I find it very interesting that apologists for the Catholic Church question the motives and the effects that such a "healing circle" would have for victims of clergy abuse.  Perhaps I can add my perspective, as a long suffering victim and a participant in the same "healing circle" that Father Paul mentions in his article. It is extremely difficult to put into words what happened at the circle back in February of this year. Myself and the other attendees are very much aware that recovery from childhood sexual abuse is a process and not an event. But the event did have a profound effect on me.  Everyone who was invited was able to share the effects that the abuse crisis had on them personally. There was another priest there from upstate New York, I believe, who talked about being a whistle blower and how he was ostracized by his superiors and fellow priests and by members of the laity because he chose to protect children and not his fellow priests.  continued in following post.