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How do we face the truth about spiritual abuse when it comes at a cost?
In Episode Four of Descent Into Light, “Bargaining with the Storm,” Sr. Danielle Victoria takes listeners into the turbulence of the bargaining stage of grief, confronting not only the abuse she experienced but the culture and systems within which it occurred. During the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the storm outside mirrored the storm within—forcing Sr. Danielle to reckon with the full complexity of spiritual abuse.
This episode explores:
How survivors can wrestle with conflicting versions of reality, holding onto what was safe while confronting what was harmful
The subtle ways spiritual authority and obedience can be misused to manipulate conscience
How institutional culture and vices can enable abuse, even when intentions are good
Theologian Fr. Samuel Fernández explains how abuse of conscience can take over a person’s inner moral compass.
Philosopher Dr. Bernard Prusak highlights for listeners the role of institutional culture in shaping behavior, both virtuous and harmful.
This episode illuminates how abuse can be both personal and systemic, and how grappling with these realities is essential to building safer, more honest faith communities.
Stay with us as we release a new episode each week, for eight weeks, moving through the stages of grief toward hard-earned hope.
