Recorded resources

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There are so many resources out there that can give us information and offer different perspectives.

The Albany diocese offers Hope and Healing masses led by their Bishop. They are beautiful and you may want to watch them, Videos of Previous Hope and Healing Masses(Diocese of Albany) 

Here are recorded webinars that have shared many ideas and perspectives about Clergy Sexual Abuse and healing from the trauma.

When Faith Hurts (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

On June 27, 2022, Victor Vieth, Chief Program Officer for Education and Research of the Zero Abuse Project, discussed the current research regarding maltreatment and the religious impact it poses to victims. Watch the recording.

In Shadowed Easters: Holding Our Stories Lovingly (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

On May 23, 2022, survivors joined together in mutual support and love for conversations of kindness. Ronald Patrick Raab, C.S.C. led this presentation for victim/survivors and those who care for them. Watch the recording.

Sexual Violence and Grooming: Why was it NOT my fault? (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held April 26, 2021, Emily Huemann, Program Supervisor of SOS (Sexual Offense Services) of Ramsey County, addresses grooming and other related issues in her presentation. Watch the recording.

Why couldn’t I just walk away… and ‘get over it’? (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

This presentation focuses on one survivor’s own abilities and lack of abilities to “just get over it.” It also reports on the recent data on the neuroscience of trauma–the effects of trauma on the brain and our memories, while paying special attention and care to the ways that the grooming process in the trauma, coupled with the situational interactive dynamics of the “traumatic event” within families and communities play a significant role in how difficult it may be to “just get over it.” Watch the recording.

Reporting Abuse: Understanding the Process and Empowering Victims (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Too often victims do not know where to begin the process of disclosure. In this July 2024 presentation, Paul Iovino, Director of the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, will focus on the process the Church and civil authorities follow when victims disclose sexual abuse. The Church aims to be victim centered but still does not always understand the devastating effects of sexual abuse. It is acknowledged the complainant has the power to decide how they want the investigation to proceed. Different options will be examined, and various scenarios will be shared so victims can make an informed decision. Watch the recording.

The Healing Journey: The Mental Health of Survivors (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Any form of clergy sexual abuse will profoundly impact the survivor and disrupt his or her functioning in some way. In this June 24, 2024, presentation, using data from his survey of adult clergy sexual abuse survivors, Dr. David Pooler outlines the frequency and types of psychological and spiritual injuries that occur and offers an overview of the healing process. He also outlines how resilience and growth after abuse are normative. Dr. Pooler explains why prioritizing mental health is important for survivors and their allies by integrating insights from his clinical practice and research. Watch the recording.

Treatments for Trauma (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held February 22, 2021, Mitch Mueller, MA, discussed some of the techniques and treatments available to help you take control of your life and stop allowing your trauma to boss you around. Special focus was given to mindfulness techniques that you can use in your daily life. Watch the recording.

Therapy…How Do I Choose Which One is Right for Me? (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

This informational session and Q & A with licensed psychotherapist Erin Kelly was held Monday, May 22, 2023. Watch the recording.

A Deeper Understanding of Forgiveness (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Forgiveness is something that brings up many different emotions for those who have been harmed through clergy or non-clergy sexual abuse. In this May 27, 2024 presentation, we attempt to define forgiveness and discuss the act of forgiving as done by an injured party to an offender. The presentation is led by Stephen J. Pope, a professor in the Department of Theology at Boston College. Watch the recording.

Sexuality and the Sacred Self: Towards Healthy Understanding After Abuse. (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

This two-evening presentation for victim/survivors and those who care for them was held October 24-25, 2022. The first evening was a webinar presentation with the following evening being just for group discussion and processing. Find more information in the flyer and watch the recordings for the first evening and second evening.

A follow-up conversation took place December 12, 2022. The focus of this session was guided by participants’ questions and feedback that came from the previous two
evenings. Watch the recording.

What Is Spiritual Abuse? (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

In this August 28, 2023 webinar, Cathy Melesky Dante, MDIV, MSW shared a presentation that offered an understanding of what spiritual abuse is and how to recognize it. Watch the recording.

Spiritual Abuse and Moral Injury: A Primer for Survivors (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Spiritual abuse is a deep betrayal of trust that violates the sacred dignity of the abused. Such a betrayal can create “moral injury,” a loss of the experience of goodness – our own, the worlds, and even God’s. In this September 25, 2023 presentation, Lisa Cataldo, MDiv, PhD, explored the concept of moral injury and how we can move toward healing. Watch the recording.

No Healing without Understanding: Approaching the Wounds of Clergy Abuse through the Lens of Moral Injury (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Moral injury is an emerging concept that helps us understand the moral harm caused by profound betrayal. Moral injury is most acute in survivors, whose sacred trust in church leaders has been shattered, but it can be detected among many former and current church members. This conversation will share highlights from a two-year research study published last month, available here. Watch the recording.

