In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: December 2024 Edition

Welcome to the December In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup. However you spent your Christmas, I hope that you had some beautiful moments of peace, hope, and joy. I just got back home from a lovely Christmas celebration with my family in North Carolina. My favorite part: watching my young adult children bond with their adorable little nieces. Talk about tugging on my heartstrings!

For those who are new here (welcome everyone!), this Reading Roundup is a collection of the latest news and commentary on abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church, with a particular focus on the United States. Please note that I highlight articles from a variety of sources and perspectives, and inclusion here does not mean that I agree with everything in a given article, only that I think it’s worth reading. If you only have time to read a few pieces this month, I recommend you start with those in bold below.

And if you’re here primarily to listen to the wisdom and perspective of survivors, stay tuned for my next Survivors’ Voices post soon.

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The Latest from New Orleans

• ‘They covered up child rape’: how the New Orleans archdiocese protected a priest who preyed on children

• Former New Orleans priest, 93, is sentenced to life in prison for raping boy decades ago

• Clergy abuse survivors say there’s still ‘long ways to go’ after sentencing of New Orleans priest

• Retired New Orleans priest sentenced to life in prison for rape dies in jail

U.S. News

• California: Catholic clergy abuse victims recall decades of abuse at hearing, call on Diocese of Oakland to ‘do the right thing’ + Oakland Diocese accused of transferring $106 million just before bankruptcy

• Kentucky: Catholic schoolteacher made child porn from school yearbook photos, Kentucky cops say

• Michigan: AG Nessel releases report of alleged abuse at Diocese of Lansing

• New Jersey: Priest knew of sex abuse allegations on Seton Hall campus. Now he’s university president.

• New York: Court approves Rockville Center diocese's $323M sexual abuse settlement

• Ohio: Survivors of priest abuse tell their stories in support of bill to criminalize grooming + Ohio lawmakers pass child sex abuse reforms prompted by Father Drew rape case + 'There's no escape': Memories of being raped by Catholic priest haunt Columbus man

• Ohio: 'They’re deceiving the public': He said Catholic masses for teens. No one told parents about his past.

• Wisconsin: These priests molested kids in Wisconsin and elsewhere. Why aren't they on the Archdiocese's list of abusers? (includes quote from me)

International News

• Argentina: Pope laicizes Argentine priest for multiple cases of child abuse

• Australia: Clergy abuse an 'existential threat' for Catholic Church, says Australian ambassador

• Guam: Archdiocese publishes list of 48 church associates accused of child sex abuse

• Hungary: Hungarian abuse scandal extends to cardinal’s diocese

• Peru: Bishop says even his efforts to denounce the abuse he experienced fell on deaf ears

• Peru: Pope meets journalists covering Peru scandals, offers full support

From Awake

• Could Historic Meeting of Abuse Survivors and Vatican Officials Be a Source of Hope?

• ‘Longing for healing’: Survivors of clergy abuse and non-offending priests come together (Wisconsin Public Radio story)

• Survivor Story: Amy Pearce

Opinion Pieces

• Finally, Some Encouraging News Regarding Sexual Abuse is on the Horizon

• In Sunday Litany of Lament, New Zealand bishops have expected innocents to carry the burden of their church leaders’ crimes

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As we enter into a new year tomorrow, I pray we all do our part to bring a little more truth, goodness, and beauty to 2025. God knows we need it.

Wishing you all a happy new year,
Sara