Holocaust Survivors: Stories of Resiliency, Forgiveness, and Survivorship
The Vision Forum presents an inspiring evening in the presence of Holocaust survivors who will share their stories of resiliency, forgiveness and survivorship. Join us on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Transfiguration Performance Hall, 2nd fl. of the Church Life Center South, Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, 14115 Hillcrest Rd., Dallas TX 75254 (NW corner of Spring Valley and Hillcrest Roads).
Presented by Harriet L. Cohen, PhD, LCSW, an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Social Work at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, who will also discuss her research project on this subject. In addition, Homesick, a piece for flute, cello, voice, and piano by David Carp, will be performed. The event is free and open to the public. View flyer.
Speaking to Power: Would you Dare?
A discussion on religion, morality, and authority
The Vision Forum, in cooperation with the Fig Theatre Company, presented the play Doubt on March 19-21, 2010. “There is no evidence. There are no witnesses. But for one, there is no doubt.”
Set in 1964 in the Bronx, NY, the plot centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him of abusing an African American student. He denies the charges, and much of the play’s quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority.
A panel discussion, Speaking to Power: Would you Dare? followed immediately after the Sunday 2 p.m. matinee performance. Panelists included Sylvia Demarest, attorney for the plaintiffs in the Rudy Kos case, Randal Mathis, attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, and Stephen Sprinkle, TCU Brite School of Divinity associate professor of practical theology, discussing religion, morality, and authority, enacted in Doubt.
Sylvia Demarest
Attorney Sylvia Demarest was one of two attorneys who won a $119M jury verdict – the largest in history – against the Catholic Church (Diocese of Dallas) in a case involving the sexual abuse of former altar boys. The case resulted in the creation by the Catholic Church and other religious institutions of new rules for handling abuse allegations and priests and pastors accused of sexual abuse. Ms. Demarest was instrumental in 1994 in creating and designing a national database containing names and other vital information on priests and other Catholic religious accused of the sexual abuse of minors. This database continues to grow on a daily basis and is currently available online through the Bishop-Accountability website.
Randal Mathis
Mr. Mathis’s work for the Catholic Church relative to the abuse controversy began in 1993 and continues to the present time. It spans not only defense of abuse civil litigation, but grand jury inquiries and investigation of allegations of suspicious conduct and various aspects of Diocesan abuse prevention programs. He and his firm have now dealt with more than 100 suits and complaints of abuse and have investigated any number of complaints and suspicions of this nature, both for and against various other religious organizations, churches, schools, and individuals.
Stephen Sprinkle
Stephen V. Sprinkle, associate professor of Practical Theology, at TCU’s Brite School of Divinity also serves as the Director of Field Education and Supervised Ministry. He was educated at Barton College, Yale University Divinity School, and Duke University where he received the Ph.D. degree in Systematic Theology.