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I. THE RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR CHURCH-WIDE RE-EXAMINATION
OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CHURCH MINISTRY
AND CHURCH GOVERNANCE
Whereas, our Church is the entire People of God; and
Whereas, the future of the Faith we are called to sustain is dependent
upon a supporting structure inclusive of the voices and talents of all
the People of God; and
Whereas, we affirm the VOTF mission statement (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) and third goal (to support structural change within the
Catholic Church); and
Whereas Voice of the Faithful at our founding identified several
factors that may have contributed to the sexual abuse of children and
an attendant cover-up, including the absence of women across the
spectrum of leadership in our Church;
Whereas, the deterrence of future abuses by the hierarchy is dependent
on addressing those contributing factors identified by Voice of the
Faithful at its founding; and
Whereas Voice of the Faithful's pursuit of justice for survivors
invites the pursuit of justice throughout our Church; and
Whereas there is within our Church a structural fault line in the
marginalization of the lay voice in general and women's voices and
gifts in particular;
THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED THAT:
Voice of the Faithful calls for a Church-wide re-examination and
reform of the role of women in Church ministry and in the governance
of the Church.
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