Overview

“Mark Williams is a gift to the Church. This brave book is a moving testimony to Mark's unwavering faith and courageous advocacy for victims in and out of the pews worldwide.” ꟷ Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR, Archbishop of Newark

 

“Unflinching, honest, and beautifully told. A story every Catholic should read.” ꟷBrian Devlin, author, Cardinal Sin: Challenging Power Abuse in the Catholic Church

 

“An extraordinary testimony that confronts with candor the suffering caused by abuse. A powerful encouragement to hope against hope (Romans 4:18) and to believe in the presence of grace–even in darkness and despair." ꟷHans Zollner, SJ, director, Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care, Pontifical Gregorian University

Clergy abuse survivor Mark Joseph Williams shares his personal journey of spiraling into substance abuse and shame in the agonizing aftermath of trauma. Hitting rock bottom, he encountered healing in the place few survivors would look—the Catholic Church. There, despite and beyond clergy abuse and power plays of the hierarchy, he rediscovered new life within the sacraments and the mystery of the cross.

Now, with his unique perspective as a victim seeking redemption, he counsels both victims of clergy abuse as well as faith leaders invested in transforming a broken church.

Mark Joseph Williams is a forensic psychological clinician with an MS in social work from Columbia. A clerical abuse survivor, he co-founded Global Collaborative, a survivor led organization, and represents the Archdiocese of Newark as Special Advisor. He also serves on the North American Safeguarding Committee of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He and his wife, Karen, have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Jennifer Wortham, Dr.PH  is an author, artist and award-winning activist recognized for founding and leading a global collaborative to establish the November 18, United Nations World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. She earned a Doctorate in Public Health from the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. She leads research on moral injury, and the impact of religion, and spirituality on health at the Human Flourishing Program, at Harvard University, and serves as the Founder and CEO of CoreSensum, launched in 2023 to transform the delivery of mental health care.

Cover design: Michael Calvente

Cover art:  Hombre de Sufrimientos (Man of Sorrows), multimedia retablo by Juanito Jiménez (circa 2005)

Photo by: Brian Martínez Dawson             

Used with permission.  All rights reserved

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Click Here For The Table Of Contents

Click Here For the Prologue