--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In early January 2002, when Rev. James…" description: "\"“In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev. John Geoghan abuse cases appeared on the headlines of the Boston Globe, the United States and t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/charles-benedict-3426_beyond-belief_in-early-january-2002-when-rev-james-por_764313.jpg" --- # In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev… ![“In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev. John Geoghan abuse cases appeared on the headlines of the Boston Globe, the United States and the world reeled in horror at the systematic problem of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of clergy abuse…” quote by Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/charles-benedict-3426_beyond-belief_in-early-january-2002-when-rev-james-por_764313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/charles-benedict-3426_beyond-belief_in-early-january-2002-when-rev-james-por_764313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d78/charles-benedict-3426_beyond-belief_in-early-january-2002-when-rev-james-por_764313.jpg) > ““In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev. John Geoghan abuse cases appeared on the headlines of the Boston Globe, the United States and the world reeled in horror at the systematic problem of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of clergy abuse victims came forward to report clergy abuse across the United States. We—and the world—were shocked beyond belief.”” [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The revelation of widespread clergy abuse shocked the public and highlighted systemic failures in protecting victims. **In simple terms:** Clergy abuse scandal revealed systemic failures. Key Takeaway Recognize and address institutional abuse. Themes accountability justice trauma institutional failure Mood outraged empathetic determined Type historical social commentary When to use this quote - church leadership - legal reform - victim support - public awareness Key Concepts psychology media influence social change Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions rebuild trust? - What role does media play in exposing abuse? A Different Perspective Systemic change is slow and faces resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse Archdiocese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-archdiocese-5920392/) [Abuse Victims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-victims/) [Beyond belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beyond-belief/) [Clergy Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy-abuse-5920391/) [Geoghan Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geoghan-abuse-5920393/) [Problem Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-clergy-5920394/) ## Related quotes > [“In her book claiming that allegations of ritualistic abuse are mostly confabulations, La Fontaine’s (1998) comparison of social workers to ‘nazis’ shows the depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/in-her-book-claiming-that-allegations-of-ritualistic-abuse-are-mostly/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“loss of self-esteem Beverly Engel, in The Emotionally Abused Woman (1990), describes the effect of emotional abuse on self-esteem: Emotional abuse cuts to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mason/loss-of-self-esteem-beverly-engel-in-the-emotionally-abused-woman/) [Paul Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mason/) > [“many abuse victims don’t wish to let their abusers move onto the next victim after terrorizing them, because they fear that the next person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahida-arabi/many-abuse-victims-don-t-wish-to-let-their-abusers-move-onto-the-next/) [Shahida Arabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahida-arabi/) > [With what I've gone through, I think it's really important to become a voice for abuse victims who have no voice. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-winter/with-what-i-ve-gone-through-i-think-it-s-really-important-to-become-a/) [Ariel Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-winter/) > [“SOCIETY AS COMPULSIVE AND ADDICTED Our society is highly addictive. We have sixty million sexual abuse victims. Possibly seventy-five million lives are seriously affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/society-as-compulsive-and-addicted-our-society-is-highly-addictive-we/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“BEFRIENDING THE BODY Trauma victims cannot recover until they become familiar with and befriend the sensations in their bodies. Being frightened means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/befriending-the-body-trauma-victims-cannot-recover-until-they-become/) [Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/) > [I was a sick child, I was scared, and honestly speaking, I never thought about why I didn't tell anyone about my abuse. Abuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laxmi-narayan-tripathi/i-was-a-sick-child-i-was-scared-and-honestly-speaking-i-never-thought/) [Laxmi Narayan Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laxmi-narayan-tripathi/) > [“The ruling classes use broken and smashed up childhoods as weaponised instruments of domination around the world. 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Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [American magazines are becoming very patriotic beyond belief to the point that I can't live there any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/american-magazines-are-becoming-very-patriotic-beyond-belief-to-the/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [The person I love would never wear fur. Fur just makes me think of shallow women who have no conscience. The fur industry belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/the-person-i-love-would-never-wear-fur-fur-just-makes-me-think-of/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [I could have been insecure in 'Yamla Pagla'... if I wanted to be. With three actors who are amazing beyond belief and are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/i-could-have-been-insecure-in-yamla-pagla-if-i-wanted-to-be-with/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [To think that someone we loved, trusted, opened our home to could do this to our daughter and granddaughter is beyond belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flaherty/to-think-that-someone-we-loved-trusted-opened-our-home-to-could-do/) [Joe Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flaherty/) > [My love for you is endless Like an eternal light That keeps on glowing and shinning, And is sweet as the sweetest wine You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-love-for-you-is-endless-like-an-eternal-light-that-keeps-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charles Benedict > [“Am I really going to hell for being gay?” Or, “I think I was born a woman in a man’s body. Does that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/am-i-really-going-to-hell-for-being-gay-or-i-think-i-was-born-a-woman/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“When we reconnected, he was there to guide me as I navigated the uncharted waters of dating”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/when-we-reconnected-he-was-there-to-guide-me-as-i-navigated-the/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“Clearly, my grandfather had paved the way for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/clearly-my-grandfather-had-paved-the-way-for-me/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“Could I survive in the world as an ex-priest that no one wanted anything to do with?