Product Description

‘I was living in a world where a priest who spoke the words of God used me for sex, and there was no-one to tell. The world where this horror happened didn’t exist for anyone else.’

As a boy in Ireland where everyone – from among his own neighbours to the powers of church and state – chose to deny that a priest could sexually assault a child, Colm O’Gorman felt only shame, guilt and fear at the regular rape and abuse he suffered.

But Colm would go on to make history, successfully suing the Roman Catholic Church, asking questions of the Pope himself and creating a watershed in history as hundreds more victims found the courage to report their abuse.

Beyond Belief is a powerful story of a young man’s shame turning to outrage, and demonstrates that – whatever our past hurts – there is hope for the future if we are prepared to stand for truth.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61632 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
'one of the most inspiring and dignified voices heard in Ireland in recent times. He has triumphed over sexual abuse.' (Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of the Republic of Ireland. )

'This is the most important and moving story to come out of Ireland in many years. It shows how the gentle will inherit the earth.' (Anne Enright )

'[This] is a crucial document in the charting of a dark period in our history. It is also a story of bravery and survival, of strength and resilience, and will serve as an inspiration to many readers. (Colm Toibin )

'I doubt you will read a more moving memoir this year than Beyond Belief...Parts of his beautifully written book will reduce the reader to tears, especially his description of his relationship with his father. It is this story – so typical of the dysfunctional communications some Irish fathers had with their sons a generation ago – that forms the other pillar upon which this valuable tome rests. His final paragraphs on forgiveness are pure poetry and deeply moving.' (Irish Times on Sunday )

'...inspirational and moving.' (Sunday Independent )

'Few men have made such an extraordinary personal journey... I have interviewed several sufferers of systematic sexual abuse, but Colm, almost uniquely, doesn't come across as a victim. Nor is he self-conscious or bitter.' (Daily Telegraph )

'[This] compelling memoir is wonderfully well-written, brilliantly paced and will surely be made into a film...This is a book you simply have to read. It could change your life...It is the memoir of a man whose courage and timing ultimately made the difference. With this book, he continues that mission by rescuing the story of child sexual abuse from media fatigue to make it compelling, relevant and current once again.' (Sunday Tribune )

'...a riveting account of his own abuse and his battle with the Church — and he’s a very good writer, which helps. It seems certain to be a bestseller.' (Irish Independent )

'...a determined and fluent individual who has turned the trauma of his life into an extraordinary form of empowerment. O’Gorman transcends much of his terrible anger and brings some sense of resolution to what was, and is, a dark period in the story of modern Ireland.' (Irish Times )

'(Colm) is a charismatic man, his words tumbling with the speed and lyrical cadence so typical of the Irish, yet so polished, so wholly formed in thought, that the deeply felt passion of it packs the punch of an evangelical preacher.' (Scotland on Sunday )

'Beyond Belief is both shocking and inspirational, evoking the terrible loneliness of the abused child before channeling the adults frustration, anger and passion for the truth. Excellent.' (RTE Guide )

‘Compelling and moving. He is a very rare and clearsighted person to whom we owe a great deal.’ (Books Ireland )

'a powerful and moving story and Colm tells it so articulately in print and interview.' (ABC Radio, National Life Matters )

‘a chilling account of sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests... Colm went on to successfully uncover the past and change the future with the first Irish inquiry into clerical sexual abuse and sue the Roman Catholic Church - forcing it to admit failing to protect its children. *****' (Manly Daily )

About the Author
Colm O'Gorman founded the charity One in Four to support women and men who have experienced sexual violence. Prior to that he worked as a therapist in private practice in London. He is a former Senator on the Irish Parliament and is now Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland. In 1998 he sued the Roman Catholic Church over its systematic cover-ups of child abuse scandals involving its priests, and won. He lives in County Wexford with his family.

Customer Reviews

Challenging but above all Inspiring, hopeful and uplifting
A powerful read. I couldn't out this book down once I started reading it. It is compelling, emotive and so very inspirational. A must read.

From what could have been a horror story full of abuse and hurt, O'Gorman has written a powerful book full of hope and possibility. He challenges the reader to be all that they can be, to speak up and speak out - to change the world. His story made me believe I could, his life shows that we all can, if we chose to.

His description of his relationship with his Dad speaks powerfully of love and the bond between a father and son which has the power to work through any difficulty. I was moved to tears and to above all hope as I read of their reconciliation and of the power of their mutual love and respect.

You must read this book!

Should be Compulsory Reading in Any ReligiousTeaching Establisment
As a person of no faith, it is hard to understand the grip of power that the Roman Catholic Church had in Ireland. A grip that meant a Priest could arrive at a house and take an adolescent boy away with him for a weekend 'youth group' with the parents not raising the slightest doubt that this would be above board. Sadly, paedophile priests found that the RCC went out of its way to protect both them and itself and these abusers found themselves simply moved to another parish when complaints were made about their conduct.

As I said, as a non believer I do have to wonder why the parents of children who were brave enough to speak out about the abuse that had occured did not go directly to the police? Allowing the RCC to "deal" with such serious crimes "in house" played into the hands of the perpetraters. In a particularly infuriating chapter (The Full Report) the inspiring author Colm O'Gorman tells of the action the Bishop of Dublin took in 1986 when such crimes were brought to his attention. He approached an INSURANCE COMPANY on the advice of the church solicitors, and took out a policy to protect against the cost of any claims resulting from his priests raping and abusing children! Did he prevent the named priests from working with children? Report the matter to the police? Put robust child protection rules into place? No. He took out an insurance policy to pay out any future claims - when he SHOULD have been taking steps to prevent such claims arising.

So, there is the horror of the initial crimes against children - and the dispicable way the RCC 'dealt' with the matter. To the present day, Pope Benedict is prepared to condemn the 'Harry Potter' books and films - but is not prepared to publicly address the now proven instances of systematic child abuse uncovered in the catholic church in Ireland! 'Sorry' would indeed appear to be the hardest word.

Author Colm O'Gorman is an intelligent, brave and warm human being who has triumphed over his abuse to become a well rounded adult with close family and friends and a loving relationship with his partner. He more than deserves the awards and praised heaped on him for standing up to the bullying litigations of the RCC and the desperate attempts to stall the legal process as long as possible, in some case dragging matters on for years.

Colm's own abuser took his life prior to standing trial - and in a moving footnote Colm finds it in him to state that this man was NOT a monster - he was a human being who should have received help, albeit in the form of prosecution, rather than be allowed to continue his crimes. Colm is also anxious that the millions of truly Christian RC Priests and Nuns who do Gods work day in and day out are not tainted by the actions of a small percentage amongst them. There is no bitterness in the closing chapters of Colm's book - just hope and a positive outlook for the years ahead.

The RCC is of course not the only institution subject to allegations of concealing paedophile acitivity in its midst, but its deperation to protect its funds is a sad reflection on their priorities and in no way can be likened to the work and words attributed to Jesus.

This book is a moving, compelling and heartbreaking read - but it should be widely read as proof that a victim can triumph over adversity and that help is available for the abused, providing they go to the police - and not to those higher up in the church.

Brave, Honest and a call to action
While I knew much of the author's story because of media coverage, this book was a real revelation. By being very honest, and laying bare his own motivations and history, the author manages to show the corruption and lack of outrage that he faced when he went public with his story of abuse. He shows how so many people knew what was going on, but did nothing to stop it. He shows how the hierarchy of the church did little to deter priests who had previously been accused by other children.

In the end, he calls us to action, to bring the church to take responsibility for the devastation it has caused by it's own inaction.

A must read. You won't believe it.