The first response that a survivor of childhood sexual abuse receives when revealing what happened to him or her is crucial for opening the door toward healing. “I believe you.” “It is not your fault.” “I am sorry that happened to you.” Statistics tell us one out of every four girls,

The first response that a survivor of childhood sexual abuse receives when revealing what happened to him or her is crucial for opening the door toward healing. “I believe you.” “It is not your fault.” “I am sorry that happened to you.” The news of grand jury investigations and a rene

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed Pope Francis’ call for a World Day of Prayer for Victims of Sexual Abuse and highlighted the efforts in dioceses across the country guided by the Charter for the Pr

Send a message to your legislators about House Bill 1947. The following commentary by Wilmington attorney Stephen E. Jenkins appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on June 5. Pennsylvania House Bill 1947, which has now been sent to the Pennsylvania Senate, would largely eliminate the s

“I am deeply sorry. God weeps,” said Pope Francis last September after meeting with several sexual abuse survivors during his visit to Philadelphia. All of us in the Catholic community must do what we can to understand the pain, anger, and isolation experienced by a surviv

UPDATE: On Tuesday, April 12, 2016, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 1947, a proposal to remove the criminal statute of limitations (SoL) for childhood sexual abuse and raise the civil SoL from age 30 to 50 moving forward.  It also retroactively extends the

The Catholic community received the grand jury report about past sexual abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown with shock and anger. We pray that the Catholic Church’s painful past will contribute to a better understanding of sexual abuse in all sectors of society. We must always e

News reports of the clergy sexual abuse scandal unfolding in Europe and responses in the media continue to swirl around the Church. More attention has focused on who did what and when, or who made this or that comment, than on the victims of these heinous acts.

In a series of articles published in the New York Times and reprinted locally in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, allegations have been made questioning how the Church in Europe – and Pope Benedict XVI specifically – responded to accusations of clergy sexual misconduct with minors in the

The Catholic bishops’ expert on preventing clergy abuse of minors, Teresa Kettelkamp, offered ten tips for child safely to mark Child Abuse Prevention Month. During April, child protection staff in dioceses nationwide reexamine and publicize efforts for child protection. This has been