Sacred Silence: Denial And The Crisis In The Ch... May 2026

: The book explores the psychological dynamics that sustain this culture of silence, including the impact of declining vocations and the presence of gay men in the priesthood. The Call for "Redemptive Honesty"

The book is widely regarded by reviewers from platforms like Liturgical Press and Publishers Weekly as a courageous and prophetic work that seeks to heal the Church by confronting its "ugly, gaping wounds" with truth. Sacred silence: denial and the crisis in the ch...

Rather than merely criticizing, Cozzens proposes a path forward based on . He believes that for the Church to regain its credibility and moral authority, it must: : The book explores the psychological dynamics that

: The text suggests that bishops and church authorities often surrendered their authority to Vatican congregations or were immobilized by the fear of being reported to Rome. He believes that for the Church to regain

: He analyzes how the "cult of clerical secrecy" and systemic denial allowed for the continued exploitation of children and adolescents, often minimizing the gravity of allegations to protect the institution’s image.

Cozzens argues that a culture of misplaced loyalty and fear of scandal led to a leadership crisis, primarily focusing on the following areas: