[maryz]

Ms. Allen apparently hasn't swallowed VOTF's line whole.

[maryz]

So far, the group's achievements have been more modest: $10,000 in pledges for its alternative to the Boston Cardinal's Appeal, as well as a commitment from Boston's Catholic Charities to defy Cardinal Law and accept Voice of the Faithful money.

"Modest" seems an understatement: They claim 19,000 members; over 4,000 showed up at their meeting Saturday; they managed to collect under $10,000 and propose to make up the Cardinal's Appeal shortfall of almost $3,000,000.

[NYer]

These self interest groups, created under the guise of victim support, are getting out of hand. It seems a new one springs up each month. They purport to have no agenda. As their ranks swell, so does the ego. What began with a single and simple purpose turns into a "voice of the minions", with bloated clout and radical concepts. If catholics in each diocese reacted this way, where would we be?

[Desdemona]

"...there are signs that Voice of the Faithful wants to transform itself into a large, well-financed interest group, agitating for a restructuring of the Catholic Church in the U.S.--including elected bishops and an end to bans against married and female priests."

Note to "Voice of the Faithful": go find a Protestant sect.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

It will only be a matter of time before the Prejeans, Chittisters and McBriens of the world will be aligned with this outfit.

[saradippity]

Thanks for another interesting post.It certainly becomes clearer and clearer why Jesus Christ set up the Church as a hierarchy and I think its about time Catholics looked at just why He did it the way that He did.

Maybe the best way to examine it would be to imagine that He wanted it set up the way it appears most catholics,clergy and lay alike,currently want it configured.

I guess first He would have had to find a large group of picnickers or shoppers or sightseers and got their attention. Then He would have said first I am going to work a miracle and feed you all,then we are going to have an election so we have a boss.Here's hoping that the miracle would give Him an edge and He won the election.

Next He would have then said I need some help so lets elect some guys or gals to help me. And,He would tell the crowds that hereafter when He wanted to say something important He would run it by the small group they had elected and they would determine what He meant and how He should say it and how He could implement it.

Then He would assure the masses that after His Words were properly couched in the language of the people,and procedures were set up to provide for the achievement of goals,His helpers would get back to them and they could vote on the particulars. Then His inner circle would bring their thoughts back to Him and He would consider them and make changes as appropriate,He would then process it through the inner circle and they might make some small changes and get it back to them for final approval.

Since Jesus knew everything He would know that by the time the first official pronouncement was issued many of them would be dead,so He would need to set up an emergency procedure which would permit them to "live forever" with God.The problem was that most people had other things to do so they left and the ones that remained could not agree among themselves who should be elected and some that the "multitudes" agreed were worthy helpers chose not to serve.Several of the "chosen" were hitting the wine rather heavily and Jesus knew they wouldn't do and etc.,blah,blah.

Catholics need to pray for understanding and get a grip,Christ gave the keys to Peter,in perpetuity for dam good reasons and God is giving us an opportunity to do what Mary told the stewards at the wedding at Cana. We must "do whatever He tells us to do".And it starts with listening to Peter.