Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth & Chesapeake

Being Faithful Catholics and Citizens in our Commonwealth.  Election day is Nov. 5th.  Voters  will elect members to all 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly - 40 in the Senate and 100 in the House of Delegates.  To be good Catholics and good Virginians, we must - with consciences well formed through prayer and the Church's teachings - participate in these important decisions.  As you prepare to vote, we offer these thought on weighing vital issues at stake, drawing from Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, a statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.faithfulcitizenship.org) which describes how we make good moral choices as we respond to our baptismal call to promote the common good.  

Many Issues are Important.  "Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible, and a right to access to those things required for human decency - food and shelter, education and employment, health care and housing, freedom of religion and family life" (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no.49).  We must be attentive and engaged whenever human dignity is at stake for any of our brothers and sisters in the human family - whether they are born or unborn, rich or poor, a newcomer or of U.S. origin.  This attentiveness and engagement includes addressing the frequency and severity of gun violence in Virginia and across the country.  

Not All Issues Have Equal Moral Weight.  Some actions, such as abortion and euthanasia, are "intrinsically evil" - that is, "always incompatible with love of God and neighbor" (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no.22).  "[T]he moral obligation to oppose policies promoting intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences and our actions" (no. 37). 

Protecting Life is Paramount.  The right to life is "the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible" (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no. 49).  Our priority must be to protect life to the fullest extent possible.  

For more on voting decision, we encourage you to read paragraphs 34-37 of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (www.faithfulcitizenship.org).  For more on state issues, see the Virginia Catholic Conference;s "Faithful Citizenship in Virginia" bulletin insert (www.vacatholic.org).  

Please vote on November 5th with a well formed conscience as a faithful Catholic and as a citizen of our Commonwealth.  

Faithfully yours in Christ, 

Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington and Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond

Bishop Knestout encourages anyone aware of sexual abuse of minors on the part of clergy or staff of our diocese to notify civil authorities, call the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-833-454-9064, and reach out to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Jennifer Sloan at 1-877-887-9603.  

Click here for additional information on how to report abuse and harassment.

Bishop Knestout has released the names of clergy in the Diocese of Richmond that have a credible and substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The list also includes clergy from other dioceses and religious communities who served in the Diocese. Click here to view the list.

For more information on our Diocese's responses to the clergy sex abuse scandal, click here.

Bishop Knestout announces the implementation of a hotline to report suspected financial, administrative or human resource misconduct within the Diocese of Richmond.

The hotline is handled through EthicsPoint, an independent, third-party reporting system, to ensure accountability and transparency. This helps to safeguard the resources entrusted to us by the people of our diocese. Reports can be made online or by phone. Employees, volunteers, clergy, parishioners and any other individual wishing to make a report can do so anonymously.

The toll-free number is 844-739-3210 and is offered in multiple languages. To submit a report online, visit the diocesan website, www.richmonddiocese.org, and select “EthicsPoint.”

The hotline number is not a 911 or emergency service number. Individuals should not use this number to report information that is of an immediate threat to life or property.

Additionally, EthicsPoint is NOT intended to receive information about sexual abuse allegations. Abuse allegations should be reported immediately to local law enforcement and the Attorney General’s Clergy Abuse Hotline at 1-833-454-9064.

Additional information including a video message and letter from Bishop Knestout, a list of frequently asked questions and other resources regarding EthicsPoint can be found by visiting the diocesan website.

2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese. Numerous events and celebrations are scheduled throughout the year. Click here to visit the special bicentennial webpage.

A smart device application for the Cluster Parishes is available for Apple and Android devices. Search for “Parish App” from WeConnect by Liturgical Publications, Inc.

Alternatively, iPhone users can text ParishApp1 to 555888 or click here and Android users can text ParishApp2 to 555888 or click here to download the application.

Enter “Cluster Parishes of Portsmouth and Chesapeake” to set your home parish. Be sure to enable messages in your device to receive push notifications, such as changes in Mass times, weather cancellations, or other important information.