Peter Grant, who as priest and soldier has witnessed more things that should not be seen than most of us will see in 100 lifetimes, expresses his thoughts on Moira Greyland’s new book:
I’ve written more than once about child sexual abuse, particularly in the context of the Catholic Church’s clergy crisis. I also had not inconsiderable contact with child molesters and abusers as a prison chaplain. I wrote about some cases in my memoir of prison ministry.
However, nothing can capture the agony of child abuse, mental, spiritual and physical, like the recollections of an abused child. Moira Greyland is one such person….
I think this is an extraordinarily important book. I believe we all need to understand the horrifying impact of child sexual abuse on its victims. Most of them can’t speak for themselves. I commend and applaud Ms. Greyland’s courage in speaking out, not just for herself, but on their behalf, too.
On a personal note, I find this book a ghastly reminder of why I took the stand I did when the Catholic Church hierarchy signally failed (and has continued to fail to this day) to address the issue of clergy sexual abuse in any meaningful way. I don’t think the bishops, archbishops and cardinals in general have any idea of just how horrifying is the reality of child sex abuse. If they did, I can’t believe they would have allowed their neglect of the situation to continue for so long. Nevertheless, they did . . . and the result for the Church has been catastrophic. By their wrong actions and deliberate inaction, they have destroyed the faith of millions – their faith in the Church, certainly, and in tragically many cases, their faith in God too. That destruction will be weighed in the scales against them when they come to the Judgment we all must face. I would not like to be in their shoes when that happens.
I can only suggest most strongly that you read Ms. Greyland’s book for yourself.
From the first reviews of THE LAST CLOSET: The Dark Side of Avalon:
- This is a painful book to read, especially if you have children or loved ones. Doubly so if you have the latter who have suffered sexual abuse. Nevertheless, it is a book which absolutely has to be read. I feel almost embarrassed to add it also is an excellent guide to the inner workings of the science fiction circles of 70s and 80s as well but it is. This is a painful book to read about some bizarre grotesques but the sad fact is the very human Alice in her distorted terrible Wonderland was forced to keep much of this secret until now.
- A hard book to read, not because of the writing, but because of the subject. But this is a book that should be read. If it can inspire more victims to speak out and educate people to the hidden-in-plain-sight depredations that surround them then it will be worth the struggle of the author to put her life out for all to see.
- I obtained this book through the Kindle Unlimited program. Here’s how important it was to me: I had a backlog of 9 books to read and review, 9 books by 9 good authors, that I expect to enjoy reading. THIS book was just released today, and I grabbed it up, and started reading immediately. Because it was important. It IS important. I just finished about 30 minutes ago; and I found myself being continually astounded that this person is ALIVE, much less strong enough to speak out.
- This is an important book. A book of horror and redemption. A book that needed deep courage to write and deep courage to publish. A book that churns the unchurnable stomach. A book that needs bravery to read, bravery to acknowledge the horror, the deep evil, that exists in our fallen world.
- I didn’t mean to even start it, but now that I have, I can’t put it down – no matter how much I want to. It is a VERY important book. Astounding.
