Embedded Files
In the aftermath of my divorce after disclosing child sex abuse, I was guided toward the study of theology, first at Harvard Divinity School, and now as a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh. My academic work in practical and ethical theology is deeply intertwined with my lived experience as a survivor. This connection fuels my advocacy for those whose voices have been silenced, and reinforces my conviction that institutions must confront harm transparently and hold themselves accountable.
This path has led me to places I never imagined. In 2022, I stood alongside Pope Francis to mark the United Nations’ inaugural World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence. A year later, I addressed the UN, amplifying survivors’ stories on a global platform. Today, as the founder of Italian Parish Records, I channel my dedication into preserving Italy’s cultural heritage—a reminder that history, like truth, demands guardianship.
None of this would have been possible without the steadfast support of those who refused to let me walk alone. My brother, William, and mentor, David F. Holland offered unwavering allyship when I needed it most, and Carolyn Choate who helped me find words that I could not communicate at the time. I am equally humbled by the divine grace and unseen hands that guided me through despair.
The years since I first wrote these words have seen a seismic shift in accountability efforts. Brave journalists like Michele Rezendes and Murray Jones, attorneys such as Anne Andrews and Kimberly De Gonia, and platforms like Mormon Stories and Floodlit (a database tracking accused abusers) have exposed systemic child sexual abuse within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their work reveals a painful contradiction: an institution that champions family values yet shields perpetrators through policies like its legalistic reporting hotline, operated by law firm Kirton McConkie. This system, prioritizing institutional protection over child safety, has perpetuated underreporting and cover-ups—echoing failures seen in other faith communities.
My story, and those of countless survivors, is a demand for change. This book is a call to dismantle systems that enable abuse, to center survivors in conversations about justice, and to replace hollow rhetoric with action. It is my deepest hope that by confronting these truths, we can forge a future where every child is safe, every voice is heard, and healing is possible.
Founder & Director of Italian Parish Records, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Italian Catholic Parish Records. Facilitate the safeguarding and preservation of the endangered Italian Catholic sacramental parish records and ensure their accessibility. These unparalleled historical documents encapsulate the comprehensive narrative of Italy’s populace dating from the 16th to the 20th century. Our overarching objective is to establish an online research library, providing open access to the records and their associated extracted data, thereby benefiting scholars, genealogists, and the broader public. IPR is collaborating with Professor Nicola Barban at the University of Bologna with the international research project GENPOP, Genes, Genealogies, and the Evolution of Demographic Change and Social Equality. 2019 - Present
Ph.D. Candidate at The University of Edinburgh, School of Divinity
Examining systemic complicity in religious rituals/practices perpetuating men's violence against women & girls in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Practical & Ethical Theology combined with collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
Research Associate for Religion, Gender & Violence Scale Phase II, headed by Lisa le Roux, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Nov 2025- Jun 2026
MTS, Harvard Divinity School Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion. 2024
Trauma-Informed Spiritual Care Certificate. Harvard University, Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences, 2024 World Congress on Moral Injury, Trauma, Spirituality & Healing.
Child Protection Certificate Harvard’s FXB Center for Health & Human Rights. 2023
SVRI (Sexual Violence Research Initiative):
Course Moderator: "Faith & Helping Children Thrive without Violence." Sep-Dec 2025
Course Contributor & Auditor: "Faith & Helping Children Thrive without Violence." Mar - Jun 2025
"Faith & Transforming Intergenerational Cycles of Violence," Webinar Panelist, Nov 2025.
"Reimagining Religious Rituals, "Skillls Lab instructor, Nov 2025
"How to Engage Faith Actors in Survivor-Led Ways: Learning from & with Survivors of Child Violence, " Webinar Panelist, Mar 2025
Council of Europe Help Courses:
Violence Against Women & Domestic Abuse; Gender Equality & Gender Mainstreaming; Access to Justice for Women; Children's Rights in the Digital Environment; Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation & Sexual Abuse. 2025
United Nations
"Sacred Spaces, Equal Voices: Exploring Religion & Gender," Podcast, Apr 2025.
"Lifting the Voices of Survivors," Speaker UN High-Level Week September 2023
Global Collaborative Board Member: Survivor-led network of child advocacy organizations, survivor networks, academic and faith-based institutions, and governments is committed to ending child sexual abuse and supporting victims and survivors of childhood trauma in their healing. We worked closely with international communities to establish the annual International Day of Observance to grow awareness of the need to protect children from sexual abuse and bring healing to victims and survivors of childhood trauma. In a historic moment, on November 7, 2022, this milestone was achieved with the declaration of November 18 as the World Day for the Prevention of, and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence by the United Nations during the 77th General Assembly. 2022-2024.
Religion & Violence, Male Allyship & Child Sex Abuse Impact Team Member: Utah State University Women & Leadership Project - A Bolder Way Forward
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