A Conversation with Janet E. Clark
Q. You have said that your novel, Blind Faith, is the story of the Roman Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandal as seen through the eyes of young Jack O'Donnell and his family. Would you say that Jack's is a fairly typical story?
A. I don't know that there is a typical story. Just as each person is different, so is each victim and each perpetrator. From what I've seen and the research I've done, though, I do believe many victims, like Jack, came from vulnerable family situations that made them an easy target for predatory priests. Many others came from very devout families where it would have been extremely hard for a child to come forward with the truth because the life of the family was so deeply enmeshed with the church. But many other victims don't meet either of those profiles. Unfortunately, sexual abusers tend to be equal-opportunity offenders, choosing victims from all walks of life......more