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Glimpses of Hope: Reflections on Journeying with Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2025

Mark J. Williams  and
Hans Zollner Open the ORCID record for Hans Zollner [Opens in a new window]
Mark J. Williams
Affiliation:
Special Advisor, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, Newark, NJ, USA
Hans Zollner*
Affiliation:
Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy
*
Corresponding author: Hans Zollner; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Drawing on Roman Catholic and ecumenical expertise, this article takes an honest look at the experiences and hopes of those abused. Many in the churches assume that victims seek financial compensation or legal redress. However, research indicates that many victims primarily seek truth and justice as a means of closure and that their struggles with church leadership arise when truth and justice are repeatedly withheld. This makes forgiveness near-impossible and often results in the victim being re-traumatized by the systemic re-abuse they experience. Ultimately, there is no substitute for full and genuine meeting with victims, which requires the church to lay aside its power and authority and engage with humility and proper deference to the victims abused at the hands of the church. Without such openness, the victims cannot move on, and neither can the churches.

Keywords

ForgivenessjusticepowerRoman catholicsexual abusetruthwitness
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Anglican Studies , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , November 2024 , pp. 352 - 360
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Journal of Anglican Studies Trust

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