Book DescriptionCatholic: Surviving Abuse and Other Dead End Roads is a collection of poetry performed in the stage production of the same name, a one-man theatrical memoir by Skip Shea.
The collection traces a life of tragedy, from enduring sexual abuse at the hands of priests at St. Mary's Parish in the Dioces of Worcester, Massachusetts, to the death of his sixteen-year-old daughter Shawna.
A life filled with substance abuse, mental illness and suicide attempts, Shea's poetry takes us through despair to find hope and healing.
Book Reviews
"Skip Shea's poetry is an incredibly emotional and inspirational story that should be read by all. The reader cannot help but feel heartbreak for all the author has endured in his life. You can almost feel his pain through his beautiful yet heart wrenching poetry. I find this book to be inspirational to all. While most of us have never been through what this man has endured, it makes the reader reflect on his or her own life and realize there's light at the end of the tunnel. Skip Shea is an incredible human being who despite tragedy has managed to turn his life around and still see the good in this world."
~ Jessica Medeiros, Massachusetts)
"The Catholic clergy abuse scandal is one of the most difficult, intractable and devasting tragedies of our time, but Skip Shea, a clery abuse survivor, shows through powerful and compelling words that hope and healing can be on the other side of this darkness. His poetry is both lyrical and raw and through the horrendous veil of the worst evil, he puts in perspective the lowest points of his life - alcoholism, mental illness, suicide attempts and the death of his daughter Shawna. Anyone, whether or not affected by sexual abuse, should read this collection of poetry. It tells a story that needs to be heard."
~ Anna Chinappi, Uxbridge, MA
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