In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup: September Edition
Welcome to the September edition of the In Spirit and Truth Reading Roundup! I’m a few days later than usual, but at least I’m posting before the calendar turns to October. :)
Here’s the honest truth: After spending hours catching up on abuse-related news earlier this week, followed by a heart-wrenching conversation with a survivor, I just felt completely overwhelmed by the awfulness. I had to put it all aside for a bit and focus on happier things. Some days are like that.
I’m feeling better today, so I’m diving back in. But it’s worth saying - Don’t be afraid to take a break when you need it. If we’re going to stay engaged for the long haul, we need to take of ourselves as well.
OK, enough with the soapboxing, here’s the news:
The Big Stories
Just two days ago, the priest chaplain of a Catholic high school in Indiana was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor. This case is drawing particular attention because David Huneck was ordained in 2018 and the alleged abuse took place in the last few years. The Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend forwarded the allegations they received to the police, Huneck immediately resigned from ministry, and police are currently investigating.
On September 3, Theodore McCarrick appeared in court and pled not guilty to three counts of indecent assault and battery. The next hearing is set for October 28. In the meantime, McCarrick faces a new civil lawsuit in New Jersey. Some analyists view McCarrick’s case as a “new phase in accountability,” while others view it as the exception that proves the rule.
Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was cleared of abuse allegations by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, after a Vos Estis investigation directed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. DiMarzio still faces two civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and announced his retirement yesterday.
New Hampshire Bishop Peter Libasci is also facing a church investigation after being accused of abusing an altar boy in the 1980s in a civil suit filed in New York state. I’m also paying close attention to events in the Diocese of Knoxville, where a Vos Estis investigation into Bishop Richard Stika may be coming to a close soon.
Other Notable News
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors hosted a safeguarding conference in Warsaw, Poland, drawing additional attention to the ongoing scandal in that country. Pope Francis’s video message urged church leaders to prioritize the care of victims over the reputation of the Church. I appreciated Dr. Ewa Kusz’s reflection on the needs of survivors and call for real change.
Pope Francis chose to reject the resignations of German Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki and Archbishop Stefan Hesse, both recently investigated for mishandling past sexual abuse allegations in their dioceses.
A task force assigned to review the ongoing abuse response of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois released its final report, including recommendations for improvement to a process that survivors have said “is sometimes worse than the abuse itself.” The complete report can be found here.
Three priests were recently removed from ministry by the Archdiocese of Chicago for sexual misconduct with adults. While few details are available at this time, the public acknowledgement of investigations for misconduct with adults is unusual.
Multiple alumni have now raised allegations of sexual miconduct by former Georgetown University provost Fr. J. Donald Freeze, and pressure is mounting on university leadership to give an honest accounting of Freeze’s history.
New revelations about the case of clergy abuse victim Nate Lindstrom were published in the Chicago Sun-Times. This includes claims by Praesidium that a statement by the Norbertine order “clearly misrepresents” the company’s role in handling the case.
A very messy case in the Diocese of Fresno continues to unfold, as the diocese declared that multiple allegations were found credible against popular former priest Craig Harrison. Harrison has fought a vehement public battle against the diocese and his accusers, including filing multiple defamation lawsuits. Many people (including one of Harrison’s adopted sons) have steadfastly defended Harrison, who has retained devoted followers even after filing for voluntary laicization in February. If you choose to accept the findings of the diocese, watching Harrison’s emotional performance at this press conference is chilling.
Going Deeper
Clergy abuse survivor Chris Graham’s story is both painful and inspiring. It’s worth your time to read this powerful piece (trigger warning, naturally) and especially to watch the embedded video. This is what real strength looks like.
The essay We owe it to clerical abuse survivors to read the whole story offers a powerful personal reflection from one Catholic who has been challenged by the issue of sexual abuse in the Church she loves.
I always cringe when people tell abuse survivors to “just go to the police,” as if that’s an easy solution with guaranteed results. To understand why this is not the case, check out this painful New York Times essay: It’s Not Just the Larry Nassar Case. We Are Failing Sexual Assault Victims Across the Country.
.The Boston Glone published an insightful retrospective on their 2002 Spotlight investigation and the long-term impact of this important reporting. An informative read as we approach the 20th anniversary.
Worthwhile Videos
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests hosted their annual conference virtually this year, and you can find the entire playlist of presentations here. I would particularly recommend Doris Reisinger’s thought-provoking keynote Blind Spots in the Fight Against Clerical Abuse for its focus on spiritual abuse, coerced abortion, and religious sisters as both perpetrators and victims of abuse. Mary Dispenza’s The Arts as a Path to Healing was unexpectedly beautiful, as she used her own art to share her story of abuse and healing, while Dr. James Jones’s Healing and Moving Forward as a Survivor was packed with really helpful information on trauma and recovery from a psychological perspective.
If you only have time to watch one video this month, I would highly recommend the conference presentation from Bishop Accountability’s Anne Barret-Doyle and Terry McKiernan, What’s New in the Movement, for a helpful overview of major developments in the last year. (I have to confess, I was pretty excited when I saw my own name and photo show up on one their slides!)
Tom Doyle’s 2019 lecture at Gonzaga University, What the Sexual Abuse Phenomenon has Done to the Catholic Church, offers a powerful perspective on the deep roots of abuse throughout the history of the Church.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.
~ Sara