I have come to know many victim-survivors who have experienced abuse in adulthood. Many of these survivors are women in their 20s and 30s who had a deep faith that has been utterly Read more
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8 Tips for Talking with Your Kids About Sexual Abuse
Given the reality of sexual abuse in our community, including in the Catholic Church, parents play an important role in teaching their kids how to keep their bodies safe. As the mom of two sons, ages 13 and 9, I know from experience that these can be Read more
5 Lessons from the Struggle for Racial Justice
To be Catholic is both a gift and a summons. My involvement in Awake has made me ever more acutely aware of this. The issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church is the core of Awake’s mission. But as a Catholic, I cannot help but notice the interrelatedness of justice issues, especially during these difficult days Read more
Survivor Story: How I Believe The Church Can Help Survivors Heal
As a teenager in the late 1960s, Jan Ruidl was abused by the priest who led the youth group at her home parish in Springfield, Massachusetts. Years later, she reported the abuse to the Diocese of Springfield and ultimately met with Springfield Bishop Timothy McDonnell, whom Read more
This Is Not The Time To Give Up
April was long and hard on both my body and my soul. I am guessing that many of you feel the same way. However we have been impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic, I know all of us are carrying extra stress and anxiety Read more
Announcing the New Mission Statement of Awake Milwaukee
Today, we are excited to announce the newly developed mission statement for Awake Milwaukee. (Drum roll, please…) Read more
6 Simple Ways You Can Join Awake in Our Mission
The twin crises in our Church—the crisis of sexual abuse and the crisis of leadership failures in responding to that abuse—are large and complex problems. There are no simple solutions, no grand plan that will address the concerns and real pain of every person affected. It can often feel overwhelming Read more
Why I Remain Catholic Despite the Sex Abuse Crisis
When the news of the McCarrick scandal hit the headlines, the blow to my family and our faith was devastating. Normally, I am an unabashed enthusiast full of love for the Catholic Read more
Update: The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Responds to Awake’s Questions (Part 2)
As we explained in our previous blog post, Awake submitted a list of questions to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in December 2019 and received responses to a shorter list of priority questions in January 2020. Read more
5 Takeaways from the Restorative Justice and Reconciliation Conference in the Twin Cities
In January we attended a Restorative Justice and Reconciliation Conference sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis. The conference was the last requirement of a settlement agreement between the Ramsey County Attorney and the Archdiocese for serious civil and criminal charges in failing to meaningfully respond to numerous reports of sexual abuse of children. Read more
