Two refrains often lost amid the accolades for the papal visit is that the trip itself was, as Pope Benedict said, a chance for a new beginning, a first step, not the end of a process. The second refrain was the critical role of advocacy groups like Voice of the Faithful (VOTF)–as well as the victims’ groups and yes, the media–to making this visit a success. Without their faithful commitment, this moment of justice and catharsis would not have happened.
The work, however, is ongoing. VOTF pointed out some steps to take in a full-page ad in The New York Times ahead of the papal visit, and they are continuing their work with a online petition. Their campaign is also receiving support in articles and editorials, such as this one in yesterday’s Hartford Courant.
The first steps were a success, built on years of diligent labor. Now comes the hard part.