Voice of the Faithful 2021 Conference will feature well-known theologian and women religious leader

BOSTON - PrZen -- An internationally recognized theologian and author and the leader of an organization representing thousands of women religious will speak at Voice of the Faithful's 2021 Conference Re–Membering the Church: Moving Forward.

Overall, this year's VOTF conference will look closely at the body of the Catholic Church to see how structure, power, participation, and accountability can be brought together within the Church to fulfill its mission of bringing Christ to the world.

The online Zoom conference takes place Oct. 22-23, 2021. At 7 p.m., Oct. 22, conference registrants can gather for free Zoom listening sessions to talk about issues affecting the church today. The full-day conference begins Oct. 23 at 8:30 a.m., as registrants gather in a Zoom waiting room for the 9 a.m. Cost for attending is $50. Registration can be online or by mail. College undergraduates can register for free.

VOTF envisions a Church of openness and respect between hierarchy and the laity, more inclusivity, and collaborations leading to activities and initiatives that reflect lay voices in the Church. As outlined at a previous VOTF conference, "There is no body without its members. There are no members without participation. There is no participation without mutual recognition and accountability. Structural change is possible. Accountability is necessary. Re-membering the church is essential."

Featured speakers will be Prof. Massimo Faggioli, Ph.D., professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University, and Sister Carol Zinn, S.S.J., Ph.D., Leadership Conference of Women Religious executive director. Prof. Faggioli spoke at VOTF's 2018 Conference, and his return is highly anticipated. He is a prolific author and a leading international authority on Catholic Church history and ecclesiology, the inner workings of the Church. Sister Carol serves as Saint John Vianney Center consultant for women religious community health and transition and has served as United Nations Economic and Social Council consultant.

In addition, VOTF's 2021 Conference will present a panel comprising women liturgy leaders from the Paulist Center Boston faith community, who will discuss lay-led liturgies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and VOTF leaders will offer presentations on VOTF projects in diocesan financial transparency, Church governance by and through lay involvement in Diocesan Financial Councils, adherence to protection of child guidelines in parishes and dioceses, and women's emerging voices in the Catholic Church.