Author Janet Heimlich to speak on Religious Child Maltreatment

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/a/4/e/event_122799502.jpegAuthor Janet Heimlich will speak on her recent book "Breaking Their Will: Shedding Light on Religious Child Maltreatment" (Prometheus Books, 2011) which is the first publicaton to take an in-depth look at child abuse and neglect enabled by religious belief.

High-profile cases such as the child sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church and “faith healing” deaths in certain fundamentalist Christian congregations have made the public aware that religion can sometimes mask deviant and harmful behavior. But the extent of the problem is far greater than most people realize. In this revealing, disturbing, and thoroughly researched book, Heimlich has exposed a dark side of faith that most Americans do not know exists or have ignored for a long time—religious child maltreatment.

Heimlich freelanced as a reporter for National Public Radio and has also written non-fiction articles for such publications as Texas Monthly, the Austin American-Statesman, and the Texas Observer. Her work has won several journalism awards, including the regional Katie, given by the Press Club of Dallas; the Houston Press Club’s Radio Journalist of the Year; and the Texas Bar Association’s Gavel Award.

There will be an opportunity for questions by the audience.