In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: February 2025 Edition

Welcome to your February 2025 In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup.

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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U.S. News

• Arkansas: Arkansas Court of Appeals overturns extended statute of limitations law for child sexual abuse victims

• California: ‘The house is still burning': Young clergy abuse survivor says crisis isn't over

• Connecticut: Diocese of Norwich reaches $31 million settlement with sexual abuse survivors

• Louisiana: NFL emails reveal extent of Saints' damage control for clergy sex abuse crisis

• Massachusetts: Investigations into Catholic dioceses changed laws in other states — and Mass. victims want the same

• New Jersey: Catholic diocese used secret court hearing to block investigation of clergy sex abuse

• New Jersey: Tobin orders review of Seton Hall’s McCarrick investigation

• New Mexico: Undercount - Why the Catholic church won’t list many New Mexico priests who’ve been linked to sexual abuse

• Ohio: New Cincinnati archbishop faced past child abuse claim that authorities deemed 'unfounded'

• Washington: Washington considers bill that breaches seal of confession

• Washington, DC: Cardinal Gregory cleared by ‘Vos estis’ probe before retirement

International News

• Belgium: Court drops prosecution in long-running Catholic Church abuse case

• Croatia: Is Croatia’s Catholic Church facing a ‘Spotlight’ moment?

• Peru: Vatican envoy announces suppression of all branches of Peru group + Suppressed group distances itself from critics of pope, papal delegates

• Philippines: Historical summit exposes the hidden crisis of clergy abuse in the Philippines + Filipino cardinal urges Catholics to report clerical abuse to Church and civil authorities

• Vatican: Vatican condemns publication of ‘credibly accused’ clergy lists — again

From Awake

• Survivor Story: Vince Pérez

• Embracing Lament: Awake Prayer Service Brings Our Suffering to God

• How to Grow in the Aftermath of Trauma

• Upcoming Virtual Event: Silent Suffering - The Invisible Abuse of Women Religious in the Catholic Church

Reflection, Opinion, and Analysis

• Survivor Reflection: Reclaiming Strength - The Journey from Silence to Empowerment

• Podcast Interview: Esther Harber - Those Closest to the Heart of Jesus

• NJ Catholic diocese's moves to quash sex abuse investigations stir new pain

• Seton Hall - ‘By faith, not by sight’

• Pope Francis and zero tolerance of child sexual abuse

• The Case of Marko Rupnik: An Artist’s Perspective

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Thank you for reading and staying informed. It matters.

~ Sara