I: Sacred Trust Shattered

What happens when a spiritual leader you trust turns out to be someone very different from what you believed?

In Episode One of Descent Into Light, “Sacred Trust Shattered,” Sr. Theresa Aletheia takes listeners into the moment when her world cracked open. What began as admiration for a spiritual leader unraveled into a devastating shock.

This first episode explores:

* The shock and disorientation that follows spiritual betrayal

* How grooming can hide behind spiritual language and “holy” appearances

* Why power and consent must be understood to protect adults from abuse in faith settings

Attributions:

Special thanks to Nick and Corynne Staresinic for their invaluable help in producing this project.

This episode uses sounds from various sources, including:

Heart Beat After 20 Min.mp3 by family1st -- https://freesound.org/s/44778/

March 2002 Reuters News - BOSTON CATHOLIC PRIEST SEX ABUSE CRISIS; SNAP Phil Saviano on YouTube.

February 2002 - A. W. Richard Sipe - CNN Interview About Catholic Clergy Child Sex Abuse Issue on YouTube.