Who we are and how we started:

Voice of the Faithful was formed as a result of the clergy sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic church. As members of Voice of the Faithful — Twin Cities Chapter, we are lay persons committed to helping carry out the first goal of VOTF: "To support victims of clergy sexual abuse."

Our Mission:

Our mission is to offer a gentle and accessible listening presence and healing support to victims of sexual abuse and their families. While our main focus is on those who have been touched by abuse within the Catholic church, we welcome other victims and families whose lives have been scarred by abuse by any trusted person. We have broadened the VOTF Goal One definition to include abuse committed by clergy, vowed religious and lay persons employed by the Catholic Church.

What we do:

We endeavor to help victims and families find supportive resources for the help and healing they seek. We support victims and families to end the silence and isolation of the abuse and to share their stories when and where they are comfortable doing so as a positive step in the healing process. While the victims of abuse are our first concern, we place an equal emphasis on helping their parents, families and loved ones who suffer the effects of the abuse along with the victims.

How we work:

The Resource Group provides easily accessible initial contact for victims and their families. We believe there are several options depending on the needs of our sisters and brothers:

• A sympathetic listener, an understanding lay person, to whom an individual can tell the story of abuse and who may suggest further resources
• Information about therapists who specialize in treating abuse victims and their families
• Opportunity to become a member of a support group
• Participation in a healing service sponsored by VOTF
• Spiritual direction, journaling, and other introspective ways of healing
• Referral to other community services

Why we created the Resource Group:

We believe it is VOTF's obligation to assist those who have been harmed by representatives of our religious institution. It is our belief that victims and their families need to be actively sought out and helped to deal with the effects of sexual abuse by clergy, religious, church employee or by someone that the victim trusted. We feel that as lay persons working outside the religious setting we will have greater success in creating the atmosphere of trust that will encourage victims and families to come forward to seek help.

For more information or to join the project planning team contact: Shari Steffen: (952) 944-1483

To speak to someone about abuse suffered by you or someone you care about, call 952-297-7474

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