In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: March Edition
Happy spring everyone! (As I write this email, I am looking out my window at a field of freshly-fallen snow; that’s Wisconsin spring for you!)
Here’s the latest In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup, with news, analysis, and reflections related to the twin crises of sexual abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church.
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The Big Stories
Argentinian Bishop Gustavo Zanchetta was found guilty of sexual abuse of two former seminarians and sentenced to four years in prison by an Argentinian court. Zanchetta’s case is especially notable because of his personal friendship with Pope Francis, who initially believed Zanchetta was being set up and even created a job for Zanchetta at the Vatican when he resigned from his diocese. One of these former seminarians described the abuse in this disturbing interview: “We were practically nothing to him.” (I found the analysis from The Pillar on pastoral myopia and Pope Francis’s “Zanchetta problem” particularly insightful.)
Former Franciscan friar David Morrier has been sentenced for sex crimes he committed against a young adult woman while he worked at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. However, questions still remain about how this allegation and others have been handled by administrators at the university. The victim impact statement read at the trial is simply horrifying, even for someone like me who has heard many, many stories of abuse. I would not recommend this to anyone who is carrying their own experiences of trauma, but if you want to understand how spiritual and sexual abuse can be so strongly intertwined, it’s a valuable read.
Pope Francis released his long-awaited reform and restructuring of the Roman curia, including bringing the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors under the auspices of the powerful Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Some experts argue that this will allow the PCPM greater influence to bring about needed changes, while others say it will reduce the commission’s ability to work independently.
Important International News
Awareness of clergy sexual abuse and calls for accountability and healing continue to expand around the globe: in Latin America, where a flood revelations in recent years have motivated activists; in Spain, where parliament approved an independent commission to investigate; in Japan, where bishops created a day of prayer and penance for victims and survivors of sexual abuse; in Guam, where the archbishop has called Catholics to pull together all available resources for financial settlements with survivors.
Spanish religious sister Ianire Angulo Ordorika is drawing much-needed attention to abuse of power in religious life, while German former sister Doris Reisinger recently published a paper about reproductive abuse (including forced abortions) in the context of clergy sexual abuse and gave a powerful talk in which she said she has “lost all faith in the Catholic Church.”
Notable Developments in the United States
Testimony from former Albany Bishop Howard Hubbard (made in connection with claims made under the Child Victims Act) was recently made public, including his descriptions of systematic concealment of allegations of child sexual abuse.
Bishop John Brungardt of Dodge City, Kansas has been cleared after a 14 month investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse; Brungardt had taken the unusual step of voluntarily stepping back from leadership during this investigation. In contrast, Auxiliary Bishop of Buffalo Edward Grosz, who is under investigation for sexual assault, concelebrated at the funeral for another former bishop, prompting strong objections from survivors and advocates.
A Catholic soup kitchen operator in Massachusetts was removed from his position after complaints that he was targeting vulnerable women for sexual exploitation. Apparently, concerns had been raised to the diocese multiple times in the past, but because reports were not made by the victims themselves, no action was taken.
Allegations continue to emerge against Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee, including bullying behavior toward a woman who reported misconduct by her parish priest.
The new leader of the diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, has publicly banned the disgraced former bishop, Michael Hoeppner, from ministering in the diocese.
SNAP is drawing attention to a case of a priest visiting from Nigeria who was accused of abuse in North Dakota but was simply sent back to continue ministering in his home country. (On a personal note, I know several abuse survivors who have experienced similar situations, with perpetrators who were returned to their home country without any consequences for their offense.)
Recently-retired auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn Raymond Chappetto is the subject of a Vos Estis investigation for allegations that he failed to properly handle concerns about a priest who had been accused of misconduct. The report to the national bishop reporting system was made by Jasmine Salazar, who also resigned her position as director of the diocese’s Office of Protection of Children and Young People in protest.
Going Deeper
This is a hopeful reflection from Pamela Walsh, a Canadian victim of childhood clergy sexual abuse: “When we got a new bishop, he didn’t know about our archdiocese’s history of abuse. Then he listened to me and other victims.”
“The Whistleblower” profiles Father Boniface Ramsey, who tried to raise alarms about Theodore McCarrick for years before anyone would listen.
“Sexual abuse ruined my life. Then I worked with sex offenders” offers a thought-provoking account from one victim of childhood sexual assault who chose to factilitate a restorative justice group for sex offenders in prison.
Warning: “An Open Letter to My Bishop and to All U.S. Bishops” is a hard read, and I would not recommend it for victim-survivors, who might find the contents quite painful. But for those working for change within the Church, this piece offers insight into the concerns some Catholics have about the way abuse allegations are currently handled - and, more importantly, into the mentality that is still present among some clergy.
Forgiveness is the infamous “f-word” among many abuse survivors. I don’t know what I think about everything in this interview with scholar Daniel Philpott, but it raises interesting questions for consideration.
Survivor Mark Joseph Williams offers an optimistic take on the potential of the global Synod on Synodality: “I am an abuse survivor. I believe the synod will teach the church how to listen.”
If you find these posts helpful, please consider sharing with others who might be interested! I put a lot of time into these Reading Roundups, so I’d love to get them in the hands of more folks.
Thanks,
Sara