Press Releases

MILWAUKEE, January 23, 2024 –

After almost five years of operating as a Milwaukee-based organization called “Awake Milwaukee,” this independent Catholic nonprofit organization has changed its name to simply “Awake” to reflect its growing national reach. Awake is the only national organization bringing together abuse survivors and concerned Catholics to address the issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Awake provides education, advocacy, prayer, and survivor support to people from throughout the United States and beyond, with a mission focused on awakening, transformation, and healing. "We are excited to have a name that reflects the national impact of Awake’s work," said executive director Sara Larson.

As part of the rebranding process, Awake has updated its logo and visual identity to embody a sense of warmth, welcome, and hope, with a new website - www.awakecommunity.org - providing extensive resources for all who care about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Larson commented, “We want every person who connects with Awake, especially victim-survivors of abuse, to experience a message of compassion, courage, and hope.”

“As Awake embraces its identity as a national organization,” said Larson, “we will continue to provide a needed voice in the public conversation about abuse in the Catholic Church and the work that still needs to be done to build a Church that is transparent, accountable, and safe for all.”

Catholic organization suggests next steps for preventing and responding to sexual abuse

MILWAUKEE, September 13, 2022 – After three years of learning from victim-survivors and researching best practices in addressing sexual abuse, Awake Milwaukee has published recommendations for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to increase transparency, safety, and accountability our church. These recommendations address updates to the list of restricted priests, sexual abuse of adults, preventing abuse proactively, and the transparency and accountability of lay-led advisory boards.

As committed Catholics, we urge the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to build on progress that has already been made in addressing sexual abuse by adopting these important changes.

The complete set of recommendations can be found HEREHERE

About Awake Milwaukee

Awake is a growing grassroots nonprofit organization of Catholics addressing the issue of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and supporting survivors of that abuse. Our mission is to awaken our community to the full reality of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and work for transformation and healing in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and beyond. More information can be found at https://www.awakecommunity.org.

Catholic organization offers support to victim-survivors of clergy abuse and their loved ones

MILWAUKEE, August 30, 2022 – Since Archbishop Emeritus Rembert Weakland died last Monday, Awake Milwaukee has heard from many victim-survivors of clergy abuse and their loved ones that the attention to Weakland in recent days has brought up painful memories and strong emotions. For many, this includes renewed anger at Weakland’s pattern of concealing clergy sexual abuse and moving abusive priests to unsuspecting parishes, as well as the ways some Catholics continue to minimize the harm caused by this behavior.

Sexual abuse, especially abuse by a religious leader, is a deep and long-lasting trauma, and we urge all people to be mindful of this reality when they speak about Weakland’s legacy. For perspectives from five victim-survivors interviewed by Awake, please visit today’s article at www.awakecommunity.org/blog.

As Catholics, we believe in praying for all who have died. While this includes Rembert Weakland on the day of his funeral, we also remember in our prayers today all victims of clergy sexual abuse, especially those who have died deaths of despair in the aftermath of their abuse. We pray for survivors who continue to work for truth, justice, and healing, and we call on our fellow Catholics to stand in solidarity with them today.

Catholic organization stands with abuse survivors and encourages Catholic support of investigation

MILWAUKEE, April 27, 2021 – Awake Milwaukee is honored to stand with abuse survivors and their advocates as Attorney General Josh Kaul announces an investigation into sexual abuse in the state’s Catholic dioceses and religious orders. The attorney general invited Executive Director Sara Larson to participate in today’s press conference at the State Capitol in Madison to speak on behalf of Wisconsin Catholics who support this inquiry. 

Awake Milwaukee offers a particularly important perspective on this developing news story, as our organization is composed of abuse survivors and concerned Catholics who are working together to address the twin crises of sexual abuse and leadership failures in the Catholic Church. 

In response to this announcement, Awake is creating spaces that allow concerned Catholics to understand and discuss this news and is developing resources for Catholic leaders to use in addressing the investigation in their parishes. Awake encourages survivors and others with information to reach out to the Wisconsin Department of Justice at SupportSurvivors.widoj.gov or 877-222-2620.

Executive Director Sara Larson says, “As committed Catholics, we are heartbroken and outraged over the abuse that has taken place in our Church, and we welcome the Attorney General investigation as an opportunity to better understand what has happened in the past – and what is happening today. While we recognize that the process and findings of this investigation may be painful for Catholics, we believe that transformation and healing are only possible when we know the whole truth. Our Catholic faith compels us to work for justice and act in solidarity with those who are suffering, so we commit to stand with all victim-survivors and we hope that this investigation brings them some measure of justice and peace.”

Local Catholic organization welcomes opportunity for truth and justice

MILWAUKEE, April 22, 2021 – Awake Milwaukee welcomes the news that Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul will be launching an investigation into sexual abuse in the state’s Catholic dioceses and religious orders. 

Awake Milwaukee offers a particularly important perspective on this news, as our organization is composed of abuse survivors and concerned Catholics who are working together to address the twin crises of sexual abuse and leadership failures in the Catholic Church. In the coming weeks Awake will:

• provide information and resources to Catholic parishes and leaders

• create spaces for concerned Catholics to understand and discuss this news

• encourage survivors and others who have information to come forward to aid the investigation

Executive Director Sara Larson says, “As committed Catholics, we are heartbroken and outraged over the abuse that has taken place in our Church, and we welcome the opportunity to better understand what has happened in the past – and what is happening today. While we recognize that the process and findings of this investigation may be painful for Catholics, we believe that transformation and healing are only possible when we know the whole truth. Our Catholic faith compels us to work for justice and act in solidarity with those who are suffering, so we stand with all victim-survivors and every person who has been harmed by abuse in our Church.”