FORT WAYNE, Ind. – University of Saint Francis professor Dr. Adam DeVille has written a thought-provoking book on the need for carefully considered structural reforms to the Catholic Church in order to address its sexual abuse crisis. The book is available now and gaining attention in the United States and abroad.
In his new book Everything Hidden Shall Be Revealed: Ridding the Church of Abuses of Sex and Power (Angelico Press, 2019), DeVille, an associate professor in the Philosophy-Theology Department at USF, argues that current single-cause explanations of the crisis (either “clericalism” or “homosexuality”) both overlook the central structural issues of governance. DeVille writes how the current structures, which centralize power in the hands of bishops and popes, must be reformed and in their place new structures of local and shared accountability with the laity must be implemented for the Church to move past the present crisis.
DeVille’s book is the first to examine the Church in this way. He has been interviewed by NPR and has also appeared in international interviews discussing the book.
DeVille began writing about sex abuse in the Church in 1992 in his native Canada. He emphasizes that his new book reflects long and serious thought about a crisis which has been destroying the Catholic Church around the world for more than 30 years. A crisis of this longstanding and far-reaching magnitude demands major reforms, DeVille stresses, and his book proposes changes from the local parish to the papacy, reflecting decades of the best scholarship. It has been endorsed by various bishops, clergy, and theologians from Australia, Europe, and the United States.
DeVille calls this a radical book in the original sense of the word: a return to root practices that structured much of Catholic life for hundreds of years. It is thus a deeply “traditionalist” book on the one hand, he said, for it is rooted strongly in venerable Christian practices; but it is an openly “liberal” book that also argues in favor of liberating the lay people to resume their rightful role in the councils of governance with voice and vote.
DeVille is available for interviews in person, by phone (260-399-7700, ext. 8120), and e-mail (adeville@sf.edu).
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 16 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships, and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,200 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.