Graceful remedies: understanding grace in the Catholic Church's treatment of clerical child sexual abuse

This article examines advocacy of Catholic restorative justice for clerical child sexual abuse from the standpoint of feminist criminological critiques of the use of restorative mediation in sexual offence cases. In particular, it questions the Catholic invocation of grace and forgiveness of survivors of abuse in light of critical feminist concerns about the exploitation of emotions in restorative practices, especially in regard to sexual and other gender-based offences. In the context of sexual abuse, the Catholic appeal to grace has the potential for turning into an extraordinary demand made of victims not only to rehabilitate offenders and the church in the eyes of the community, but also to work towards the spiritual absolution of the abuser. This unique feature of Catholic-oriented restorative justice raises important concerns in terms of feminist critiques of the risk of abuses of power within mediation, and is also incompatible with orthodox restorative justice theory, which, although it advocates a ‘spiritual’ response to crime, is concerned foremost with the rights, needs and experiences of victims.

"Vox Populi, Vox Dei" - A Discussion of Dissent Within the Modern Catholic Church

The final question is: what happens in the meantime? Is it effective to dissent while conservatives hold power and clearty are not about to make any major changes? What good does it do to repeatedly bang one's head against the wall when progress is not being made? There is no one simple answer to this question, but rather several applicable ones. The first possible answer is that dissent currently does little good. The conservative hierarchy is still the dominant force within Catholicism. This hierarchy has made a habit, evidenced by the birth control debate, of pressing its conservative agenda despite popular opposition. Many people think, that if this hierarchy has not given in to the mass of opinion against it yet, dissent is futile and useless. Why argue with someone who does not listen to your argument?

Top left: Res. of Horace N. Johnson, Sec. 29, Dexter Tp. Mich. Top right: Res. of John Costell, Dexter, Mich. Bottom: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Dexter, Michigan

Dexter, Mich. residences and church. Publication information: Chicago, Ill. : Everts & Stewart, 1874.

A select bibliography of the history of the Catholic church in the United States.

Mode of access: Internet.

The Roman Catholic Church as a factor in the political and social history of Mexico.

Bibliography: p. 187-188.

The Catholic encyclopedia : an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic Church /

Vol. [16]: Index.

The Catholic encyclopedia; an international work of reference on the constitution, doctrine, discipline, and history of the Catholic church;

Supplements 1-2 called v. 17-18 (cataloged separately)

The light of the Cross in the Twentieth Century : the influence of the Church on modern civilization, her treatment of the great moral and social problems of our time, by master minds, the foundations, history and progress of her great educational institutions in the United States, her great religious orders of men and women for spreading the Gospel and teaching secular and religious knowledge, the history of the organization, development and aims of the great Catholic fraternal societies of the United States and their national federation with many other important subjects, the teachings of the Church made manifest to the modern mind /

Contents: v. 3. The glorious teachings of our holy religion

A memoir of the life of the Right Rev. William Meade, D.D., bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in the diocese of Virginia.

Mode of access: Internet.

The manual of the holy Catholic Church; embracing, first part: The beautiful teachings of the holy Catholic Church simplified and explained in the form of questions and answers...second part: Light from the altar; or, The true Catholic in the church of Christ...

v. 1. The beautiful teachings of the holy Catholic Church.--v. 2. Light from the altar; or, The true Catholic in the church of Christ.

The Church of England a portion of Christ's one holy Catholic Church, and a means of restoring visible unity : an eirenicon, in a letter to the author of "The Christian year" /

Mode of access: Internet.