I am always seeking spaces where people of faith are willing to face the horrors of the past and recognize the need for ongoing transformation and healing. Sadly, these spaces seem few and far between, but Read more
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6 Ways Clergy and Church Leaders Can Build Trauma-Sensitive Parishes
Some trauma experts now suggest that every parish needs clergy and church staff who are trained to recognize trauma in the people they serve, to acknowledge their wounds, and to Read more
Awake Announces New Executive Director
This month, Awake Milwaukee’s board of directors appointed Sara Larson executive director of the organization. “In my mind this simply confirms the reality we already know,” says…… Read more “Awake Announces New Executive Director”
Should We Sing David Haas’s Songs After He’s Been Accused of Sexual Abuse?
If you’ve attended a Catholic liturgy sometime in the last three decades, chances are that you’ve heard or sung a composition by David Haas. His songs include “We Are Called,” “Blest Are They,” “You Are Mine,” “Holy Is Your Name,” and “We Have Been Told,” to name just Read more
Spiritual Wounds: Grappling with the Trauma of Sexual Abuse in the Church
Cathy Melesky Dante is a doctoral student at Marquette University studying the relationship between theology and psychology, with an interest in people who have experienced sexual abuse by religious authorities (SARA). The trauma experienced by SARA victims is especially painful, complex, and difficult to heal Read more
Awake’s Commitment to Understanding the Full Reality of Abuse in Adulthood
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
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
