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	Voice of the Faithful Head Submits Resignation By Theo Emery The Associated Press October 1, 2004 The executive director of the Catholic Church reform group Voice of the Faithful resigned yesterday after two years of helping build the group into a national mouthpiece for laity during the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Steven Krueger, a 52-year-old former financial consultant from Boston, announced his resignation in a letter to the organization. In an interview, he did not specify a reason, but said he was leaving to "pursue other interests." "This has been such an extraordinary experience for me on both a personal as well as a spiritual level," he said. "I've had the opportunity to meet literally hundreds, if not thousands, of Catholics who care deeply about the church." The resignation was effective immediately. He did not offer a reason for the resignation in his letter. The organization formed shortly after attorneys for abuse victims forced the archdiocese to release documents in early 2002 revealing that church officials shifted pedophile priests between parishes after allegations of abuse arose. The group grew steadily as the abuse scandal deepened, but as media attention on the crisis lessened and the archdiocese settled with alleged victims, members drifted and the organization cast about for new directions. The group has since been energized by anger over the scheduled closure of 82 parishes, which the archdiocese says are needed in the face of declining attendance and financial woes. In a letter to members yesterday, Voice of the Faithful President James Post said he and Krueger had been discussing Krueger's stepping down "for some time." Krueger built the organization "from the ground up" from an all-volunteer group to a 30,000-member organization with 200 chapters, and helped raise $1.5 million for the organization, Post wrote. "Steve has remained steadfastly optimistic in the work we have been called to do and has brought inspiration to building a national office that can serve the movement," wrote Post, who helped found the organization. Post said that a nationwide search for Krueger's replacement would begin immediately after the formation of a search committee.
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