Reform group can use church building

PORTLAND – The Catholic Charities Maine board of directors has voted to allow the Voice of the Faithful reform group to rent space at St. Paul’s Center in Augusta.

The board last week reversed an earlier decision that prohibited Voice of the Faithful, which supports victims of sex abuse by priests, from holding statewide meetings at the center.

John Kerry, executive director of Catholic Charities, said the board felt it was time to move on and focus on its mission of caring for the poor and needy.

“We’ll just move on and do what we do,” he said.

Michael Sweatt, co-founder of Voice of the Faithful-Maine, said he is encouraged by the board’s decision.

He said he also was pleased upon learning this month of a statement in court documents by Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Gerry saying he doesn’t object to the group using church facilities for meetings if church pastors are agreeable.

Voice of the Faithful has been meeting at St. Patrick’s parish in Portland since October, Sweatt said. Other chapters of the group have been meeting at Catholic churches in Saco, Belfast and Ellsworth.

Sweatt said a member recently came across a deposition given by Gerry in a Catholic Charities’ lawsuit against the city of Portland.

Catholic Charities’ suit accuses the city of religious discrimination for withholding $175,000 in community development funds from the organization because it does not provide domestic partner benefits.

Sweatt said Gerry stated in the deposition that if a pastor wants to allow Voice of the Faithful to meet on church property “then I have no objection.”

Sue Bernard, spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Portland, was not immediately available for comment.