Religious Martini: Faith Shaken . . . Soul Stirred

Religious Martini is an effort to clarify the unsettling topic of religious pedophilia, foster awareness and understanding of both pedophile and victim, and promote healing and restoration of faith. Religious Martini combines Dr. Freiburger's groundbreaking study, work with victims and perpetrators, and original perspectives and reactions, to ensure interest and education for everyone. Religious Martini includes the careful study and analysis of files and treatment records of religious figures who entered into an inpatient psychiatric program at the direct request or demand of a supervisor with Dr. Freiburger's work with survivors of abuse. The increasing awareness of religious pedophilia is fostering interest, anger, sadness, fear, and distress, and Religious Martini provides groundbreaking insight into abuse and the religious setting. As clergy pedophiles have been a highly guarded and revered group, it is the authors intent in its release to increase the understanding of clergy pedophilia, the role of religion in the abuse, and to aid in the recovery of the victims. "If it provides even one victim a doorway to absolution...if awareness saves even one child from further victimization...if access is grated to allow for further studies, protective policies are implemented, or screening tools are developed..." ...if this release should foster positive change on behalf of the abuser, professional, religious institutions, or anyone else struggling with this unsettling topic... then the effort will have truly been worthwhile.