Catholic Whistleblowers

Catholic Whistle Blowers
December 10, 2013

http://www.catholicwhistleblowers.org/

We are a network of current and former priests, women religious, brothers, deacons, and laypersons who actively support survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Please write to us. Many of us have reported instances of sexual abuse to civil or church authorities, and we all struggle to expose the cover-up of abuse by church leadership. We are aware of how difficult it is to speak out on this issue, and we support each other in that effort.

1) To other current or former church insiders who have sought to stop abusers, prevent abuse, or support survivors, we offer a network of peers who understand. To those who have been marginalized or have suffered serious consequences because of their brave acts, we provide moral and canonical support.

2) We also provide support for all people in the Catholic Church who wish to speak out about abuse, but are daunted by the repercussions. By advocating for whistleblowers, we aim to create a culture in which honest action is possible.

Catholic Whistleblowers emerged from years of friendships and months of planning and conversation. Reporter Laurie Goodstein of the New York Times was present at some of those discussions. Her "Church Whistle-Blowers Join Forces on Abuse," published on May 20, 2013, gives a sense of our process and goals.

David Cruz of NJ Today filed an informative story and video, "Church Sex-Abuse Victims Call on Dolan to Advocate for Myers' Ouster," providing excerpts of our first press conference on May 22, 2013.