Psychologists and others who work with victim-survivors of sexual abuse say that sexual abuse is so pervasive that many people sitting in church on any given Sunday have experienced abuse—perpetrated by family members or friends, clergy or coaches, scout Read more
Tag: trauma
What Happens if I Make a Report to the Wisconsin Clergy Abuse Hotline?
Last week the office of Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul released details about the reports it has received so far through the Department of Justice (DOJ) hotline…… Read more “What Happens if I Make a Report to the Wisconsin Clergy Abuse Hotline?”
Enablers and Bystanders: Are They Key to Addressing the Sex Abuse Crisis?
This week we revisit a thought-provoking post we first published in fall 2020. It shares ideas from law professor Amos Guiora, who studies the pivotal role of…… Read more “Enablers and Bystanders: Are They Key to Addressing the Sex Abuse Crisis?”
The Complicated Question of Forgiveness After Sexual Abuse
Forgiveness is central to Christianity. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter to forgive, “not seven times, but 77 times.” And in the letter to the…… Read more “The Complicated Question of Forgiveness After Sexual Abuse”
Yes, the Pennsylvania Attorney General Investigation of Clergy Abuse was Hard. But It Helped My Mom and Fellow Abuse Survivors.
When I look back on 2016, I realize what a strange and intense year it was for me and my family. It was the year that I watched the start of the Pennsylvania grand jury investigation Read more
Courageous Conversation: Understanding Trauma to Build Trauma–Sensitive Parishes
Every parish has members who have experienced sexual abuse or other types of trauma, making it essential to create communities that feel welcoming and safe to victims and survivors, said Stephen Read more
3 Tools that Can Help Victim-Survivors Heal
In the aftermath of sexual abuse, many victim-survivors struggle with their mental health, facing problems including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and intimacy issues. As knowledge about trauma recovery has grown, mental health experts have developed Read more
Survivor Story: After My Experience with David Haas, I Can’t Sing His Music
Margaret Hillman was 12 years old when she joined the choir at her parish in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Within a few years, she began serving as a cantor, leading the congregation during Mass. And liturgical music became a family affair; Hillman’s mother soon joined the choir Read more
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
Why Catholics Need to Hear Survivor Stories (and 5 Ways to Listen Well)
Today on the blog we pause to revisit one of our earliest posts, from February of this year, which focuses on the sacred work of listening to…… Read more “Why Catholics Need to Hear Survivor Stories (and 5 Ways to Listen Well)”
Awake 