Press Release

October 1, 2010

Message to all Catholics: Eliminate or substantially reduce donations at Sunday Masses in October to register a vote of “No Confidence” in the pope and his bishops. Why? Because they put children at risk of molestation and turn a blind eye to clergy sex abuse victims.

Children are at risk because the pope and the bishops allow priests who have been credibly accused of sex abuse of children to remain in ministry.

Like the priest and Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-33), the pope and his bishops have turned a blind eye to clergy sex abuse victims by “passing by on the other side.”

In Luke 10, we read: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion..."

Eliminating or reducing substantially donations at each of the five Sunday Masses in October is a safe, easy, and empowering way for Catholics to express their dissatisfaction, frustration, and anger with Church officials. This action is in effect a vote of “No Confidence” in the pope’s leadership.

Now is the time for Catholics to speak up through the silent but effective use of money, a language Church officials understand.

Send the Bishops a Message bows deeply and tips its hat to 80-year-old Jennifer Sleeman, who urged a Mass boycott in Ireland on September 26 to call attention to the Vatican’s appalling performance on clergy sexual abuse. Our five-Sunday October campaign follows in the footsteps of this courageous and bold Irish woman.

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Send the Bishops a Message (www.sendthebishopsamessage.com ) urges Roman Catholics to send messages of dissatisfaction to Church officials using money as the means of communication.

Desert Voices, Inc., an Arizona non-profit corporation sponsors Send the Bishops a Message. Desert Voices also sponsors Voice from the Desert (http://reform-network.net ).

CONTACTFrank Douglas, national director of Send the Bishops a Message, at 520 404 2489 or frankdouglas62@yahoo.com .