In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: March 2024 Edition
For those of you who are new to this blog, the In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup is a monthly collection of the latest news and commentary on abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church. 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.
I also want to say this: If you’re reading this blog for the Survivors’ Voices posts and don’t have the stomach for following the latest news on the topic, it’s ok to just skip these. I know from personal experience how troubling it can be to see story after story about abuse and institutional betrayal in the Catholic Church, and this may not be something you need to take in regularly, especially if you are carrying your own experiences of trauma. If you do choose to read, please be gentle with yourself - and remember that real progress is being made, even if it doesn’t always make the news.
U.S. News
California: Reckoning - An NBC Bay Area investigation into a new wave of lawsuits accusing Catholic clergy of sexually abusing children + Archbishop Cordileone's “Statement on Unjust Media Reports”
Florida: Priest restored to ministry after abuse accusations retracted
Indiana: Priest Sues Diocese After ‘No Evidence’ Found in Sex Abuse Investigation
Louisiana: Ex-Louisiana deacon whose son was sexually abused by a priest is excommunicated from church + Why a Louisiana excommunication is a canonical ‘hard case’
Louisiana: Louisiana Supreme Court strikes down 'lookback window' for child sex abuse victims
Maryland: Baltimore Archbishop Lori commits ‘to hear directly from the survivors’ in court
Ohio: Pope Francis laicizes Toledo priest after life sentence for sexual abuse of minors
Washington, DC: Catholic University to honor prominent advocate for abuse survivors
International News
Australia: Charges against bishop raise questions about ‘Vos estis’ statement
Belgium: Belgian bishop laicized 14 years after admitting abuse
Canada: Pope Francis Names Retired Judge to Investigate Sex-Abuse Charges Against Canadian Cardinal
France: Nearly 500 victims of church sex abuse in France have received financial compensation
Italy: Abuse case highlights how scandal slowly beginning to come to light in pope’s backyard
Mexico: From Paraguay to Mexico, a new route for the risk of sexual abuse
Portugal: Portuguese priest laicized 30 years after murder and abuse convictions
Switzerland: Over one hundred new alleged victims of Catholic Church abuse
Vatican News
Papal commission to submit first safeguarding report, launches study group
Vatican-commissioned abuse report will show work that lies ahead: Pope
Pope swaps leaders at abuse commission, months after reports on priest's financial dealings
Rupnik still listed as Vatican consultant as DDF trial continues + Abuse survivors speak out as Vatican is silent on use of Rupnik’s art + Brazil basilica will keep murals created by priest accused of sex abuse
From Awake
What is Institutional Betrayal? And How Does It Relate to Church Abuse?
Survivor Advocates for New California Law Criminalizing Sexual Abuse of Adults
Going Deeper
Victims of Catholic nuns rely on each other after being overlooked in the clergy sex abuse crisis + The Dark Role of Nuns in Child Sexual Abuse
Clergy sex abuse is the fault of the institution, not the religion.
Vatican's new whistleblower procedure is a good start, but needs adjustment
Faith in action for the abused (On the limitations of public prayer)
If you find these monthly reading roundups helpful, please consider forwarding this post or sharing on your social media. Let’s stay informed and engaged. It matters.
I’ll be bringing you the next Survivors’ Voices post soon.
~ Sara