Laws are not holy. They’re made by people. The same can also be unmade or amended by people who’ve had quite enough.

Religious institutions have long benefited from loopholes, exemptions, and deferential treatment. For generations, survivors were forced to bring their pain to the very institutions that harmed them – beg for recognition, asking permission to heal, refile complaints quietly buried by boards, bishops, elders and “Discipline” committees – as if victims were transgressors. 

Make no mistake, the tides they are a turning. Slowly, perhaps, but boldly. Irrevocably.

This section outlines active legal reform efforts – many led by survivors, whistleblowers, and former insiders who fight to close legal gaps that protected holy-rollers from prosecution. Here you will find updates on proposed legislation, petitions for change, grassroots campaigns, and survivor-led justice movements. 

You’ll also find instructions on how to support or get involved – from writing letters to lawmakers, sharing your story anonymously, or showing up at hearings to stand along others calling the system to account. 

This is not performative justice, but sacred resistance.

We are not asking for special treatment. We’re demanding equal protection. We are not attacking faith. We’re exposing how it was corrupted to silence us. And we are not doing this alone.

If you were told the law couldn’t help you – come read what survivors are doing to change the law! If they told you it was too late – that would be a lie. And if you’re wondering whether your voice matters? More than you know. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW: ACTIVE REFORM EFFORTS TO WATCH

Lyra’s Law (Canada – Proposed)
Named in honor of survivors who were silenced by religious systems, Lyra’s Law proposes to:

• Mandate clergy as mandatory reporters, with no exception for confessional privilege

• Remove statutes of limitation for childhood spiritual abuse

• Require trauma-informed training for religious staff in any organization receiving public funds or charitable status

• Create an independent body to investigate religious institutions outside denominational jurisdiction

Window Legislation (United States – Active in several states)
Inspired by the Child Victims Act passed in New York, “Lookback window” legislation allows survivors to file civil lawsuits even after statutes of limitation have expired. States currently considering or expanding these windows include:

• California

• Pennsylvania

• Maryland

• Michigan

Mandatory Reporting Expansion (Global Movement)
Reformers are working to ensure clergy are legally required to report abuse disclosures, particularly in nations where “Confessional privilege” has been used to shield predators. Ongoing efforts are underway in:

• Australia (post-Royal Commission)

• Ireland

• South Africa

• Several U.S. states and Canadian provinces

Charitable Status Reform
Multiple survivor-led coalitions are lobbying for stricter oversight of religious organizations that benefit from tax-exempt status while failing to protect congregants. Proposals include:

• Withholding charitable status for institutions that mishandle abuse claims

• Public audits of internal disciplinary records

• Survivor consultation in adjudication and appeals processes

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: YOUR VOICE, YOUR WAY

1. Write to Lawmakers
Use our templates to contact your local representatives and support survivor-led bills in your region. Letters sent in volume matter – especially when they come from constituents directly impacted.

2. Sign & Share Petitions
Online petitions remain one of the simplest and most effective ways to demonstrate public support. When shared widely, they also educate others and encourage further advocacy.

3. Submit Testimony (Anonymously or Publicly)
Legislative committees often accept written or verbal testimony from survivors. You can contribute anonymously. We provide a guide for crafting your story in a legally impactful, trauma-conscious way.

4. Show Up to Hearings & Community Events
Whether you’re a survivor or an ally, your presence at public hearings, forums, or awareness events helps tip the scales. When survivors speak, others must be present to hold space and affirm their courage.

5. Volunteer with Advocacy Coalitions
ReLOVution partners with survivor-led networks that always need help – from research, to community organizing, to administrative support. No effort is too small.

6. Join Legal Reform Campaigns
We maintain a current list of grassroots movements in the U.S., Canada, and beyond. Whether it’s calling your MP, helping translate materials, or attending strategic planning sessions, we connect you with those already doing the work.

WHERE TO START

Legal Reform Directory
A centralized, up-to-date directory of active legislation and reform initiatives worldwide.

Survivor Advocate Toolkit
Downloadable templates for writing lawmakers, sample testimony, event signage, and guidelines for building safe community partnerships.

Partner Organizations
Connect with the people and coalitions leading the charge, including:

• SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)

• Voices for Reform Canada

• JAAT (Justice Against Abuse in Theology)

• Reformation Alliance International

• Sacred Survivors Legislative Council

OUR WORD

We do none of this in bitterness, rather carrying love as our banner. Love for those still trapped in silence. Love for truth that outlasts imagery created by men. Love for justice that doesn’t flinch at the notion of “Church.” And love for future generations who deserve sanctuaries, not stage-managed secrecy. 

To those who were told it was too late –  that’s what they want you to believe. Any made to feel isolated and alone in their grief? Welcome home. And for those who still carry righteous anger – use it! 

This is not just legal reform – it’s sacred resistance. And your “Insignificant” voice? A sweet sound that changes everything. 

– ReLOVution