Crosses: Portraits of Clergy Abuse, by Carmine Galasso, ISBN: 978-1-904563-59-4. Click here. Accompanying the words are black and white portraits of the survivors today, in places that for them echo where they are now, or where they were then. Each has a different story to tell, a unique pattern of abuse, though they all share certain similarities. A certain grooming by the perpetrator, a blind trust of the parents in this person to look after their child both spiritually and in all ways their welfare, all systematically overruled by the one person who a community put their faith in.

Innocence Betrayed - A Dad's Story of Clergy Misconduct, A novel by H. J. Wisocki and C.J. Szajnecki. ISBN: 1-4241-8171-2. Click here. Based on the true story of Curt Szajnecki's battle with the United Methodist Church to get the administrators to follow their own Sexual Ethics Policy and remove the reverend that ripped apart and dissected his family, separating husband andwife, parents and children, sister and sister. This is the story of a father who refused to give up.

Sex, Priests, and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2,000-Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse (Hardcover), by Thomas P. Doyle, A. W. R. Sipe, Patrick J. Wall, (Bonus Books, 2006) ISBN: 1566252652. Sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults by Catholic clergy burst onto the American scene in 1984. Revelations about such abuse since then have confirmed that this tragedy is not limited to the U.S. Catholic Church, nor is it a new phenomenon that grew out of so called secularizing trends of the late twentieth century. The Doyle-Sipe-Wall report clearly demonstrates a deep seated problem that spans the Church’s history. This collection of documents from official and unofficial sources begins its survey in 60 CE and concludes with the contemporary scandal. It reveals an institution that has tried to come to grips with this devastating internal problem from its earliest years.

Sin, Shame, And Secrets: The Murder of a Nun, the Arrest of a Priest, And Cover-up in the Catholic Church, by David Yonke. (Continuum International Publishing Group 2006) ISBN: 0826417558.

Our Fathers: The Secret Life of the Catholic Church in an Age of Scandal, by David France. (New York, Broadway Books, January 2004) ISBN: 0767914309. France, who covered the Catholic Church sex scandal as an investigative editor at Newsweek, delivers a huge volume that offers reasons for the scandal and humanizes those involved--victims, perpetrators and hierarchy.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children, by Jason Berry. (Originally Published late 1992; Paperback edition: Univ. of Illinois Press, April 2000), ISBN: 0252068122. Berry, a New Orleans journalist, tips over a religious rock and finds a nest of corruption, deceit, and despair. This proves to be a temperate, detailed investigation of a religious tragedy: pedophilia among Roman Catholic priests.

Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church, by Boston Globe Investigative Team. (Originally Published June 2002; Paperback edition: Back Bay Press, April 2003), ISBN: 0316776750. Focusing on abuse in the Boston Archdiocese, BETRAYAL provides a detailed, devastating account of the Catholic Church's decades-long cover-up that has left millions of American Catholics shocked, angry, and confused. BETRAYAL brings into focus the scores of abusive priests who preyed upon innocent children, and the cabal of senior Church officials who covered up their crimes.

A Gospel of Shame: Children, Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church, by Frank Bruni and Eleanor Burkett. (Originally published 1993; Paperback edition: Perennial, June 2002) ISBN: 0060522321.

Brother Tony's Boys: The Largest Case of Child Prostitution in U.S. History, by Mike Echols. (Prometheus Books, July 1996). ISBN: 1573920517. The riveting true story of Pentecostal evangelist Brother Tony Leyva explains how he used his status as "annointed prophet of God" to systematically manipulate and sexually assault the young sons of his followers and procure victims for other "men of God."

Is Nothing Sacred?: The Story of a Pastor, the Women He Sexually Abused, and the Congregation He Nearly Destroyed, by Marie M. Fortune. (Pilgrim Press, March 1999), ISBN: 0829812709.

Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II, by Jason Berry and Gerald Renner. (Free Press, March 2004) ISBN: 0743244419. VOWS OF SILENCE follows the staggering trail of evasions and deceit that leads directly to the Vatican -- and taints the legacy of Pope John Paul II. This book is a riveting account of Vatican cover-ups and the tumult they have caused in the church worldwide. VOWS OF SILENCE is not a book about sexual abuse; it is a book about abuse of power, throughout the Vatican. READ MORE.

God vs. the Gavel, Religion and the Rule of Law, by Marci Hamiton.(Cambridge University Press, May 2005) ISBN: 0521853044. "Marci Hamilton has heroically and truthfully confronted the widespread American myth that all things done in the name of religion are good and deserving of constitutional protections. She has accurately named the harm done in the name of religion and how this harm is protected and enabled by the courts and law enforcement by way of the inaccurate application of the First Amendment. God vs. The Gavel is essential reading for those who insist that religion be true to its fundamental mission and not about victimizing people for the sake of power, privilege or financial gain." Thomas P. Doyle, O.P., J.C.D., C.A.D.C., Canon Lawyer, Advocate for those abused by Clergy.

Keep the Faith, Change the Church, by James Muller and Charles Kenney. (Rodale Press, March 2004) ISBN: 1579548903. Co-authored by VOTF founding president James Muller and author Charles Kenney, Keep the Faith, Change the Church is a highly readable narrative of the founding story of Voice of the Faithful. While no single book can tell the whole story, Muller and Kenney articulate the steady advance of an awakening spirit in the laity that has moved from outrage to resolve in returning responsibility to Catholicism. From the first gathering in St. John the Evangelist School basement in Wellesley, MA through the 2002 convention in Boston, and on to the time of Cardinal Law’s resignation, the authors describe the surprises, disappointments and revelations about Church dynamics and politics as well as survivors’ prophetic courage, priests’ struggles and Catholic activism.

The Unhealed Wound: The Church and Human Sexuality, by Eugene Kennedy, (St. Martin's Press, May 2001), ISBN: 0312266375. Kennedy's book blends history, psychology, theology, and journalistic storytelling in a sophisticated and humane analysis of where and how Catholic teaching about human sexuality has gone wrong.

If the Man You Love Was Abused: A Couple's Guide to Healing, by Marlene M. Browne, Esq. and Marie H. Browne, RN, PdH. (Adams Media Corporation (February 2007) ISBN-10: 159337643X. The scars left on the hearts and souls of childhood abuse survivors run deep; they require time, patience, and support to heal. Written with the needs of both the abuse survivor and spouse/partner in mind and informed by case studies from real patients in her practice, psychologist Dr. Marie Browne combines practical applications with authoritative research to offer you the ultimate guide for getting through this difficult situation. You'll learn how to help him get the support he needs, and make sure not to neglect your own needs in the process.

Strong at the Heart: How It Feels to Heal from Sexual Abuse, by Carolyn Lehman. (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, November 2005) ISBN: 0374372829. This groundbreaking book brings readers face-to-face with nine survivors who speak with candor and courage about the sexual abuse they experienced, how they have healed, and how they are moving forward with their lives. Includes an interview with a teenaged boy and SNAP member who was abused at the age of ten by his parish priest. White, black, Latino, and Native American, these everyday heroes come from a wide range of communities and have found different ways to cope with and overcome sexual trauma. Through moving personal stories and striking photographs they take readers into their lives, offering insight and hope for anyone affected by this all-too-common childhood experience. In this book about healing, young readers and their families will find additional information in the resource section, a comprehensive guide to the best help lines, books, films, and Web sites on healing and resilience. Read excerpts from author's interview with Jonathan, one of our youngest SNAP members.

From the Foreword:
“This powerful book is filled with the distinct, diverse voices of people who experienced rape, molestation, and incest when they were young. With remarkable honesty they tell how they stopped feeling victimized and reclaimed their lives – the choices they made, the people they turned to, the inner strength they discovered.” – Laura Davis, author of The Courage to Heal

Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse, by Mic Hunter. (Ballantine Books, June 1991), ISBN: 0449906299. This myth-breaking study explains the ways in which boys are molested and the reasons why men remain silent about it later in life. Thirteen firsthand "survival stories" offer inspiration to readers.

Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse, by Mike Lew. (Perennial Library, February 1990), ISBN: 0060973005. For millions of men who are survivors of childhood sexusal abuse, this ground-breaking work offers hope, understanding and essential advice for healing. Written by a nationally recognized expert on recovery for male survivors, VICTIMS NO LONGER addresses survivors with compassion, intelligence, and respect.

Leaping upon the Mountains: Men Proclaiming Victory over Sexual Child Abuse, by Mike Lew. (North Atlantic Books, March 2000), ISBN: 155643345X. Presenting the first real investigation of what male survivors themselves identify as most important during various stages of their recovery. This book is about the successes. Its contributors speak eloquently and persuasively of the reality of recovery.

The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. (Perennial Library, 3rd Edition, June 1994), ISBN: 0060950668.

The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, by Wendy Maltz. (Quill, Revised Edition February 2001) ISBN: 0060959649. Considered a classic in its field, this comprehensive guide will help survivors of sexual abuse improve their relationships and discover the joys of sexual intimacy. Based on the author's clinical work, interviews, and workshops, this guide is filled with first-person accounts of women and men at every stage of sexual healing.

The Survivor's Guide to Sex: How to Have an Empowered Sex Life After Child Sexual Abuse, by Staci Haines. (Cleis Press, April 1999) ISBN: 1573440795.

Don't Tell: The Sexual Abuse of Boys, by Michel Dorais. (McGill-Queens University Press; July 2002) ISBN: 0773522611. Don't Tell examines the effects of sexual abuse on the emotional and sexual life of men, including their sense of self and their personal relationships. Using the first-hand accounts of victims Dorais shows that certain reactions are specific to male victims of abuse as they attempt to preserve a sense of physical integrity and masculinity.

Sanity and Grace: A Story of Suicide, Survival and Strength,
by Judy Collins. (J.P. Tarcher Press; September 2003)
ISBN: 1585422606. Popular singer and writer Collins centers this "monograph of tears" on her 33-year-old son's suicide in 1992, and the result is a frank and revealing personal work that should resonate with readers who have suffered a similar loss. Using excerpts from her journals, she details her own painful attempts to understand her son's actions. The book's beauty is that Collins never presents her search for understanding in a mawkish or self-centered way. Her spiritual renewal, her efforts to reach out to others through suicide survival groups, and her commitment to "friends, therapists, habits of work and of life that take the power out of the depression" will be an inspiration and a comfort to those left behind.

The Hopeville Fire Department: A story of a boy's betrayal by one of New England's most notorious priests (Paperback) by Tony Lembo (Prose & Pictures, March 2007) ISBN: 978-0-9793491-0-2. The book about the Connecticut State Police chaplain and pedophile that launched a scandal. In the heartland of working-class, 1970s New England, few took notice of police and fire chaplain Father Stephen C. Foley racing around in an official-looking car full of teenaged boys and young men, visiting firehouses, chasing fire engines, showing up at fire scenes and pretending to be firemen. This is the story of one of those boys whom Foley attacked, a look inside one of the most bizarre and callous cases ever uncovered among the Catholic clergy, and the catalyst for a brewing scandal over who protected him for forty years, and why.

The Tricky Part : One Boy's Fall from Trespass into Grace, by Martin Moran (Beacon Press, June 15, 2005) ISBN: 0807072621. To everyone else in the Denver neighborhood where he grew up in the '70s, Moran was a studious Catholic boy. No one knew he carried a secret that would fester for 30 years and lead to extreme anxiety, sexual compulsion and suicide attempts. At age 12 he met Bob, a church camp counselor in his 30s who, for several years, took Moran hiking and camping, and had sex with him. Moran painfully recounts the inner workings of a lonely, insecure adolescent who, out of a desperate need for friendship and acceptance, continued a sexual relationship with a man 20 years his senior. Feeling guilty and shameful regarding the affair and his homosexuality, Moran lived a life in which the erotic and the illicit fused, and compulsive sex became a means of self-punishment. Moran's Catholic-American gothic differs from other abuse/recovery/ coming-out memoirs in that it examines a uniquely gay mind/body split as it subtly reflects on a gay man's spiritual quest for self-determination and love. Read Review.

From Hurt to Healing: Childhood Abuse by a Catholic Priest - one woman's story, by Mona Villarrubia. (PublishAmerica, June 2004) ISBN: 1413722598. A victim of childhood sexual abuse by a Catholic priest, tells the story of her profound suffering and also of
the ultimate survival of her faith. According to Fairfield University theologian Paul Lakeland, author of "The Liberation of the Laity",
"[Villarrubia's] words inform the ignorant, console the afflicted, and challenge the church to take seriously the cries of all those who have fallen victim to the abuse of power."

Sex, Priests and Power: Anatomy of a Crisis, by Richard Sipe. (Brunner-Routeledge, April 1995) ISBN: 0876307691. The author--a psychotherapist and former priest married to a former Maryknoll nun--looks at the question of why priests abuse and discusses the church's hostile treatment of women. He finds that sexual abuse within the church is a manifestation of a deeper problem: the abuse of power within a strongly hierarchical structure.

Celibacy in Crisis: A Secret World Revisited, by Richard Sipe. (Brunner-Routeledge, October 2003) ISBN: 0415944732. Sipe, a psychotherapist and former priest, reexamines the Roman Catholic Church's policy of mandatory clerical celibacy in light of the recently exposed sexual misconduct scandals. Placing the evolution of the celibacy concept firmly in historical context, the author provides the background information necessary for a contemporary analysis. Using hundreds of candid interviews conducted with priests, their sexual partners, and victims of clerical sexual abuse, he provides overwhelming evidence of the physical and spiritual failure of the celibacy ideal. Significantly, he enfolds this discussion within the archaic position of the church on human sexuality in general, arguing persuasively that the two issues are intimately and inextricably entwined.

Soul Survivors- Intimate Perspectives of Two Priests on the Catholic Church as the Ultimate Abuser, by Harold Luneau and Frank Kenney. (Xlibris Corporation, September 2005). ISBN: Hard cover-1413494749; Soft Cover-1413494730. Soul Survivors offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the mysteries of life in a Catholic Seminary and the priesthood. These two priests describe their reasons for choosing the priesthood and the physical and emotional trauma that made them leave the institutional priesthood in order to survive. Their journeys' penetrating analysis reveals an insider's view of what must be done if the Church is to remain bearable for the priest and laity. Their final dialogue assesses what their lives as priests have taught them. It ends in an interview with a confessed pedophile priest, in an effort to shed further light on the emotionally stunting, dehumanizing practices meant to make saints of mere men. Their suggested remedies offer Catholics hope for their own survival in an institution that often causes them needless pain and confusion. This is a book about relationships and emotions as much as it is about the practice of Catholicism.