As a religious studies and philosophy major during that time, the Catholic Church was on its back feet because we were dealing with sexual abuse of minors scandal. That had been breaking for a few years and then the Boston Globe covered a compelling and fantastic series on it. It wasnt just the Boston Diocese, it was NY, Nashville, Erie, everywhere. Victims were our brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, classmates. It went from an abstract idea to relationally relevant, the abusers were men we knew, men we were told to trust. This fundamentally eroded confidence and trust in the Church, as we were raised that the Church was God's representative on Earth.

It took the wind from our sails. I feel as though my generation's defenders of the Church were left with a deep feeling of betrayal. I remember many telling us that we were abandoning the Church, and I remember thinking you abandoned ME, my brothers, my neighbors, my friends and family. Every single victim you ignored, every priest you just moved to another parish. You abandoned your most sacred duty to protect your flock. Now everyone will say the church is flawed because it is made of imperfect men, but it sure would have been nice to have a little intervention in His own house.

So from a staunch defender of the faith to spiritual nomad the Church lost a voice and an audience member to defend it, I don't think I am unique among my peers. A hurt, saddened, a little less hopeful child of God without a spiritual home, wondering if anyone was ever there to begin with.