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In Seru My Love, the stark reality is laid bare: “There were some 11,000 allegations against 4,392 priests in the USA. Settlements and bankruptcies in Catholic sex abuse cases have affected several American dioceses, whose compensation payments have totalled around two billion dollars.” It’s hard to read the numbers and not feel a heavy silence settle in the room.
The above mentioned number is not just a statistic—it’s a testament to unimaginable pain and a crisis of trust that has shaken the very foundations of faith for millions. The numbers have only grown: since 2004, settlements by U.S. Catholic dioceses have exceeded $5 billion, with some estimates pushing the total even higher as new cases and settlements continue to emerge. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles alone has paid more than $1.5 billion to victims, and dioceses across the country have filed for bankruptcy under the weight of these claims.
Behind every dollar is a story—of innocence lost, of silence broken, of survivors demanding justice after decades of being ignored or dismissed. The church’s response, often slow and defensive, has left deep scars not only on victims but on entire communities of faith.
Yet, as painful as these revelations are, they have forced a reckoning. They have compelled institutions to confront their failings, to listen to the voices they once tried to silence, and to begin the long, hard work of healing. The path forward is neither easy nor quick, but it begins with honesty, accountability, and a commitment to never let such betrayal happen again.
Seru My Love reminds us that true faith is not blind—it is courageous enough to face the truth, no matter how uncomfortable. Only then can real healing begin.