Leading Lay Voices on the Sexual Abuse Scandal in the Church
The Catholic Church has been mired in numerous scandals regarding sexual abuse and cover-ups around the globe over the course of many decades, with countless stories and situations still unknown to the public. In the wake of these scandals, the Church has taken steps to make changes and address underlying issues. This discussion featured a free and open exchange concerning what needs to happen to restore hope, what the Church is getting right, and what more needs to be done.
The event featured lay voices in this current sexual abuse tragedy that is affecting both diocesan and religious communities: Dr. Francesco Cesareo, chair of the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Dr. Len Sperry, chair of the National Advisory Council for Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM); Kathleen Coogan, parishioner and lay leader at Holy Trinity Catholic Church; and Katherine Marshall, executive director of World Faiths Development Dialogue and senior fellow at the Berkley Center, who has worked closely with faith leaders on issues of gender and sexuality. The discussion focused on three main questions: What is the way past this scandal? What are the strategies for regaining hope? What are the dynamics in creating a culture of safeguarding?
Refreshments were served prior to the panel, which began at 5:00 p.m.
This event was co-sponsored by Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.
Large Cross with Clouds
Francesco Cesareo Toggle
About Francesco Cesareo
Dr. Francesco Cesareo is chair of the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He is also president of Assumption College, and has held both faculty and administrative positions at several Catholic colleges and universities.
Francesco Cesareo's Profile
Kathleen Coogan Toggle
About Kathleen Coogan
Kathleen Coogan is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution program. She also serves as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of State and is a parishioner and lay leader at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Kathleen Coogan's Profile
Gerard J. McGlone Toggle
About Gerard J. McGlone
Fr. Gerard J. McGlone, S.J., Ph.D., is a senior research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Previously he was an assistant professor of psychiatry in Georgetown University's School of Medicine. Most recently, he was the associate director for protection of minors for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. He was also recently the chief psychologist and the director of counseling services, as well as faculty and staff psychologist, at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He has been executive director at several major treatment centers for clergy and religious in the United States-Saint John Vianney Center and Guest House, Inc.
Gerard J. McGlone's Profile
Len Sperry Toggle
Len Sperry, M.D., Ph.D. is professor and director of clinical training at Florida Atlantic University and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavior medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He serves as chair of the National Advisory Council of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, writes about priests and ministry issues, and consults with diocese and religious institutes.
Len Sperry's Profile
RSVP to Confronting the Church’s Crisis
Leading Lay Voices on the Sexual Abuse Scandal in the Church
The Catholic Church has been mired in numerous scandals regarding sexual abuse and cover-ups around the globe over the course of many decades, with countless stories and situations still unknown to the public. In the wake of these scandals, the Church has taken steps to make changes and address underlying issues. This discussion featured a free and open exchange concerning what needs to happen to restore hope, what the Church is getting right, and what more needs to be done.
The event featured lay voices in this current sexual abuse tragedy that is affecting both diocesan and religious communities: Dr. Francesco Cesareo, chair of the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Dr. Len Sperry, chair of the National Advisory Council for Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM); Kathleen Coogan, parishioner and lay leader at Holy Trinity Catholic Church; and Katherine Marshall, executive director of World Faiths Development Dialogue and senior fellow at the Berkley Center, who has worked closely with faith leaders on issues of gender and sexuality. The discussion focused on three main questions: What is the way past this scandal? What are the strategies for regaining hope? What are the dynamics in creating a culture of safeguarding?
Refreshments were served prior to the panel, which began at 5:00 p.m.
This event was co-sponsored by Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs and the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life.
Large Cross with Clouds
Francesco Cesareo Toggle
About Francesco Cesareo
Dr. Francesco Cesareo is chair of the National Review Board of the United
 States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). He is also president of Assumption College, and has held both faculty and administrative positions at several Catholic colleges and universities.
Francesco Cesareo's Profile
Kathleen Coogan Toggle
About Kathleen Coogan
Kathleen Coogan is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University in the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution program. She also serves as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of State and is a parishioner and lay leader at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Kathleen Coogan's Profile
Gerard J. McGlone Toggle
About Gerard J. McGlone
Fr. Gerard J. McGlone, S.J., Ph.D., is a senior research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. Previously he was an assistant professor of psychiatry in Georgetown University's School of Medicine. Most recently, he was the associate director for protection of minors for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. He was also recently the chief psychologist and the director of counseling services, as well as faculty and staff psychologist, at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He has been executive director at several major treatment centers for clergy and religious in the United States-Saint John Vianney Center and Guest House, Inc.
Gerard J. McGlone's Profile
Len Sperry Toggle
Len Sperry, M.D., Ph.D. is professor and director of clinical training at Florida Atlantic University and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavior medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He serves as chair of the National Advisory Council of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, writes about priests and ministry issues, and consults with diocese and religious institutes.
Len Sperry's Profile
RSVP to Confronting the Church’s Crisis