Awake Blog
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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 for reports of sexual abuse and cover-up by faith leaders…
The Sacred Work of Listening to Female Abuse Survivors
Some pockets of the Catholic community have overlooked the experience of female victim-survivors of sexual abuse, perhaps because media coverage has often focused on male victims. On Monday, October 25, Awake Milwaukee co-sponsored a panel discussion that centered the stories of women abused by clergy or others in the Catholic Church.
My Husband Was a Victim of Clergy Abuse. I’ve Had to Work Hard for My Own Healing.
On this blog in June 2020 I first shared the story of Wendy Liedtke, a widow who was grieving the sudden death of her husband, Ken, at age 72.
Wendy had stumbled upon Awake Milwaukee the previous year during a late-night internet search for information about sexual abuse in the Church.
Awake Community Prays the Rosary for the Healing of Victim-Survivors
Awake Milwaukee marked the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary last Thursday with a virtual rosary prayed for and with survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Victim-Survivors Find Support, Joy in Awake’s New Survivor Circles
In September, Awake Milwaukee launched an important new ministry, Awake Survivor Circles. These online gatherings provide peer support for people wounded by sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
Courageous Conversation: Examining the Ripple Effects of Clergy Abuse in the Church
Last week Awake Milwaukee launched the 2021-2022 season of its Courageous Conversations series by discussing the ripple effects of the twin crises of sexual abuse and leadership failures in the Catholic Church.
5 Ways the Catholic Church Can Build More “Institutional Courage”
This blog post, first published in September 2020, really resonated for some on Awake’s Leadership Team.
Whistleblowers and the Abuse Crisis: Two Women’s Stories
As the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church has unfolded, some people employed by the Church have made the choice to publicize previously secret information about sexual abuse and cover-up in their local dioceses.
Awake Prayer Service Lifts Up Questions About Abuse in the Church
The crisis of sexual abuse and leadership failures in the Catholic Church has led many faithful people to experience a mix of painful feelings such as anger, sorrow, horror, frustration, and embarrassment.
Dr. Kathleen McChesney: Transparency Around Clergy Abuse is “Absolutely Essential.”
Dr. Kathleen McChesney is a central figure in the Catholic Church’s efforts to address sexual abuse by clergy and religious leaders.
Awake Grieves the Harm Caused by Native American Residential Schools
In May and June of this year, Native communities in Canada found hundreds of unmarked graves near the sites of two residential schools.
Publisher GIA Contacts All U.S. Dioceses About Catholic Composer David Haas
GIA Publications, one of the largest publishers of Catholic hymnals and sacred music in the United States, emailed all Catholic dioceses in the country last week, explaining its decision to stop publishing music written by Catholic composer David Haas, and sharing news of his ongoing behavior.
What’s Happening with the Wisconsin Investigation of Abuse by Clergy and Religious Leaders?
Last week the office of Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that it has received more than 100 reports so far in its statewide investigation of clergy and faith leader abuse. The investigation began in April when the Wisconsin Department of Justice…
Two Small Words, One Growing Impact: Why Awake is Updating Our Mission Statement
It has now been almost two years since we officially launched Awake Milwaukee in August 2019 with a simple website and our Open Letter to Survivors (which you can still sign here!).
Update: Archdiocese of Milwaukee Will Not Issue Statement on Music by Catholic Composer David Haas
Readers of the Awake Blog know that we have closely followed the reports of sexual abuse by Catholic composer David Haas, known for songs such as “Blest Are They” and “You Are Mine.”
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. I was finishing my bachelor’s degree in Pennsylvania at Alvernia University, and had reached the point when I had to decide on a career path.
Archdiocese of Milwaukee Raises Doubts About Statewide Clergy Abuse Investigation, Awake Responds
Earlier this month, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee sent a 12-page letter to Wisconsin attorney general Josh Kaul, expressing objections to the Department of Justice investigation of sexual abuse by clergy and other faith leaders, launched in April…
During Retreat, Awake Reflects on Growth, Plans Ahead for Future
On Sunday, June 13, the leadership of Awake Milwaukee gathered for an in-person retreat at St. Robert of Newminster Parish in Shorewood, an event that allowed Awake members to pray together, connect, and plan the organization’s work for the next six months.