One of the things I have learned from walking with abuse survivors is that even simple words can land very differently depending on a person’s past experiences.
I got on your Substack page and listened to part of the podcast "Welcome to Anna's story." As far as I can tell, you entered the Missionaries of Charity expecting to experience the happiness that comes from opening your heart to Jesus, and instead became indoctrinated into an abusive system of complete control and domination. This system glorified suffering, and taught the nuns that suffering was a necessary, redemptive element to achieve salvation, even to the point of ignoring your own physical well being.
I am sorry that this happened to you. It was wrong, and you should not have had to endure it. If I understand what you said in the podcast, this abusive system is still used today to further indoctrinate vulnerable young women who only wanted to embrace the loving and compassionate vision that Jesus set forth the Gospels. The abusers who use this system need to be confronted and stopped immediately! Jesus is not a punishing God. In my understanding, Jesus comes to us as "the wounded healer" filled with deep care and concern for the spiritual and mental health of all human beings.
I will send you a direct message if you need to talk. You can contact Sara, the host of - In Spirit and Truth - at inspiritandtruth@substack.com.
Anna, I add to Guy's sorrow that this happened to you and to his encouragement to reach out to Sara and the Awake Community. This compassionate group offers support to survivors of harm from Catholic leaders. You may enjoy getting to know them through their website: https://www.awakecommunity.org.
Thanks, Anna. I am a member of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and a member of the Catholic Whistleblowers site on FB. I wanted to make sure that someone from In Spirit In Truth received her comment.
Guy, thank you for jumping in with your supportive comment for Anna. I'm not sure if we've met at any of the previous SNAP conferences, but I'm grateful to be connected here.
Thank you for your comment, Anna. I am familiar with your story, and I'm deeply sorry for everything you have been through. I have sent you a message through Substack.
To me, love is unattainable. I know I'll never have it. It's something you learn or don't. I've learned to mirror, to mimic and to be present. I am telling my story so that maybe, just maybe I'll be forgiven. I tried to fix my life by having a family of my own. I've ruined my husband. I am pouring time and energy into my kids so even if they realize one day what I wasn't capable of, atleast they understood, I tried, I showed up. And that I'm sorry.
I feel like what was shared about this topic, in particular, is an example of what the Church can learn from survivors. They are doing the heavy life-long work of diving deep to understand Truth in a way that most people never do. Thank you all for what you shared. Know that I sorrow for and with you.
Could l talk with someone?
I got on your Substack page and listened to part of the podcast "Welcome to Anna's story." As far as I can tell, you entered the Missionaries of Charity expecting to experience the happiness that comes from opening your heart to Jesus, and instead became indoctrinated into an abusive system of complete control and domination. This system glorified suffering, and taught the nuns that suffering was a necessary, redemptive element to achieve salvation, even to the point of ignoring your own physical well being.
I am sorry that this happened to you. It was wrong, and you should not have had to endure it. If I understand what you said in the podcast, this abusive system is still used today to further indoctrinate vulnerable young women who only wanted to embrace the loving and compassionate vision that Jesus set forth the Gospels. The abusers who use this system need to be confronted and stopped immediately! Jesus is not a punishing God. In my understanding, Jesus comes to us as "the wounded healer" filled with deep care and concern for the spiritual and mental health of all human beings.
I will send you a direct message if you need to talk. You can contact Sara, the host of - In Spirit and Truth - at inspiritandtruth@substack.com.
Anna, I add to Guy's sorrow that this happened to you and to his encouragement to reach out to Sara and the Awake Community. This compassionate group offers support to survivors of harm from Catholic leaders. You may enjoy getting to know them through their website: https://www.awakecommunity.org.
Thanks, Anna. I am a member of SNAP, Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and a member of the Catholic Whistleblowers site on FB. I wanted to make sure that someone from In Spirit In Truth received her comment.
Guy, thank you for jumping in with your supportive comment for Anna. I'm not sure if we've met at any of the previous SNAP conferences, but I'm grateful to be connected here.
Thank you for your comment, Anna. I am familiar with your story, and I'm deeply sorry for everything you have been through. I have sent you a message through Substack.
To me, love is unattainable. I know I'll never have it. It's something you learn or don't. I've learned to mirror, to mimic and to be present. I am telling my story so that maybe, just maybe I'll be forgiven. I tried to fix my life by having a family of my own. I've ruined my husband. I am pouring time and energy into my kids so even if they realize one day what I wasn't capable of, atleast they understood, I tried, I showed up. And that I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry for all the pain you have experienced in your life, Era. I grieve with you.
this one hit me right in the heart…hard, sara
I feel like what was shared about this topic, in particular, is an example of what the Church can learn from survivors. They are doing the heavy life-long work of diving deep to understand Truth in a way that most people never do. Thank you all for what you shared. Know that I sorrow for and with you.