Whistle: Fr. Tom Doyle’s Steadfast Witness For Victims of Clerical Sexual Abuse

In May, 2015, contrary to all expectations, Fr. Doyle was named as a consultant for the Vatican's highest Commission, charged with investigating clergy sexual abuse of victims.This action marks the culmination of Doyle's thirty year career of speaking out on behalf of survivors, against bishops and their attorneys, in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Tom Roberts of NCR reported the story in the July 25th issue of the paper. A Letter to the Editor by NCR reader John Fitzgerald stated, "To say that Tom Doyle was a thorn in the side of the Vatican would be an understatement. He was more like an attacking rhinoceros. Now he is finally appointed to advise a Pontifical Commission that reports directly to the Pope. Tom is just one step from the ear of Pope Francis. And it's official... Unbelievable." Access the NCR article by this Q.R. Code. This striking sign of approval by Pope Francis and other Vatican officials underscores the perduring support Doyle has also received from members of his own Dominican Order. This was highlighted in 2004 when Master General Br. Carlos Azpiroz Costa O.P. gave him an award for "Prophetic Ministry to Victims and Perpetrators." As a young priest in the early 1980s, Tom Doyle, seemingly, had everything: 3 PhDs in Canon Law, his pilot's license, and a prestigious job at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C.. He was a Republican, and a strong supporter of Pope John Paul II's doctrinaire agenda. But then, in 1984, it all began to unravel when he was asked to investigate rumors about a priest in Louisiana who was abusing teenage boys. The rumors were true, cases multiplied, and Doyle was fired. The bishops stone walled. Doyle became a chaplain -- and began testifying for victims. For the next 25 years. This is his story, from the inside. The book contains a Dedication by Tom Doyle, an Epilogue by Tom Fox of the National Catholic Reporter, and dozens of Quick Reference QR codes for Smart Phones and Tablets providing access to articles and other resources focusing on clerical sexual abuse. All profits will be donated to charities assisting victims of clerical abuse.