Raped in the House of God is an invaluable resource for anyone trying to understand the lifetime effects sexual abuse by priests have on a person' s life. Author Jim Parker shares with us not only the immediate catastrophic effects of a devout altar boy being raped by a parish priest at age 12, but his ongoing struggles with the resulting shame, anger, depression and addiction. Particularly poignant is his description of the 40-year burden of secrecy imposed on him by his parents, who chose to avoid confronting the issue at the time. This work is high recommended for other survivors of clergy sexual abuse, their families, concerned Roman Catholics seeking to better understand the crisis facing their church today as well as mental health professionals charged with the challenges of helping survivors in their recovery.
Jim Parker is a professional business and personal coach in Tucson.