This Teen Sex Abuse Victim Stood Up to Her Abuser. Faith Hakesley Fought for Justice.

Faith Hakesley is a wife, homeschooling mother, blogger, and author. She was born and raised in Massachusetts where she graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Following graduation, she worked in the Psychology field until the birth of her first child. Over the course of her life, Faith has overcome many traumas including rape by a Catholic priest, the death of a brother, and has lived through incurable cancer as well as a serious heart condition that nearly took her life.

In 2008, Faith was one of five victims of clerical abuse from the Archdiocese of Boston to meet privately with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during his trip to Washington, D.C. Their meeting awoke in her heart the yearning to use her story in order to help others. Since then, she has become passionate about sharing her personal story in order to offer hope, healing, and peace to those who are suffering. Faith strives to break the stigmas associated with trauma and encourages others to find hope through their faith.

Faith has appeared on CNN, Face the Nation, Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo, Kresta in the Afternoon with Al Kresta, EWTN News Nightly with Lauren Ashburn, Emmanuel Radio with Cindy Dorsey, WJR with Marie Osborne, and Catholic TV's This is the Day with Bishop Robert Reed. She was a guest speaker at the 2009 Women Affirming Life Breakfast in Norwood, MA and has been a contributing writer for the National Catholic Register.

Her first book, Glimmers of Grace: Moments of Peace and Healing Following Sexual Abuse, a devotional for victims of sexual abuse, will be published by Our Sunday Visitor in August of 2020. She maintains a blog called Faith Restored which can be found on her website www.faithhakesley.com.

Faith's website:
www.faithhakesley.com

Faith's "Faith Restored" blog:
www.faithhakesley.com/blog

Find a Catholic therapist near you
www.catholictherapists.com/

Anonymously report known or suspected child abuse
www.childhelp.org/hotline
Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network)
www.rainn.org/about-sexual-assault

​National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: A 24/7 resource for anyone thinking about suicide and for friends and family concerned about a loved one
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute: this website offers information for survivors and their loved ones
www.sidran.org/resources/for-survivors-and-loved-ones

The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake: information about trauma's correlation to substance abuse
www.palmerlakerecovery.com/blog/trauma-substance-abuse/

Made in His Image: a non-profit organization that offers support to victims of eating disorders, depression, self-harm, or physical and/or sexual abuse
https://madeinhisimage.org

Ruth Institute: provides research and educational tools to support individuals and families affected by the consequences ofthe Sexual Revolution
www.ruthinstitute.org/for-survivors