Pope Francis describes the Catholic Church as a “field hospital” and affirms that everyone should be able to discover an “oasis of mercy.” Yet, we know, all too well, that members of the Church frequently fail to embody the self-emptying love of Jesus in the way we treat each other. The Church has sadly been the context for long-lasting hurts that can present severe challenges to persevering in the faith in the lives of those affected. It can upend our journey in the faith, shake every spiritual foundation, and even lead one to the unthinkable…to walk away from the Church and even to abandon the Christian faith itself.
Hurting in the Church: A Way Forward for Wounded Catholics, by Fr. Thomas Berg, is an expose’ of our frequent failures as Catholics to live the life of genuine, interpersonal charity. Divided into two sections, Part I explores in greater depth the myriad of ways we hurt in the Church today such as the clerical sexual abuse and sufferings of those who feel alienated from the Church by her teachings, particularly on marriage and sexual morality. Part II aims to offer avenues by which wounded Catholics can, not only enter more deeply into a process of healing, but also discover anew the radiant and untarnished beauty of that same Church in which they have been so deeply hurt. They can become, precisely because of the hurt, better human beings, better Christians, better Catholics, and ultimately more intimate disciples of Jesus Christ.
The good news is that healing is possible; and our hurts experienced in the Church can become the seedbed for human excellence, virtue, and Christian holiness.
“Hurting in the Church provides a psychologically wise and spiritually profound path forward for Catholics who have been abused, traumatized, or wounded by other Catholics — especially those in leadership. Chapter 10 on how to recover one’s belief in and love for the Church is worth the price of the book alone!” -- Sherry Weddell, Best-selling author of Forming Intentional Disciples
“An honest and much-needed book that addresses … the many Catholics who feel marginalized, ignored, hurt, insulted and even abused by the Church.”—Fr. James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage
“It took courage for Father Berg to write with such honesty and transparency, and his courage will give you courage—not only to confront sin and weakness within the Church, but also to give God another chance to help you rediscover him within the embrace of the Church despite the failings of her members.”—Fr. Jonathan Morris, author of New York Times Bestseller, The Way of Serenity
“Here is an unflinching examination of the Church’s brokenness … along with practical advice and the promise of hope for the challenging path forward. Fearless in his assessment, Father Berg is equally confident that in Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can move toward healing and wholeness.”—Cardinal Timothy Dolan
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Father Berg is professor of moral theology and vice-rector at St Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, NY. He earned his doctorate in philosophy at Rome’s Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. In addition to scholarly work in bioethics, he has also been published or quoted in Homiletic & Pastoral Review, Crisis Magazine, First Things, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. An avid runner, hiker, and cigar aficionado, he escapes as often as he can to Cape May, New Jersey.