Panel: Lifting Up the Voices of Female Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse (Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs)

This conversation focused upon female clerical abuse survivors’ perspectives. How can such a perspective help to heal the wounds of abuse and institutional betrayal in the Church, faith communities, and other institutions? Paula Kaempffer, Coordinator of Restorative Practices and Survivor Support, is among the panelists for this event. Watch the recording.

The Body Remembers: ACE and the Life-Long Impact on Our Health (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

During this Zoom presentation, Emily Huemann discussed how childhood trauma affects not only mental well-being but physical health as well. The study by Kaiser Permanente and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention regarding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) was reviewed as well as information fostering resiliency. Watch the video.

Reclaiming Power and Making Safe Spaces – Dr. David Pooler (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held June 28, 2021, Dr. David Pooler offered a presentation defining power and examining how it can be used for healing, inclusion, and safety in faith communities. By also documenting how power has been used to injure and exploit, participants will be able to examine the contrast and learn ways to create healing and safety for themselves and others. Watch the video.

Ripple Effects: A Survivor and Her Daughter – Donna and Jerri Von Den Bosch (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held August 23, 2021, clerical sexual abuse survivors, Donna Von Den Bosch, and her daughter Jerri Von Den Bosch, discuss their experiences and share stories on the impact trauma has had on themselves and their family, and their journey as they heal together. Watch the video.

Advocacy and Resistance: Be the Change you Wish to See (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

In this July 24, 2023 webinar, David Pooler, professor of social work at Baylor University, offered a presentation that invited participants to explore the courage present in themselves and helped identify ways to use their experience to help make change. Watch the recording.

There are many who work with Survivors, and here are some videos sharing what they’ve learned and what might help us heal, individually and as a community.

The Presence, Experience and Wisdom of Trauma: How to Create a Trauma Informed Church (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

On September 26, 2022, presenter Dr. Rodriguez, MD, MA, OCDS, led a discussion on how we as the Church can help create a safe place for victim/survivors to find hope and healing in our churches. Watch the recording.

What Victim/Survivors Have Taught Me about What Clergy Should Understand about Sexual Misconduct in the Church (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held May 24, 2021, Dr. Heather Banis shared what she has learned from victim/survivors on the impact of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct, and how she applies that knowledge in her work with clergy and seminarians. Watch the recording.

Walking with the Church’s Victims for Forty Years: Lessons Learned (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this April 24, 2023 Zoom event, Tom Doyle presented on his accompaniment of victims/survivors and their loved ones over the past 40 years. Watch the recording.

Boundaries: Communicating and Advocating for Safety (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom workshop led by Dr. David Pooler on October 25, 2021, survivors, allies, and supporters examined the process by which healthy boundaries are delineated and maintained in the recovery process. Watch the recording.

How did the Catholic Church get to the point of such crisis. 

The Roman Catholic Priesthood:  “How Did We Get to Where We Are Today?” (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

This November 28, 2022 presentation reviewed how the priesthood developed in the Middle Ages along the lines of sacramental power, Eucharistic theology, and the medieval philosophical and social worldview. It also explored the reaction to the subsequent Protestant Reformation, what followed from Vatican II’s documents on the church and priesthood, and the merits and limits to Pope Francis’ continuous denunciation of clericalism and openings to the laity. Watch the recording.

Bystanders, Enablers, and Institutional Complicity (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Dr. Amos Guiora leads this examination of the role of institutions who have allowed victim/survivors to be further abused. Viewing this through the lens of enabling, we will explore scenarios where institutional practices have resulted in additional harm to victim/survivors by the way they have been treated during and after their actual reporting of the abuse. Watch the recording.

Clergy Abuse Beyond the Catholic Church: Parallels, Contrasts, and Lessons from Other Christian Contexts (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

Clergy sexual abuse is by no means limited to the Catholic church. How does clergy abuse look similar or different in Catholic versus non-Catholic contexts? Are there lessons to be learned from looking at abuse crises across Catholic-Protestant lines or expanding more broadly to clergy abuse in non-Christian religions? This presentation offers information gleaned so far from ongoing research and scores of interviews with abuse survivors, advocates, lawyers, journalists, and both Catholic and evangelical church leaders. Our presenter R. Marie Griffith will discuss what her research has uncovered so far and what she hopes the results will accomplish. Watch the video.

Reasons Why Sex Offenders Choose to Abuse (Archdiocese of St. Paul, MN)

At this Zoom event, held November 30, 2020, Mitch Mueller, MA, discussed some of the reasons abusers make this choice and how understanding this can lead to healing and prevention for further generations. Watch the recording.