A searing expose of institutional child abuse, and the remarkable story of the survivors who would not be silenced
'A unique story of pain and triumph told superbly by Anne Manne, who follows victims of abuse as they shatter an old alliance between leading citizens of Newcastle and its Anglican cathedral on the hill which for decades protected brazen paedophile priests. In all the writing of the last few years about clerical child abuse, there's nothing like Crimes of the Cross.' David Marr
For many years, Newcastle was the centre of a sinister paedophile network run by members of the Anglican Church and protected by parishioners and community members who looked the other way.
In this gripping book, Anne Manne reveals how this network avoided detection for so long, and how its ringleaders were finally exposed and brought to justice. At the heart of the story is a survivor, Steve Smith, who endured years of childhood abuse but refused to be silenced.
Drawing on extensive research and interviews with survivors, clergy, lay people, police and others, Manne explores how the network operated and how it became entrenched in the upper echelons of Newcastle society. She offers deep insights into the minds and strategies of abusers and pays tribute to the victims and their tireless struggle for justice. Child sexual abuse has previously been thought of as an individual crime; Manne pioneers an examination of it as part of a network.
This is an unforgettable story of courage in the face of unthinkable evil.
'This story gripped me from the first page and refused to let go. The courage expressed, the clear criminality within the Anglican Church, the vividness of the writing all of it has remained with me ever since. This book is a singular achievement, and I cannot recommend it more highly.' Jess Hill
'[I] found myself repeatedly moved by Anne Manne's tenderness towards Steve Smith and her moral incredulity in the face of the conduct of representatives of the church' Scott Stephens, Australian Book Review
'... told in clear, heart-rending prose, while Manne lays bare the egregious attempts by some diocese figures to protect and excuse the perpetrators.' Jason Steger, Sydney Morning Herald
'[Manne] has immersed herself in the diocese and in the victims' stories. Her narrative is all the more powerful for being mostly matter of fact and unemotional. [...] The bald narrative contains all the power she needs, and I confess it brought me to tears several times.' Barney Zwartz, The Age
Shortlisted for the 2024 Walkley Book Award
Longlisted for the 2024 Australian Political Book of the Year
Longlisted for the 2024 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award