Listening to victims should be the church's first step, agree advocates for those affected by sexual violence.

"This is the starting point for anybody in a dominant class or position of authority or power," Horan said. "We need to be quiet and trust and listen to the experiences of women."

Many years ago a liberal Archbishop in Milwaukee held listening sessions to hear the voices and concerns of women. This was to lead to a letter for women. Despite his other faults, he was one of few who truly listened to, and respected women. His brother bishops were scandalized at this and ostracized him for daring to ask women what they thought.. It has only gotten worse since then. The theological understanding of Imago Dei, all humanity created in the image and likeness of God, a basic Christian tenet, exists only in theory in the clerical world.