Prière De Ne Pas Abuser (Please Do Not Abuse)

Listening to the Voices of Survivors

Stained glass of Christ as the Good Samaritan

November 16, 2021
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST
Location: Online Zoom Webinar

In a newly released historic report on the rates of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in France, Jean-Marc Sauvé, the main investigator, stated that listening to survivors was key to this effort. This event highlighted a remarkable new book by survivor Rev. Patrick Goujon, S.J., a French Jesuit and theologian who only recently remembered his being abused as a child. The book centers on his poignant query: “In the rubble of my history, a nagging question came back: how could I have chosen to become a priest?”

The interview highlighted the process of his coming to terms with this fact, recovered memories, and the ongoing process of healing while still being a priest and theologian. He also discussed the various responses in France to his book and to the release of the Sauvé report. French social anthropologist Dr. Laëtitia Atlani-Duault, professor at the Université de Paris - IRD and Columbia University, president of the COVID-19 Ad Memoriam Institute, and member of the French Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE), discussed her work with the commission. Her work focused upon the survivor testimonies, which are at the center of the commission's extensive and controversial report. Rev. Gerard J. McGlone, S.J., a senior research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, also joined the discussion, which was moderated by Senior Fellow Paul Elie.

This event was co-sponsored by Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life; Office of Mission and Ministry; Georgetown Law Office of Mission and Ministry; and Collaborative on Global Children's Issues.

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