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/could-i-survive-in-the-world-as-an-ex-priest-that-no-one-wanted/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“As a teenager, his teachers recognized his academic prowess and brilliant intelligence. They suggested he move into monastic life in order to further his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/as-a-teenager-his-teachers-recognized-his-academic-prowess-and/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“She could not handle telling people I had left priesthood, that I was gay, and she refused to use words associated with my sexuality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/she-could-not-handle-telling-people-i-had-left-priesthood-that-i-was/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“I found the courage to admit I was gay. This is when I said the words in my head and said them out loud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/i-found-the-courage-to-admit-i-was-gay-this-is-when-i-said-the-words/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“I finally left Ministry in mid-March 2009.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/i-finally-left-ministry-in-mid-march-2009/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“They were astute enough to know that I needed someone to share my life with…and they were right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/they-were-astute-enough-to-know-that-i-needed-someone-to-share-my/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“The particular rectory I moved in to was attached to the church. This was arguably one of the worst setups possible because living above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/the-particular-rectory-i-moved-in-to-was-attached-to-the-church-this/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“We did, however, deliver and expel many homosexual and sodomitic demons from my body, mind, heart, mouth, soul, penis, and anus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/we-did-however-deliver-and-expel-many-homosexual-and-sodomitic-demons/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“Every so often, Zach would say things like, “I like you,” or, “We think a lot alike.” I naively agreed with him because even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/every-so-often-zach-would-say-things-like-i-like-you-or-we-think-a/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“From that moment on, I never had another heated argument or conversation about my sexuality because my mother could not understand how anyone could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/from-that-moment-on-i-never-had-another-heated-argument-or/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“Though I wholeheartedly supported celibacy at the start of my seminary career, my opinion changed as I made my way toward and through priesthood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/though-i-wholeheartedly-supported-celibacy-at-the-start-of-my/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [“I am not meant to be alone in life, and that the type of committed, indissoluble partnership in which I am engaged presently is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/i-am-not-meant-to-be-alone-in-life-and-that-the-type-of-committed/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) [Explore all 131 Charles Benedict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) ## More Beyond belief quotes > [My love for you is endless Like an eternal light That keeps on glowing and shinning, And is sweet as the sweetest wine You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-love-for-you-is-endless-like-an-eternal-light-that-keeps-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To think that someone we loved, trusted, opened our home to could do this to our daughter and granddaughter is beyond belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flaherty/to-think-that-someone-we-loved-trusted-opened-our-home-to-could-do/) [Joe Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flaherty/) > [I could have been insecure in 'Yamla Pagla'... if I wanted to be. With three actors who are amazing beyond belief and are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kriti-kharbanda/i-could-have-been-insecure-in-yamla-pagla-if-i-wanted-to-be-with/) [Kriti Kharbanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kriti-kharbanda/) > [The person I love would never wear fur. Fur just makes me think of shallow women who have no conscience. The fur industry belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/the-person-i-love-would-never-wear-fur-fur-just-makes-me-think-of/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [American magazines are becoming very patriotic beyond belief to the point that I can't live there any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/american-magazines-are-becoming-very-patriotic-beyond-belief-to-the/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [They sell these golf aids that attach to your knee and your head and are supposed to keep your swing correct. It's futile beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-guest/they-sell-these-golf-aids-that-attach-to-your-knee-and-your-head-and/) [Christopher Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-guest/) > [I'm a huge horror movie fan. Beyond belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-breslin/i-m-a-huge-horror-movie-fan-beyond-belief/) [Abigail Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-breslin/) > [My interest is in completing an image that is spectacular beyond belief. My fidelity is to the image and the art and not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/my-interest-is-in-completing-an-image-that-is-spectacular-beyond/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [When her eyes glisten with hope, skin glows with emphasis, and mind grows with ambition.. Beauty beyond belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-her-eyes-glisten-with-hope-skin-glows-with-emphasis-and-mind/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [This is appalling. The idea that a person could be punished because of their religious belief and the idea they might be executed is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/this-is-appalling-the-idea-that-a-person-could-be-punished-because-of/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [“Now I brushed a quick kiss over her ruby-colored mouth that tempted me beyond belief. "You should wear lipstick more often." She snorted. "Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-chamberlain/now-i-brushed-a-quick-kiss-over-her-ruby-colored-mouth-that-tempted/) [Sarah Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-chamberlain/) > [When I started running, the pain barrier was very familiar to me, and I had no problem pushing beyond the pain. When for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/when-i-started-running-the-pain-barrier-was-very-familiar-to-me-and-i/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [Commitment is when you keep pushing yourself beyond belief, even when others doubt and say you cannot do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/commitment-is-when-you-keep-pushing-yourself-beyond-belief-even-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing in my life had prepared me to see things that were strange or beyond belief. I was a simple kid in a simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/nothing-in-my-life-had-prepared-me-to-see-things-that-were-strange-or/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Carried by light, images remain while sensation is so evanescent as to be always beyond belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/carried-by-light-images-remain-while-sensation-is-so-evanescent-as-to/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) [Browse all 122 Beyond belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beyond-belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In early January 2002, when Rev. James Porter and Rev. John Geoghan abuse cases appeared on the headlines of the Boston Globe, the United States and the world reeled in horror at the systematic problem of clergy abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston. 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