In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup - June Edition
Happy Monday, and welcome to the very first monthly “In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup” on Substack!
Those who have been following In Spirit and Truth for a while will remember the daily news posts I used to share on the Facebook page and the bi-weekly News Roundups published on the old blog. While I’ve moved away from that routine to focus more on survivors’ voices, I’m going to experiment with a new format because I know that many of you appreciate opportunities to keep up with the news and be better informed.
So, what I’m sharing today is my first attempt at a “reading roundup” that shares some of the most important news, meaningful analysis, and thoughtful reflections I’ve come across in the last month related to the issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. I’m also adding a few videos at the end, because some of the best content I encounter is through online presentations and webinars on this topic. The “Big Stories” and “Notable Local News” sections focus on news from the month of June, but the “Going Deeper” and “Worthwhile Videos” sections include a few older pieces that just came onto my radar recently and still feel relevant today.
I tried to write this post in a way that allows you to pick up key information with a quick read, or learn more by diving into the various links. Putting this together took me quite a bit of time, but I hope it’s also a better tool for you when it’s laid out in this way.
Please let me know in the comments if you find this helpful or if you have suggestions for improvement! Of course, if you value this work and want to help sustain it, I would be grateful for your support through a paid subscription.
(PS: I’m not totally sold on the post title - although I do like that it makes me sing the “Reading Rainbow” song in my head - so if you have other ideas, feel free to drop them in the comments as well.)
The Big Stories
Pope Francis promulgated a revision to the penal code of the Latin Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law, which could have a significant impact on how the universal Church handles cases of sexual abuse. A few highlights: establishing the possibility of punishment for lay people who hold church office and commit sex crimes, criminalizing the abuse of adults by priests who abuse their authority, categorizing abuse as an offense against the dignity of the human person (rather than a violation of the vow of celibacy), and requiring (rather than simply recommending) bishops pursue penal penalties for abuse committed by their clergy. For in-depth analysis, dive into this treatment by the canon law experts at The Pillar. If you’re not quite up for that, this summary is fine. As you might imagine, responses range from enthusiastic to disappointed.
German Cardinal Reinhard Marx offered his resignation as Archbishop of Munich to Pope Francis to “share the responsibility for the “catastrophe of sexual abuse” in the Catholic Church. Read his powerful letter here. Pope Francis rejected Marx’s resignation and urged the entire Church to work for reform.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops held their biannual General Assembly virtually. While the abuse crisis was not a prominent agenda item, the bishops did hear a report from the National Review Board that highlighted both progress and room for improvement.
Notable Local News
The Iowa Attorney General released a summary report after a yearslong investigation into clergy sexual abuse in four Catholic dioceses. It’s rather underwhelming, but you can read it here.
In Chicago, popular activist priest Fr. Michael Pfleger was reinstated to ministry after an extremely contentious investigation by the Archdiocese.
Louisiana surprised advocates by passing legislation removing the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse on new cases and instituting a “revival window” for expired cases.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas reversed an earlier decision and declared an allegation of decades-old abuse to now be “substantiated.”
A federal lawsuit filed in Milwaukee claims racial discrimination in the treatment of Black clergy abuse survivors by the Franciscans of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Also in Wisconsin, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee declined to provide requested documents for the state attorney general’s investigation into clergy and faith leader abuse. Our grassroots Catholic organization Awake Milwaukee responded by expressing disappointment - and solidarity with survviors.
Going Deeper
Gina Barthel, a survivor of abuse during adulthood by her spiritual director, reflected on personal cost and ongoing healing after going public with her story.
Awake Milwaukee shared this blog post by Jerri von den Bosch, outlining 10 Things Never to Say to Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse, which should be required reading for all Catholics.
Teresa Pitt Green, founder of SpiritFire Ministries, spoke about trauma, healing, and hope, as well as the need to address the wounds in the entire Church.
As part of their series on clergy abuse in historically marginalized communities, Fordham University’s Taking Responsibility Project explored the impact of clergy abuse on Black Catholics.
The UK’s Catholic Herald offered a thoughtful and unsettling analysis of ongoing problems in the Diocese of Knoxville that highlight “systemic, cultural weaknesses” limiting the effectiveness of the Church’s new metropolitan system for investigating misconduct by bishops.
This beautiful Litany of Lament by evangelist and author Meg Hunter-Kilmer invites Catholics to grieve the harm caused by the Church and pray for mercy, healing, and justice.
Worthwhile Videos
For a hopeful look at what is possible when compassionate, qualified individuals minister to survivors on behalf of the Church, check out Radical Accompaniment: A Conversation with Victim Assistance Coordinators from Catholic University of America’s The Catholic Project.
My friends from Chippewa GRACE hosted Fr. Matthew Malek and survivor Paula Kaempffer for a thoughtful conversation on Moving from Instituation Betrayal to Institutional Courage.
There were some technical issues with the recording for this event on What Clergy Need to Understand About Sexual Misconduct in the Church, but psychologist Heather Banis is spot on in her presentation. I think all Catholics would benefit from watching this. (Use password rqwTFU$8.)
Alright, that’s all for June! I hope you’ll take some time with this post to read, ponder, and pray.
The first post in my Survivors’ Voices series will be coming next week, so make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.With gratitude,
Sara