For decades, Survivors of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church have bravely stepped forward—risking everything to tell the truth. Their testi
For decades, Survivors of child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church have bravely stepped forward—risking everything to tell the truth. Their testimonies ignited global outrage, investigations, reforms, and reckoning. But as headlines fade and legal battles shift, many survivors are once again left in silence, watching the world move on. This post serves as a vital reminder: the crisis is not over, and neither is our responsibility to listen, believe, and support. The pain did not end with a press release. And if we are committed to just
ice, we must continue to stand with Survivors—long after the news cycle has passed.
📰 Recent Headlines & Key Developments
1. Scandal involving a former Jesuit leader and ordination of an abuser
Court documents reveal that Pedro Arrupe, former global Jesuit leader and sainthood candidate, allowed Donald Barkley Dickerson—accused of molesting minors—to be ordained in 1980 and transferred across assignments without reporting. Dickerson later allegedly raped a 17‑year-old at Loyola University New Orleans, raising questions about institutional accountability at the highest levels. AP News+15The Guardian+15Jenner Law+15
2. Washington State court blocks confession-reporting law
A federal judge has blocked Washington’s SB 5375, which would have required priests to report child abuse confessed during the sacrament. The ruling emphasized that this law likely violated the First Amendment and upheld the inviolability of the confession seal—a key point of conflict between legal mandates and religious freedom. New York Post+1The Times of India+1
3. New leadership renews Church’s child protection focus
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Thibault Verny as the new head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Verny’s experience, especially with child protection audits in France, reinforces continuity and seriousness in the Vatican’s child safeguarding efforts. AP News
4. Landmark civil verdict in New Orleans
A jury awarded nearly $2.4 million to a survivor abused as a child at a Catholic summer camp in the 1960s. The decision is especially significant due to a recent Louisiana law allowing survivors to sue regardless of when the abuse occurred. The Guardian
5. Former priest admits decades‑old abuse in Scotland
In Scotland, former Catholic priest Thomas Millar confessed to grooming and repeatedly abusing a teenage boy between 1981–1984. The victim came forward only recently, leading to Millar’s inclusion on the sex offenders list and pending sentencing. The Times
6. Australian bishops push for national child safety reforms
Australia’s Catholic bishops have penned a public letter requesting a centralized national child protection framework, reforms in registration of
those working with children, and consistent safeguarding strategies—building on the Royal Commission’s past recommendations. Daily Telegraph+1AP News+1
📊 Public Sentiment & Broader Trends
A Pew Research survey (February 2025) shows that 62% of U.S. Catholics view sexual abuse and misconduct by church clergy as an ongoing problem, although that feeling has dipped slightly from 69% in previous years. Notably, 68% believe abuse occurs at comparable levels in other religious groups, signaling broader concerns about institutional accountability. Pew Research Center
Ongoing high-profile bankruptcies and mass settlements—for example, in Los Angeles and San Francisco—continue to unfold. L.A.’s archdiocese announced an $880 million settlement in October 2024, bringing cumulative payouts beyond $1.5 billion; San Francisco is amid Chapter 11 and has been ordered to release long-hidden internal records on accused priests. Wikipedia
💡 Why It Matters
Institutional accountability is evolving: High-profile lawsuits, verdicts, and legal reforms like those in Louisiana and Maryland (the Child Victims Act) are reshaping how survivors pursue justice—even decades later. CBS News+5Wikipedia+5Jenner Law+5
Transparency vs. religious liberty remains a tension point: The Washington case illustrates the complex legal balance between child protection mandates and protections like the sacramental seal.
Global pressure on the Vatican persists: New leadership at the Pontifical Commission signals continued top-level focus—but survivors and advocates are still calling for greater transparency and structural change. New York Post+2foxnews.com+2The Times of India+2AP News
Survivors of abuse within the Catholic Church—and in every institution—deserve more than public outrage. They deserve to be believed, protected, and supported for the long road of healing. Long after the cameras turn away and the headlines grow quiet, their stories still matter.
Their lives still matter. Let us not be a world that only listens when it’s trending. Let us be a people who keep showing up, keep asking hard questions, and keep honoring the sacred truth Survivors carry. Because healing takes time, and listening is one of the holiest things we can do.
