In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: July 2023 Edition
Once again, it’s time for my monthly collection of news and commentary about the twin crises of abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church.
The July edition is coming to you a day late, because I’ve spent much of the past month focused on Awake’s first weekend retreat for abuse survivors; I’m just now finding time to catch up on the news. (The retreat was amazing, by the way. If you’re interested, you can read all about it here: “I Will Never Forget This Weekend.” Transformative Experiences at Awake’s First Retreat for Abuse Survivors.)
As always, if you only have time to read a few pieces this month, I recommend you start with those in bold below. 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.
On the New Leader of an Important Vatican Office
Bishop named to Vatican office handling sex abuse complaints discounted some victims, US group says
Archbishop Fernández didn’t side with alleged sex abuser, archdiocese says
New Vatican doctrine czar says he’s ‘not qualified’ to handle abuse cases
U.S. News
2022 USCCB Annual Report on the Implementation of the Dallas Charter + Abuse Allegations Down, But Challenges Remain, Say US Bishops In Report
Louisiana: Former priest gets 25 years on sexual assault and rape charges
Louisiana: Behind the rare criminal conviction of a Catholic cleric in New Orleans
New York: After bankruptcy, Syracuse reaches $100 million settlement with abuse survivors
International News
Germany: Cardinals' tomb sign referencing abuse records stirs debate
Italy: Abuse report from global Catholic group Focolare leaves many questions unanswered
Italy: Jesuits make it official: Artist-priest accused of abuse is expelled from the order
India: Bishop calls priest arrested in India on abuse charges an ‘upright man’
India: Clergy abuse ‘swept under the carpet’ in Indian Church
Mexico: US group is accusing Mexican bishops of covering up for priests implicated in sex abuse
Peru: Parliamentary inquest revives accusations of abuse cover-up against lay group + Vatican’s top abuse investigators to probe scandal-plagued lay group
Portugal: One thing the pope won’t be able to ignore in Portugal is a legacy of clergy sex abuse
Senegal: The Spanish priest who sexually abused children in Senegal for 25 years
Going Deeper
Vatican's secretary of state: Clerical abuse not linked to homosexuality
Sinead O’Connor’s ‘SNL’ Protest Was ‘Monumental’ for Church Sex Abuse Survivors
Is the Catholic Church evading justice by declaring bankruptcy?
We researched 'just one Jesuit' credibly accused of sex abuse. Here's what we learned.
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I will be back with a post from our newly-expanded Survivors’ Voices panel soon. Thank you for listening.
~ Sara