Episode Five: Beth’s Story

In this week’s fifth episode of The Fringes, we listen to the lived experience of “Beth,” we share a courageous personal testimony entrusted to us by “Beth,” who shares her lived experience of growing up in an intentional Catholic community where families and religious brothers and sisters lived side by side.

Beth opens up about the erosion of boundaries, the traumatic impact of coercive spiritual guidance during a 30-day retreat, and the complex challenge of disentangling family roles from spiritual authority figures.

Following her account, Sr. Theresa and Sr. Danielle discuss the necessity of clear safeguarding policies, the danger of idealizing religious communities, how spiritual abuse drives people away from faith, and how acknowledging human limits and danger ultimately creates safer environments for children and families.

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