Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain has long been committed to representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in New Orleans and across Louisiana, working tirelessly to hold institutions accountable. A new documentary, God As My Witness, brings this critical issue to the international stage, giving voice to survivors and shining a light on the systems that allowed clergy abuse to persist.
Film Festival Success and Upcoming Screenings
The documentary has already received worldwide attention and acclaim at various film festivals and premieres. On June 26, 2025, God As My Witness had its world debut at the Raindance Film Festival in London, one of the world’s leading independent film festivals. The film was selected from over 16,000 submissions and was nominated for Best Feature Documentary. It placed in the top three among nine finalists, which is an incredible achievement.
The documentary’s European premiere took place in Setúbal, Portugal. The screening was held inside the private chapel of the Bishop of Setúbal (also the Cardinal of Lisbon), with members of the Portuguese survivor group Grupa Vita in attendance. The event featured a deeply moving Q&A session, attended by clergy and cultural leaders from the Diocese of Setúbal.
The film will make its U.S. debut at the Winter Park Film Festival in Colorado on September 5–7, 2025. Once again, it’s been nominated for Best Feature Documentary. Following Winter Park, the other confirmed film festivals featuring God As My Witness as a Best Feature Documentary nominee include:
Footcandle Film Festival in Hickory, NC (Sept. 19-28), with the film screening scheduled for September 27, 2025.
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival in Chagrin Falls, OH (Oct. 7-12), with the film screening scheduled for October 11, 2025.
Japan Independent Film Festival in Tokyo, Japan (Nov. 22–26, 2025)
Why This Film Matters
God As My Witness examines the experiences of those who endured sexual abuse while growing up in the Catholic church in New Orleans and their fight for justice. The stories shared in the film reflect the experiences of many clergy sexual abuse survivors in Louisiana and beyond – the struggle for justice, the need for institutional accountability, and the resilience of those who have come forward.
Our firm has been at the forefront of Louisiana clergy abuse cases. We help sex abuse survivors navigate the legal system, protect their rights, expose the truth, and recover compensation for the effects of their abuse. The documentary God As My Witness underscores why these cases matter and why the fight must continue.
We know how difficult it can be to take the first step. If you are a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, we are here to listen, guide, and advocate for you every step of the way. Every conversation with our team is confidential. Contact us at 844-943-7626 or request a free consultation online to learn about your options and how we can help.
Other Clergy & Priest Abuse News
A New Orleans clergy abuse trial verdict has demonstrated that justice is possible thanks to the Louisiana lookback law.
The first jury verdict was reached in a case relying on the Louisiana sex abuse look-back window, which revived claims related to childhood sexual abuse.
Over the past several months, our firm along with co-counsel, Johnny Denenea and Richard Trahant, on behalf of certain abuse survivors, has been holding the Archdiocese of New Orleans accountable by filing several motions to address concerns.
Court Says Louisiana “Lookback Window” Clergy Abuse Lawsuit Against Diocese of Lafayette Can Proceed
The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling of a law that allows victims of child sexual abuse to file claims regardless of when the abuse occurred.
This week The Guardian published a series of articles comprising the most comprehensive account that the Archdiocese of New Orleans is the largest known employer of pedophiles in Louisiana history.
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