In Memoriam
Luis A. Torres, Jr.
Co-Founder, Spirit Fire
Luis A. Torres, Jr., was a co-founder of Spirit Fire, a survivor of clergy abuse, and an inspiring leader who was devoted to promoting healing within the Church even when dialogue was its most contentious. He brought integrity to all he did and peace to many broken hearts. Luis passed away on March 30, 2023, after an arduous illness brought on by his service at Ground Zero following 9/11. He is survived by a wife and three beautiful daughters.
Son of immigrants from Puerto Rico, Luis A. Torres, Jr., Esq. grew up in Brooklyn, was the first in his family to achieve a college degree, became a devoted husband and father who settled into life on Staten Island. An attorney, he became an upstanding leader in his community. Despite his own suffering from the effects of abuse by clergy in his childhood, Luis had a sunny disposition and quick wit uplifted everyone he met.
September 11, 2001
Luis’s successful career as an attorney and facilitator of mediated dialogue found him serving in not one but two New York City mayor’s administrations. That is why, on September 11, 2001, he found himself with Mayor Giuliani at Ground Zero. Daily he was present, having boarded the Staten Island ferry not knowing, he recounted later, if he would return to his family each night. In this role, Luis was exposed to carcinogens which led to a rare cancer and an untimely demise.
Abuse Survivor & Catholic Leader
Luis also courageously served in a unique leadership role in the Roman Catholic Church. As a survivor of clerical abuse, Luis served faithfully for over two decades on the Independent Review Board of the Diocese of Brooklyn and was a founding participant in the renowned Brooklyn Mass for Hope and Healing.
Luis went beyond this leadership role, however. He tirelessly engaged with survivors, families, clergy and lay faithful, encouraging mutual healing. Here he met Teresa Pitt Green, and together they founded Spirit Fire as a Christian Restorative Justice Initiative to serve survivors and their loved ones -- and the whole Church.
Luis was a speaker and facilitator in many events to promote healing and recovery, including as one of the organizers of an unprecedented day-of-encounter between bishops and survivors hosted by Spirit Fire and the Catholic University of America in 2019, after which other programs of encounter followed suit.
A Momentous Speach
Luis embodied an unflinching belief in the possibility for hope even in the darkest life experiences. When he spoke, he was trusted and heard.
As a result, he was invited to be one of only two survivors to address the full United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2018. A survivor had not addressed the entire assembly of bishops since 2001 when the Spotlight series had broken the story of systemic abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. In 2018, the Theodore McCarrick scandal had rattled the Catholic Church yet again. People were seeking some sense of light in darkness. They would not be disappointed in hearing of Luis’s endurance and faith.
His Legacy
Many survivors and their families live healthier and safer lives today because they have been helped by Luis’s pastoral counseling, encouragement, and leadership.
Many Church clergy and leaders have also been helped to gain the insights and courage to engage with survivors and their families in a dialogue which is healing for all participants.
Spirit Fire, whose vision and work are infused with Luis’s spirit and joyfulness and love, continues to offer care and support to individuals with confidence in the great range of healing impact that follows each individual’s courageous steps toward recovery.
In Media
IN MEMORIUM
By David Walter
(Princeton Alumni Weekly, January 28, 2024)
Obituary for beloved Princeton alum, featuring his leadership role in Church reform and healing.
Luis Torres’ Naive Faith Inspired Him to Help Fellow Abuse Survivors
By Teresa Pitt Green
(National Catholic Register, May 3, 2023)
Reflections on the gifts and faith of Luis Torres, a clergy-abuse survivor who co-founded Spirit Fire, and his ministry to survivors and others suffering from the scandal of abuse in the Church.
Diocesan Review Board Member Torres Dies of 9/11-Related Cancer
By Paula Katinas
(The Tablet (Brooklyn, NY), April 5, 2023)
Having served at Ground Zero following 9/11, Luis died of the cancer common among first responders and others who worked the site. This retrospective talks Luis' service on the Brooklyn diocesan review board for almost 20 years, as well as his vision for Spirit Fire.
SPEECH BEFORE BISHOPS 2019
Abuse Survivors Challenge Bishops to Confront Problems
By Christine Rouselle
Catholic News Agency, November 12, 2018
In the fall following the McCarrick revelations, Luis addressed the General Assembly of the United States Catholic bishops in a compelling speech to act like true fathers to the most vulnerable among the faithful.
CNA Newsroom: Clerical Abuse Survivors Speak
By Kate Olivera, Jonah McKeown
(Catholic News Agency, May 30, 2019)
Following on his speech before bishops, Luis took the lead in co-hosting a day-long dialogue between bishops and survivors from around the country.
Abuse Survivors Find Healing in Catholic Faith Can Aid the Church
By Dennis Sadowski
(Catholic News Service, May 30, 2019)
In a news piece covering the bishop-survivor dialogue co-hosted by Luis, his twenty years of service to promote healing is profiled.
Abuse Survivors Speak at Catholic University
By Katie Scott
(Arlington Catholic Herald, May 15, 2019)
News article about the Spirit Fire Conference at The Catholic University of America which Luis co-hosted for bishops and clergy abuse survivors to engage in dialogue.
PANEL APPEARANCE
Pastoral Care in the Current Crisis
Panel broadcast including Spirit Fire co-founders Luis A. Torres, Jr., and Teresa. United States Conference on Catholic Bishops, Nov 29, 2018.
Luis A. Torres Fund
The Luis A. Torres, Jr. Esq., Fund has been established to honor Luis.
All gifts will be used to continue the work of Spirit Fire, sponsoring survivors and family members for retreats with Teresa individually or with groups, and/or for priests or religious to attend Spirit Fire training where they may learn basics in offering trauma-informed pastoral care to survivors of abuse in their own ministries. For more information on making a donation, contact Teresa.