its series on the Church sex abuse crisis – and ten years since the formation of the VOTF. My comments will include the call for a network and an association of priests throughout the world who are willing to stand in a public and vocal way with the victims/survivors in their call for truth and justice, so that healing and peace can one day be a reality.

Your writing energizes me.

You don’t stand alone.

May God’s blessings be with you and your people.

(Fr.) Jim Connell

*Fr Peter Day is priest assisting at Corpus Christi Parish, ACT. He holds a Bachelor of Sport’s Journalism from the University of Canberra and worked as a radio broadcaster with the ABC from 1990-92. In 2005 he founded HOME, a comunity-based centre providing supported accommodation for people with chronic mental illness who cannot live independently, or are at risk of homelessness.