Some stories are difficult to hear because they reveal painful truths. Others are impossible to ignore because they show how ordinary people found the courage to demand accountability.
God As My Witness is a powerful documentary examining the New Orleans clergy abuse crisis through the voices of survivors, attorneys, journalists, advocates, and family members. Among those featured is Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain partner Soren Gisleson, whose work representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse has helped uncover institutional failures and pursue justice through the legal system.
The film chronicles the effort to expose decades of alleged clergy sexual abuse, secrecy, and institutional cover-ups within the Archdiocese of New Orleans. More than a historical account, it reveals how years of investigation, survivor advocacy, and legal action helped bring hidden truths to light and hold powerful institutions responsible during one of Louisiana’s most significant clergy abuse scandals.
God As My Witness Gives Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse a Voice
At the heart of God As My Witness are the survivors, whose firsthand accounts provide the film’s emotional foundation. Their stories illustrate the lifelong impact of childhood sexual abuse while also demonstrating remarkable resilience. By sharing experiences that remained hidden for years or even decades, survivors help audiences understand both the lasting effects of abuse and the courage it often takes to come forward.
Aaron, one of the survivors featured in the documentary, describes that journey in deeply personal terms:
“One thing I’ve learned by going through all of this is you become a victim first, then you become a survivor, and then you become an advocate. For a while there, I felt I was the only man on top of the mountain yelling, ‘Hey, hey, there’s clergy abuse,’ and then I finally got people to listen to me.”
Another survivor, Kathleen, shares a message of encouragement for others who may be struggling in silence:
“Please don’t be afraid, say something, get help. You’re much stronger than you think you are in this moment.”
Together, their stories reflect one of the documentary’s most powerful messages: survivors who speak out not only seek justice for themselves but also help protect future generations.
The documentary also shows how survivor testimony helped transform deeply personal tragedies into a broader movement for transparency, institutional reform, and justice. By coming forward, survivors helped challenge decades of silence and ensured these stories could no longer be ignored.
God As My Witness has received international recognition through multiple film festivals, bringing renewed attention to the experiences of survivors and the effort to uncover abuse within the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
How Clergy Abuse Attorneys Help Survivors Seek Accountability
Attorneys play an important role in the film by discussing how they investigated abuse allegations and represented survivors in their pursuit of justice. Their perspectives provide insight into the legal challenges of pursuing decades-old childhood sexual abuse claims, including uncovering historical records, connecting evidence that remained hidden for years, and determining what institutions knew—or should have known—about allegations of abuse involving one of the nation’s largest and most influential religious institutions.
In one of the film’s opening moments, Gisleson reflects on the scope of the abuse revealed within the Archdiocese of New Orleans:
“In the Archdiocese of New Orleans, that randomly you could have this many pedophiles in one organization in a city this small for this many generations, it just cannot be random. So, if it’s not random, what is it?”
His observation frames one of the documentary’s central questions: whether decades of abuse resulted from isolated acts or broader institutional failures that allowed misconduct to continue unchecked.
Documentary Released Following Historic New Orleans Clergy Abuse Bankruptcy Settlement
The film’s release also comes shortly after approval of the historic New Orleans Catholic Church sex abuse bankruptcy settlement. Valued at more than $300 million after an anticipated insurance contribution, it’s one of the largest clergy abuse settlements in U.S. history.
The settlement follows years of litigation in which survivors sought justice from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain, along with other attorneys, have represented survivors throughout this process and continue to advocate for those affected by clergy sexual abuse.
Why the God As My Witness Documentary Matters
God As My Witness is ultimately a story of courage—shown by survivors who came forward, journalists who continued asking difficult questions, attorneys who pursued justice, and advocates who refused to let these stories disappear. The documentary provides insight into how institutional abuse can remain hidden for decades, why many survivors delay disclosure, and why accountability continues to matter today.
Whether viewed as an important film, an examination of the New Orleans clergy abuse crisis, or a testament to the resilience of survivors, God As My Witness reminds us that meaningful change often begins when people refuse to remain silent.
That message may resonate deeply with many viewers, particularly survivors of childhood sexual abuse. For some, watching God As My Witness may also raise difficult memories or questions about their own experiences. If you or someone you love experienced clergy sexual abuse or another form of childhood sexual abuse, Herman, Katz, Gisleson & Cain is available to provide a confidential, compassionate consultation to discuss your experiences, legal rights, and available options. There is no obligation to pursue a claim—only an opportunity to decide what is right for you.
You can stream God As My Witness on Relay.
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