In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: August 2023 Edition

Here’s the latest news and commentary about the twin crises of abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church, including some powerful investigative reporting out of New Orleans and significant developments in several U.S. states.

As always, if you only have time to read a few pieces this month, I recommend you start with those in bold below. Don’t miss the powerful survivor reflection at the bottom of this list.

Note that I highlight pieces from a variety of sources and perspectives, and inclusion here does not mean that I agree with everything in a given article.

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News and Investigative Reporting from New Orleans

• New Orleans archbishop ignored board findings on clerics accused of abuse

• How the New Orleans archbishop hid ‘credibly accused’ abusers

• Archdiocese pushes back on newspaper’s allegations

• 300 New Orleans priests were reported for sexual abuse – only 25% are on archdiocese’s credibly accused list

• New Orleans archdiocese failed to monitor priests accused of sexual abuse

• 'Utterly ridiculous': Clergy abuse survivor blasts lawyers

U.S. News

• Alabama: Former priest Alex Crow ‘groomed’ multiple young girls, may face charges + Details emerge on Fr. Alex Crow; questions raised in Mobile

• California: San Francisco Archdiocese declares bankruptcy

• Maryland: Court rules that names in Baltimore abuse report should be revealed

• New York: Retired Albany bishop Hubbard, accused of covering up and committing abuse, has died + Scharfenberger funeral homily: Hubbard 'not uncontroversial' bishop 'at times' + Former Bishop Hubbard’s family condemns Scharfenberger eulogy at funeral

• New York: Paulist Fathers' VP resigns after acknowledging inappropriate sexual conduct with woman

• Ohio: Voice of the Faithful joins survivor groups in calling for AG investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse of minors

• Pennsylvania: New abuse settlement adds to monumental grand jury findings (includes quote from yours truly)

• South Carolina: Priest pleads guilty to federal child sex exploitation charges

• Texas: San Antonio Archdiocese removes two priests over allegations of recent child sex abuse

• Wisconsin: DOJ asks to see documents related to clergy abuse sealed in Archdiocese bankruptcy case

• Wyoming: Retired bishop’s death leaves accusers struggling + Statement from current Bishop of Cheyenne

International News

• England: Catholic bishop's installation models synodality with abuse victims + Text of reflection offered by survivor during installation Mass

• Peru: Vatican investigates sexual abuse allegations at Roman Catholic society

• Portugal: Pope Francis meets with abuse survivors, as country reels from latest revelations + Response from BishopAccountability.org

• Vatican: Seeking Visibility, Pope’s Commission on Sex Abuse Gets a New Home

From Awake

• Making the Eucharist Accessible to Survivors of Abuse

• 5 Things Every Priest Should Know About Sexual Abuse

• Survivor Story: Patricia Ruppert

• Virtual Event Invitation - Spiritual Trauma: Victim-Survivors on the Hidden Impact of Sexual Abuse

Going Deeper

• The complicated legacy of state investigations of the Catholic sex abuse crisis

• Delayed disclosure: A factsheet based on cutting-edge research on child sex abuse

• Video: Elderly priest admits past sexual abuse of teens

• Survivor Reflection: I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.

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I will be back with a post from our Survivors’ Voices panel soon. Thank you for listening.

~ Sara