Fr. Thomas Doyle is the co-author of the 200+ page, once-secret and still controversial 1985 report. It predicted that molestation charges against clergy would erupt soon. It also advised bishops on how to respond pastorally to abuse victims.

At that time, Doyle, a canon lawyer, was a rising star in the church hierarchy and worked at the Vatican Embassy in Washington DC. Because of the document, and his subsequent outspoken advocacy on behalf of victims, Doyle’s been ostracized by the church hierarchy and earlier this year lost his job as an Air Force chaplain.

Last year, he was the first-ever recipient of the Priest of Integrity Award sponsored by Voice of the Faithful, a nationwide, 30,000-member independent Catholic lay organization.

“Twenty years ago, Doyle was a ladder-climbing Vatican insider. Now, he’s a pariah to the hierarchy but an absolute hero to Catholic lay people and molestation victims,” said David Clohessy of St. Louis, SNAP’s National Director. “Having been intimately involved on all sides of this crisis, Doyle probably knows more about abuse and the church’s history and culture than anyone.”