Sacred Silence: Denial And The Crisis In The Ch... May 2026

: Shift away from a strictly clerical culture to include more participation from the faithful.

: Acknowledge the historical and personal forms of denial that have sustained the status quo.

Sacred Silence: Denial and the Crisis in the Church - Liturgical Press Sacred silence: denial and the crisis in the ch...

The book is widely regarded by reviewers from platforms like Liturgical Press and Publishers Weekly as a courageous and prophetic work that seeks to heal the Church by confronting its "ugly, gaping wounds" with truth.

is a 2002 book by Donald Cozzens, PhD, an American Catholic priest and author who explores the institutional failures and culture of secrecy within the Catholic Church. The book critiques how "sacred silence"—traditionally a form of prayer and reverence—has been misused as a tool of denial to avoid addressing major crises. Core Themes of the Book : Shift away from a strictly clerical culture

: Transition from institutional secrecy to open, honest dialogue.

: The text suggests that bishops and church authorities often surrendered their authority to Vatican congregations or were immobilized by the fear of being reported to Rome. is a 2002 book by Donald Cozzens, PhD,

Cozzens argues that a culture of misplaced loyalty and fear of scandal led to a leadership crisis, primarily focusing on the following areas: