Liturgy in the Shadows of Trauma: Reckoning with the Roman Catholic Sex Abuse Crisis

The liturgy is almost always described and prescribed as a source of healing for the trauma of clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse (CPSA). The diverse forms of trauma inflicted by the Roman Catholic sex abuse crisis, however, threaten the ability of liturgical worship to function as a source of grace for the People of God. By focusing on PTSD, moral injury, and moral distress, this book frames the issue in a way that illuminates the church's ongoing role in preventing the healing of survivors and limiting the potential for grace in the sacraments. Liturgy in the Shadow of Trauma lays the ground for widespread healing in our liturgical life together.