Awake Blog
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Jennifer-Marie Burchell
”I am finally at a point in my healing journey where I can claim my own story.”
Moral Injury: The Unexpected Wounds of Sexual Abuse in the Church
It’s little surprise to members of the Awake community that the twin crises of sexual abuse and cover-up in the Catholic Church have caused grave wounds, especially for victim-survivors of abuse. But recent research by Catholic moral theologian Marcus Mescher and his colleagues at Xavier University in Cincinnati sheds new light on some of the ways these crises have injured the Church.
The 10 Blog Posts You Read Most in 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, we share the 10 most-read stories on the Awake blog this year.
John Bellocchio
“I have found that healing grows when the Church sees survivors not as threats to its reputation, but as prophets for its renewal”
Considering the Role of Race and Power in Clergy Abuse
Christopher Spencer Gurley, a PhD student studying African American religious history at Stanford, offers his take on how attitudes about the priesthood, race, and clerical authority have contributed to abuse in the Church.
What is Institutional Betrayal? And How Does It Relate to Church Abuse?
Institutional betrayal occurs when leaders of an institution fail to protect members from harm or do not respond with support if someone reveals that they’ve been hurt.
Courageous Conversation: The Role of Seminaries in Creating a Safer, More Compassionate Church
Last week, Awake gathered voices deeply engaged in seminary life to explore how seminaries can respond to the crisis of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Denise Buchanan
“Silence destroys the body of Christ. Protecting survivors and demanding accountability does not attack faith; it is an act of fidelity to it.”
Nancy Pieffer
“I am so grateful to say that my life is more than my trauma, and in many ways I triumphed in spite of my pain.”
Courageous Conversation: Listening to Survivors: What Has Helped My Healing Journey
Awake opened its sixth season of Courageous Conversations with a moving conversation among survivors who shared personal reflections on their healing journey. The panelists shared how they’ve come to understand their journey towards wholeness—what supported them, what hindered them, how they experienced the Church along the way, and what they recommend for those seeking to walk alongside survivors.
5 Things for Survivors to Consider When Sharing Their Stories
People who have experienced abuse in the Catholic Church report that sharing the story of their trauma helps their healing. At the same time, it’s necessary to share these sacred stories well, to ensure that the telling is helpful and not a source of unintended harm, says theologian Rebecca Pawloski.
Pope Leo Responds to Letters from Survivors
It’s been a meaningful week for Awake: the mail brought a letter from Pope Leo XIV, written in response to the moving messages from survivors that Executive Director Sara Larson carried to the Vatican in June.
Abuse Survivor Brings His Story to the Stage, Finding Healing and Joy
Jay Sefton has turned his experience of clergy abuse and his attempts to navigate the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s victim’s compensation fund into a one-man play, “Unreconciled.” He will perform the play later this month at the SNAP National Conference.
Awake Delivers Heartfelt Survivor Letters to the Vatican This Week
This week, Awake Executive Director Sara Larson delivered a set of 37 letters—written by abuse survivors to Pope Leo—to the Vatican in Rome.
Awake Leaders Reflect on the “Good Fruit” of Centering Survivors—and Plan for the Year Ahead
Last weekend, a group of Awake leaders and committed volunteers continued the biannual tradition of gathering online and in person to connect and build community, and consider big picture questions for the year ahead.
We Concluded a Powerful Season of Courageous Conversations. Which Topics Meant the Most to You?
Earlier this month we reached the end of the fifth season of Courageous Conversations, our much-loved virtual speaker series. Here’s a review of the five conversations we hosted this year, along with a link to the recording of each event. Check out any that you may have missed.
Survivors Share Their Hopes for the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV
“I hope Pope Leo will truly listen to survivors, not through carefully managed encounters, but by sitting with them in their raw pain without any defensiveness, aides, or lawyers present.”
Mary O’Day
“Healing my image of God has been incredibly impactful in both healing my trauma and helping me learn to accept love.”
Courageous Conversation: Confronting Sexual Abuse in the Deaf Catholic Community
Last week Awake hosted an event that touched on the history of sexual abuse among Deaf Catholics and considered why Deaf people have faced an elevated risk of sexual abuse.
Responding to the Death of Pope Francis—While Remaining Focused on Survivors
Because Awake is a survivor-centered organization, we’re focusing first on how this development impacts the survivors in our community.