VOICE of the FAITHFUL DEEPLY DISTRESSED at BAN of  FATHER DONALD COZZENS on PARISH GROUNDS

URGES BISHOP RICHARD LENNON to CHANGE COURSE

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Members of Voice of the Faithful's National Representative Council and the Voice of the Faithful Nothern Ohio Regional Co-ordinator revealed a ban on a speaking engagment for Father Donald Cozzens and took action speaking directly to Bishop Richard Lennon to lift the ban or iron out any misunderstanding that gives the impression there is a ban.

Voice of the Faithful members announced that Father Cozzens has been prohibited from speaking at St. Christopher's Parish, Rocky River, OH, a parish where Father Cozzens, who is an author and currently a professor at John Carroll University, was previously on the parish staff.

In a letter sent to Bishop Lennon and delivered Wednesday, the Voice of the Faithful members wrote " Father Cozzens is a priest in good standing in the Diocese of Cleveland. He has provided intellectual and thought provoking books on the current crises in the Roman Catholic Church.

"We have all benefited from the greatest of Catholic education in the United States. We know our educational institutions have contributed to both our religious and civil strengths.

" Open and honest expression of views, scholarly debate, and sincere efforts at understanding of the major issues of the day are the tripod of what the Church has stood for and encouraged in its students.

Telling Lennon that " We ask for no less (than honest expression, scholarly debate and sincere efforts at understanding) now at a critical juncture of the erosion of trust within the Church and between laity and hierarchy, " the Voice of the Faithful leaders went on to say, " Many things are needed and necessary in the Church today, but the last thing that is needed is more separation, banning, and casting out. "

For more information, contact:

Kristine Ward 937-272-0308

Ed Friedl 330-499-6842

Tom Bryne 216-295-0817

The full text of the letter is below.

January 10, 2007

Most Reverend Richard C. Lennon

Bishop of Cleveland

1027 Superior Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44114-2560

Dear Bishop Lennon,

This reason for this letter is news that has reached us that Father Donald Cozzens, author and educator, has been banned from speaking at St. Christopher's Parish in Rocky River, OH.

This distresses us deeply.

Father Cozzens is a priest in good standing in the Diocese of Cleveland and an educator at John Carroll University. He has provided intellectual and thought provoking books on the current crises in the Roman Catholic Church.

We have all benefited from the greatest of Catholic education in the United states. We know our educational institutions have contributed to both our religious and civil strengths.

Open and honest expression of views, scholarly debate, and sincere efforts at understanding of the major issues of the day are the tripod of what the Church has stood for and encouraged in its students.

We ask for no less now at a critical juncture of the erosion of trust within the Church and between laity and hierarchy.

Many things are needed and necessary in the Church today, but the last thing that is needed is more separation, banning, and casting out.

Please lift any ban you may have placed on this speaking engagement or if the action was solely the pastor's, please iron out this misunderstanding to allow Father Cozzens' speaking engagement to proceed as planned.

Sincerely,

Kristine Ward

Voice of the Faithful National Representative Council Region 6 Ohio/Michigan

Edward Friedl , Voice of the Faithful National Representative Council Region
6 Ohio/Michigan

Thomas Byrne, Voice of the Faithful Northern Ohio Regional Co-ordinator