We are a grassroots movement of committed New Hampshire Catholics who are calling for the immediate resignations of Bishop John McCormack and Auxiliary Bishop Francis Christian, as an expression of justice and accountability for their willful wrongdoing in the scandal of clergy sexual abuse. We issue this call for the good of our beloved Catholic Church in New Hampshire, which deserves leaders of moral credibility and sound judgment.

New Hampshire Catholics for Moral Leadership (NHCML) was organized in March 2003 by a group of lay men and women who recognized a shared purpose in working to bring about a leadership change in the Diocese of Manchester, NH. We have crafted a declaration that we invite all Catholics of this diocese to review and to sign, expressing our desire for new leadership in this diocese. We also have established a web site (www.NHCatholics.org) dedicated to sharing the important facts of the case against the current bishops of this diocese. Our sole focus as a group is to work toward the resignation of our current bishops, and to express the desire of the people of this diocese for justice and moral leadership. It is our belief that only when these bishops are held accountable for their horrible actions can the Catholic faithful move forward in hope toward healing and renewed trust.

Steve Banester: Steve is a parishioner at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Rye, NH, and a father. He has been an active volunteer for Catholic Charities in the Seacoast, coordinating the development of resources for the homeless, and providing supportive services to the children at St. Charles Children’s Home. For his work on behalf of the homeless he received the Governor’s Citation as Volunteer of the Year in 1999. He currently serves as an Incorporator for New Hampshire Catholic Charities. Steve received sixteen years of Catholic education, including his undergraduate study at Boston College.

Joannie Barrett: Joannie attended Catholic school from grade K-12. She has taught religious education at St. Catherine Parish in Manchester for seven years, and has served on the board of associates at Catholic Medical Center for three years. She has also served as a volunteer at St. Catherine School, St. Joseph Junior High School and at Trinity High School.

Peg Boucher: An active member of the Church of St. Thomas More in Durham, NH, Peg has served as an Outreach Minister for ten years, an RCIA instructor for five years, an RCIA sponsor for three years, and a Eucharistic minister for twenty years. She is a former member of the parish council as well. She attended Catholic schools and nurse training at institutions run by the Sisters of Mercy. Currently Peg is on the Board of Trustees for the St. Thomas More Parish Voice.

Anne Coughlin: Anne was raised in St. Anthony's Parish in Boston, MA. She attended St. Anthony School for eight years and Mount Saint Joseph Academy for four years, and is grateful for her education with the Sisters of St. Joseph. Anne is a lifelong practicing Catholic, a former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and a former member of the New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee.

Carolyn Disco: Carolyn is a former parish council member, CCD teacher, Catholic Charities and capital campaign fundraiser at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Merrimack, where she worshipped for 25 years. For the last ten years, she has been at St. John Neumann, where she was a Re-Membering Church leader. Carolyn is a former reporter and editor, who also served on the Merrimack school board. She attended Catholic boarding schools in two states for ten years. Carolyn serves the NH Voice of the Faithful as chairperson of the Survivor Support Working Group.

James M. Farrell: A Professor of Communication at the University of New Hampshire, Jim is a member of St. Mary Church in Dover, NH where he serves as a Eucharistic minister. Jim is a former member of the parish Liturgy Committee. His children attend Catholic schools in the diocese. For ten years, Jim served on the UNH Catholic Student Center Advisory Board.

Maggie Fogarty: Maggie was an Outreach Worker with New Hampshire Catholic Charities for four years. She is an active member of her parish, the Church of St. Thomas More in Durham, NH. She received her M.A. in Religious Studies from Villanova University in 1992, and held various positions, including interim Executive Director, at the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service in Washington, DC from 1993 to 1996. She represents her local Parish Voice to the statewide steering committee of the Voice of the Faithful. Maggie and her family will be serving with the Maryknoll Mission Association for 3½ years in Latin America.

Tyler Foss: Tyler graduated from St. Mary Academy in Dover in 1968. In 2000 he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Daniel Webster College. Married to Patricia (Rice) Foss, he is the father of four grown children. Since returning to Dover in 1979 he has been actively involved at St. Mary Church in Dover, specifically as a parish council member, parish council president, CCD teacher, choir member, usher, lector, altar server, and Eucharistic minister. He has also been involved in parish fundraising. He has been employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard since 1980.

John Grimes: A retired teacher, John is married with three children, all of whom have attended only Catholic schools through the secondary level. John is a lifelong member of St. Mary Church in Dover, NH where he has served on the parish council.

Edward J. Kirby: Ed had twelve years of education at St. Mary of the Assumption in Brookline, MA, as well as four years at Boston College. Ed entered the US Army in 1951 and retired with the rank of Colonel, having served in Korea, Germany Lebanon and Vietnam. For his service, Ed was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other decorations. For eighteen years he has been a parishioner at St. John Neumann in Merrimack, NH, and as served on many committees, including Buildings, Hospitality, Newcomers, and Day Away.

John Miskus: John is currently the Vice Chairman of the St. Thomas More Parish Voice, as well as a member of Voice of the Faithful. He is a volunteer at the St. Thomas More Food Pantry. At his previous parish, John volunteered with the Ushers Club, the Bishop`s Appeal Committee, the Holy Name Society and the Cub Scouts.

Rose Miskus: Rose is an active member of the Church of St. Thomas More in Durham, NH where she serves on the Service Commission and helps to run the parish food pantry. She is involved in the St. Thomas More Parish Voice and a member of the national organization of Voice of the Faithful. At her previous parish—St. Maria Goretti in Dyer, Indiana--she volunteered with the Ushers Club, Bishop`s Appeal Committee, Eucharistic Ministry-and the Home Bound and Nursing Home Visitation Program.

Robert Morton: A resident of Newton, New Hampshire, Bob is married and the father of three children. He is a founding member of the Survivors of Joseph Birmingham. While not a victim, he was accosted by Joseph Birmingham on two occasions and knows hundreds of people affected by Joseph Birmingham. His mother and aunt were two of the five mothers who went to the Archdiocesan Chancery in Brighton, MA in 1970 to request help for Joseph Birmingham and to protect children from future abuse. He has been active in helping those affected by Joseph Birmingham and continues to work for justice for all Catholics in New England.

James P. Nadeau, Jr.: An active member of St. George Parish in Dover, NH, is a graduate of the University of NH and Boston University Law School. He retired as a captain from the U.S. Army and has practiced law for 34 years. He has been married for 38 years to Gail Follensbee Nadeau. They have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

Mike Neyens: Mike is a member of St. Patrick Parish in Jaffrey, NH where he has recently formed a Voice of the Faithful "Parish Voice." He was a Parish Council member for six years, and served as President for four years. He has also served as Vice President of the Advisory Board for St. Patrick School, a K--8 grade school affiliated with St. Patrick Parish. He has served as a member of the Finance Committee for both St. Patrick Parish and the school. Mike and his wife, Mary, are both Eucharistic ministers and the parents of three teenaged children. Mike has benefited from Catholic schools from first grade through college and is a graduate of Marquette University.