QUICK INTRO
Top 10 resources to introduce clergy and other ministers to trauma-informed pastoral care.
Perfect for unpredictable schedules.
Top Ten Resources
Take a few hours to become familiar with primary issues involved when promoting healing within the Church in the wake of abuse.
Just a few ways to approach the process of integrating faith into recovery from sexual abuse--without re-wounding wounded people.
A reflection on the victim's struggle--and need for grace and faith--in grappling with wounds of abuse. (Adapted after published Healing, Learning and Growing/Archdiocese of Chicago newsletter Nov 2011).
Saints and Healing from Abuse: When Help Doesn't Help
A red flag notice in response to publications that promote patron saints for victims of abuse (THV, May 10, 2018, revised 2025)
Spirit Fire Checklist of Do's and Don'ts in Pastoral Care
Common mistakes versus best practices in pastoral care in the wake of abuse, trauma, and violence--all in a simple, memorable, free chart.
Spirit Fire advocates for family members of abuse survivors and others who are often wounded by one degree of separation. We offer programs tailored to their need to support others and care for their own healing.
The Church bears the wounds of all survivors of abuse within the Church–not only in moral terms, of course, but in a way that, also, deserves awareness, attention and care. This is yet another way that faith stories, shared among us, become testimonies as a community to the Lord’s favor and grace–and how the Good News is needed by all. (First published in Orthodoxy in Dialogue, Jan 17, 2018)
When Someone You Love is Sexually Abused
For every survivor of abuse or trauma, there is a network of people who feel the impact by one or more degree of separation. What is some of the thinking in current literature and practice that can begin to offer insights into the hardly noticed burden of those in relation to survivors? (First published in Orthodoxy in Dialogue, March 15, 2018)
Spirit Fire offers many programs and resources for priests, bishops, and other clergy to create safe and healing spaces for victims of all kinds of abuse, trauma, and violence--which are a sign of our times.
Clergy Abuse: Priests Are the Antidote
The unique role played by priests in the healing process of survivors of clergy and other sexual abuse (OSV News, May 17, 2024)
What does healing within the Church look like, and what is the unique role of clergy in a post-scandal recovery?
A look at sexual abusers challenges us to understand abuse in order to protect against it and, also, appreciate what, by contrast, priests are in the life of the Church and in our own lives. (Orthodoxy in Dialogue, June 18, 2018)
Spirit Fire offers many programs for parishes and other lay groups to become part of the solution protecting children and providing healthy support for survivors of abuse, trauma, and violence.
Clergy Abuse: You Are the Antidote
The important role lay people play for everyone who has been wounded by clergy abuse—victims, their families, parishes, clergy, and leaders (OSV News, May 16, 2024)
The hope and sacred opportunity for all Catholics to confront biases and restore a holy sanctuary following clergy abuse scandals (OSV News, May 15, 2024)
Once your quick study is done, you can start exploring all the free resources on this website, or reach out to talk to Teresa what might be most helpful for your particular challenges. Here are a few additional steps you might also take.
Allowing for Hollywood simplicity, this film portrays the investigation that led to the historic Spotlight series published in the Boston Globe.
Listen to the full award-winning podcast created by the Catholic Project of The Catholic University of America.
The Spirit Fire Do's and Don'ts Checklist for Ofering Pastoral Care to Survivors of Abuse
Print out the PDF and keep it handy. It's free. Consider printing it as a poster for your office wall as a reminder.