Washington D.C., May 3, 2019 / 14:00 pm
The Catholic University of America hosted a recent special exhibit to share the stories of survivors of clerical sexual abuse and how they have coped with the trauma of their experiences. Nine people are profiled by undergraduate students.
The exhibit was on display from late April until May 1.
The Hope and Healing Story Gallery was supported by The Catholic Project, an initiative of the Catholic University of America focused on renewal and healing within the Church; Spirit Fire, a Christian restorative justice organization; and the Catholic University of America's PEERS students group, which serves to teach students about substance abuse, mental health awareness, sexual assault and violence education and prevention.
"The idea for this exhibit came about in the midst of the conversations about what renewal in the Church looks like," reads the story gallery's introduction. "We realized that we couldn't continue to talk about healing and renewal without hearing from those who experienced sexual abuse. We needed to hear their stories."