Giving voice to people sexually abused by those in power positions
I’ve been wondering about what that word “healing” really means. Does it mean that you forget what happened? Does it mean you have forgiven the offender? Does it mean your faith has been restored? Does it mean you don’t think about it anymore? Does it mean you trust the Church? Therapists? I’d love to hear […]
Much has happened during August. At the Scottsdale, AZ Leadership Conference of Women Religious on August 15, Sister Sharlet its retiring president make a bold statement. “It is a source of deep pain for us that in some instances our own sisters have been perpetrators of the abuse. This is a truth we must not […]
I’m still advocating for survivors of sexual abuse. In May 2019, I met with the lay president of a Catholic university, the current provincial superior nuns associated with the university, and an elderly, retired provincial superior. We discussed how a response to a complaint of abuse has a tremendous impact on a survivor’s healing process […]
This month I connected with Mary Dispenza, author of SPLIT: a Child, a Priest & the Catholic Church. Mary is about to start an online support group for survivors of sexual abuse by nuns. One rarely hears from these people. I look forward to my first meeting with others who are willing to speak out […]
After the Vatican council March 20, 2019. An article in USA Today reports 395 priests and deacons were accused of sexual misconduct in Illinois. It also reports the Church allegedly failed to investigate 500 priest abuse allegations. March 30, 2019. Archbishop Listecki removes the names of two previous prelates Cousins and Weakland from the main […]
In a court of law, the victim is often allowed to make a statement about the harm that was done by a crime. This allows the jury and judge to weigh in on appropriate action to be taken. It also allows the victim an opportunity to confront the abuser with the damage caused by the […]
The long anticipated Vatican gathering is here. This week-end representatives from all over the world will address the way the Church handles reported cases of sexual abuse by the clergy. While we applaud Pope Francis for convening the meeting, we wonder why there is no inclusion of sexual abuse by the nuns who are also […]
“A Secret Yet to be Told” On January 2, 2019 in conjunction with a retreat of the Catholic bishops of the United States near Chicago, Nikki Battiste of CBS News reported the story of Trish Cahill, a woman who was sexually abused by a nun during her high school years. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/women-describe-alleged-abuse-by-nuns-the-secret-not-yet-told/). SNAP (Survivors of Sexual […]
We share our story with someone. We hope they will understand. And they don’t. After Sunday service you speak to a friend. You’ve known her since the two of you attended the same boarding school decades ago. You share a story of sexual abuse that shattered your life and your faith, and about the cover-up […]