This week, Jake and Bob are joined by Teresa Pitt Green, co-founder of Spirit Fire, a ministry dedicated to “facilitating healing dialogue among those wounded by abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.” Teresa shares her own story of healing from abuse, the challenges she experienced, and what she learned along the way. She also shares practical advice to help priests approach conversations with survivors, common mistakes to avoid, and insights into the complexity of what it’s like to heal from abuse. Ultimately, it is Jesus who heals, and He can use whatever we have to offer to bring about restoration in the Church and her members.

If you are experiencing or have experienced abuse of any kind, we encourage you to reach out to Teresa or check out her resources on Spirit Fire’s website.

Key Points:

Navigating conversations with survivors of abuse requires sensitivity and receptivity
For many survivors of clergy abuse, there is little distinction between priests and abusers
Healing from abuse is an ongoing journey, it isn’t something someone can just “get over”
If someone approaches you about abuse, be careful to listen and not judge their experiences
Even if we make a mistake in our approach to a conversation, God can still work through that moment. He is the one who is ultimately doing the healing work
The journey of healing is complex and nonlinear

Resources:

Spirit Fire’s Website

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Healing from Abuse within the Church w/ ...