Book Review - "When Priests Become Predators: Profiles of Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors," by Thomas S. Neuberger (2012)

Prior to the writing of this book, ''When Priests Become Predators,'' and prior to 2002, few researchers in psychology had empirically investigated the problem of sexual abuse, specifically by clergy. Prior work was based on very small sample sizes involving perhaps one or two diocese. The year 2002 was a watershed year in that abuse carried out by Boston theologians was made public resulting in awareness of the Catholic Church's contribution to allowing these religious priests to continue their abusive behavior by transferring them to other areas and turning a blind eye to the atrocities they continued to commit. While this story was widely reported in the press, journalists are limited by space and the language that can be used. ''When Priests Become Predators'' by Tom Neuberger presents ten individual cases and gives the survivors a voice to be heard by others, who may or may not wish to hear their testimonies. The accounts given are brutally honest, graphic and focused. The book goes far and beyond any prior attempt to expose the injustices and ruined lives of these ten survivors. Citation: Int J Qualitative Stud Health Well-being 2013, 8: 20937 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v8i0.20937