Torrent of Grace: A Catholic Survivor's Healing Journey After Clergy Abuse - by Mark Williams (Paperback)

About the Book

"A survivor traces his path from trauma to healing to seeking an institutional path the the Catholic Church"--

Book Synopsis

Clergy abuse survivor Mark Joseph Williams shares his personal journey of spiraling into substance abuse and shame in the agonizing aftermath of trauma. Hitting rock bottom, he encountered healing in the place few survivors would look--the Catholic Church. There, despite and beyond clergy abuse and power plays of the hierarchy, he rediscovered new life within the sacraments and the mystery of the cross.

Now, with his unique perspective as a victim seeking redemption, he counsels both victims of clergy abuse as well as faith leaders invested in transforming a broken church.

From the Back Cover

RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic

RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Counseling & Recovery

RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Personal Memoirs

TORRENT OF GRACE

A Catholic Survivor's Healing Journey after Clergy Abuse

Mark Joseph Williams

Cover design: Michael Calvente

Cover art: Hombre de Sufrimientos (Man of Sorrows), multimedia retablo by Juanito Jiménez (circa 2005)

Photo by: Brian Martínez Dawson

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN 978-1-62698-596-4

[ORBIS LOGO]

Review Quotes

"Mark Williams is a gift to the Church. This brave book is a moving testimony to Mark's unwavering faith and courageous advocacy for victims in and out of the pews worldwide." - Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR, Archbishop of Newark

"Unflinching, honest, and beautifully told. A story every Catholic should read." - Brian Devlin, author, Cardinal Sin: Challenging Power Abuse in the Catholic Church

"An extraordinary testimony that confronts with candor the suffering caused by abuse. A powerful encouragement to hope against hope (Romans 4:18) and to believe in the presence of grace-even in darkness and despair." - Hans Zollner, SJ, director, Institute of Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care, Pontifical Gregorian University

"What Mark WIlliams endured is so terrible that you may hesitate before starting this book. How Mark Williams found his way through it all is so consoling that you will never regret finishing his story, nor will you forget it. Torrent of Grace is for anyone who wonders whether there can be hope after the worse trauma possible - hope for themselves, for their faith, for loved ones grievously wounded and shamed. Mark gives us a powerful answer." - David Gibson, Director, Center on Religion and Culture/ Fordham University

"I was thinking about what category best describers the book. Is it a self-help book? A reflection on addiction? An autobiography? Of course, the book can fit into any of those categories, but more than anything, it is the record of an adventure in grace." - Robert Lauder, The Tablet, Professor, St. John's University.

About the Author

Mark Joseph Williams is a forensic psychological clinician with an MS in social work from Columbia. A clerical abuse survivor, he co-founded Global Collaborative, a survivor led organization, and represents the Archdiocese of Newark as Special Advisor. He also serves on the North American Safeguarding Committee of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He and his wife, Karen, have four grown children and six grandchildren.

Jennifer Wortham is an author, artist and award-winning activist recognized for founding and leading a global collaborative to establish the November 18, United Nations World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. She earned a Doctorate in Public Health from the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA. She leads research on moral injury, and the impact of religion, and spirituality on health at the Human Flourishing Program, at Harvard University, and serves as the Founder and CEO of CoreSensum, launched in 2023 to transform the delivery of mental health care.