In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: July Edition

Happy Friday everyone! I’m publishing this post before heading out for a road trip vacation (including moving my son to Georgia for college!), so there will be no post from me next week. I’m going to try hard to stay off my computer (and away from discouraging news) for at least a few days and hopefully return to my work refreshed and renewed.

Reminder: This is a collection of news, analysis, and reflections about the twin crises of sexual abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church, particularly in the United States. I only share pieces that I find thoughtful and worth reading, but that doesn’t mean I agree with every word contained in these articles.

---

Top Reads

• A Congo teen alleged rape by a priest. She had to flee. He can still say Mass.

• The spotlight shifts in the clergy sex abuse scandal

• Native American survivors of alleged boarding school sex abuse want justice

• When abuse victims are adults, they’re often treated as ‘sinners,’ threats to churches

• The Abuse Scandal and Synodality

US News

• USCCB issues annual audit on compliance with charter by dioceses, eparchies

• Former Yakima bishop reprimanded by pope for ‘mistakes’

• Alleged sex offender resigns in Worcester, but critic says it’s not enough

• Albany Diocese details clergy abuse compensation proposal

• Support groups led by archdiocese help victim survivors

• US Church Insiders Who Have Blown the Whistle on Alleged Child Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up

• Schonstatt movement founder accused of abuse in U.S.

• The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee

• Lawsuit alleges serial assault by CFR Franciscan

International News

• Pope in Canada apologizes for ‘evil’ of sex abuse

• Pope Francis calls steps against clerical abuse irreversible, despite resistance

• Vatican efforts to clean house in Chile stopped too soon, advocates say

• Argentine Catholics protest Zanchetta house arrest at retired priest home

• The Vatican vs the US bishops on 'credible' abuse reform

From Awake Milwaukee

• What We Often Get Wrong About Sexual Abuse and Sexual Offenders

• 6 Things Never to Say About Survivors of Clergy Abuse

• Survivor Story: Bill Kessenich

• Open Letter to Survivors (if you haven’t signed this yet, please do!)

Going Deeper

• The Scandal Rocking Japan's Catholic Church (excellent video)

• Touching Jesus' Garment: My Story

• How the Marists cleaned the reputations of dead paedophiles in Australia (scroll down for a powerful video from one survivor)

• I’m a Catholic priest. But please don’t call me Father.

• What 'Vos estis' could learn from USCCB 'Charter' audits

---

Thank you for reading! Have a good weekend.

Peace,
Sara

---