* Content Warning* This episode contains mature themes and is not appropriate for minors.

Friends,

In this vulnerable and sobering episode, I visit with Father John Michael Paul, a Catholic priest who discovered that the founder of his religious community had a decades-long history of sexual abuse. For someone who spent decades serving as a priest and leader in his community, the betrayal was spiritual, deeply personal, and formative.

As someone who entered the Catholic Church shortly before the 2002 abuse crisis, I remember how destabilizing that season was for many of us. In today’s conversation, we explore what happens when the shepherd you trusted is revealed to be a wolf, and how truth, though painful, becomes the doorway to freedom.

• The impact of clergy sexual abuse on priests themselves
• Betrayal trauma within religious communities
• Spiritual fatherhood and spiritual disillusionment
• The difference between institutional loyalty and fidelity to truth
• How shame keeps abuse hidden
• The long road toward forgiveness
• What healing looks like when trust has been shattered

A Note to Listeners

If you have experienced betrayal within the Church, know this: your pain matters. Truth may take years to surface, but light always exposes what darkness tries to conceal.

Forgiveness is not denial. It is not spiritual bypassing. It is a grace which is often slow, often costly, but real.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

Connect with Dr. Carron

• Partner with the mission: https://go.drcarron.com/FIFYPodcastGift

• Join the weekly newsletter: https://go.drcarron.com/newsletterfreegiftoptin
• Work with me 1:1 — Looking for shame‑free, nonjudgmental support on your healing journey? Schedule a free consultation and let’s chat: https://go.drcarron.com/chatwithdrcarron

Love the Podcast?

If Forgiveness Is for YOU resonates with you, please:

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• Share with someone who needs hope
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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to Leave an Apple Review

1. Open the Apple Podcasts app
2. Search: Forgiveness Is for YOU
3. Tap the show (not an episode)
4. Scroll to Ratings & Reviews
5. Tap Write a Review

Credits

• Host & Producer: Dr. Carron Silva
• Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva
• Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva
• Music: Kode M (@kodemaster90)
• Social Media Manager: Diamond_Media00

Disclaimer

Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word

Thank you for listening, Friend. Remember: Forgiveness is for YOU.

Friends,

In this episode of the ongoing series on spiritual abuse, I sit down with Catholic Counselor Paul Fahey to explore a subtle but deeply impactful layer of harm: the abuse of conscience.

Many of us were taught to “follow our conscience,” but few of us were ever taught how a conscience is properly formed — or how it can be manipulated. When spiritual authority bypasses freedom, pressures compliance, or equates disagreement with sin, faith formation can quietly become control.

Paul defines conscience through a Catholic lens and offers concrete examples of how it can be distorted in families, churches, and religious communities. We also discuss how parents can faithfully teach their children without crossing the line into coercion, and why healthy formation always respects human dignity and freedom.

If you have ever struggled with religious guilt, fear-based teaching, or confusion about trusting your own moral judgment, this conversation will bring clarity and hope.

Paul Fahey's Link(s):

Email: paul@faheycounseling.com

Article: https://wherepeteris.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/The-Place-Where-You-Stand-is-Holy-Ground.pdf

Presentation: https://youtu.be/HjuL6lIKM28?si=yKvqiC31Ph-WN45P

Reference(s):

The Role of Conscience: https://www.usccb.org/resources/Role%20of%20the%20conscience.pdf

Connect with Dr. Carron

• Partner with the mission: https://go.drcarron.com/FIFYPodcastGift
• Join the weekly newsletter: https://go.drcarron.com/wellspringfreegiftoptin
• Work with me 1:1 — Looking for shame‑free, nonjudgmental support on your healing journey? Schedule a free consultation and let’s chat: https://go.drcarron.com/chatwithdrcarron

Love the Podcast? Please:

• Follow / Subscribe
• Share with someone who needs hope
• Leave a rating and written review

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to Leave an Apple Review

1. Open the Apple Podcasts app
2. Search: Forgiveness Is for YOU
3. Tap the show (not an episode)
4. Scroll to Ratings & Reviews
5. Tap Write a Review

Credits

• Host & Producer: Dr. Carron Silva
• Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva
• Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva
• Music: Kode M (@kodemaster90)
• Social Media Manager: Diamond_Media00

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. Guests are welcomed in a spirit of respectful dialogue and freedom of expression.

A Final Word: Thank you for listening, Friend. Remember: Forgiveness is for YOU.

Friends,

In this episode, I welcome Sr. Mary Stephen, founder of Restorative Catholic, to explore a restorative path forward for trauma survivors within the Catholic tradition. Sr. Mary Stephen shares how her vocation within a vocation led her to integrate somatic healing with Catholic spirituality, creating spaces where wounded hearts can safely encounter healing from the inside out.

We discuss how trauma is stored in the body, why traditional spiritual practices sometimes fall short for trauma survivors, and how somatic pilgrimages can help restore trust, presence, and peace.

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, your faith, or yourself after painful experiences within religious spaces, this episode invites you to consider a path of restoration rooted in compassion, embodiment, and grace.

Sister Mary Stephen's Link(s)

Website: https://restorativecatholic.com/

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

*Content Warning* This episode contains content not suitable for minors. Please listen with discretion.

Friends,

In Episode 8, Catholic Therapist and mom, Lisa Leopold, and I discussed her experiences as a postulant in a religious community, and how the misinterpretation of the vow of obedience caused her and other sisters in the convent to experience spiritual abuse. In this episode, Lisa brings up another issue that is often missed when parents are faced with the aftermath of sexual abuse by a person in a position of authority. She reveals how taking sides can create an intolerable situation for families navigating healing.

Lisa also speaks to the encouraging efforts being made by newer communities and reform-minded leaders who are working toward greater transparency and accountability in religious life. This episode is not about discouraging vocations. It is about ensuring that vocations flourish in environments that protect human dignity and authentic freedom. If you are discerning religious life, or know someone who is, this conversation offers important perspectives.

Lisa's Link(s): https://www.betaniacounseling.com

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Content Warning: *This content is not appropriate for minors, so please use a headset or listen in their absence. This episode discusses experiences of spiritual abuse within the church. While we approach this conversation with respect for the Church and for religious vocations, some of the themes may be difficult for listeners who have experienced spiritual trauma. Please listen at your own pace and care for your heart as needed.*

Friends,

What happens when the vow of obedience that is meant to free the heart for Christ becomes a mechanism of control?

In this episode of Forgiveness Is for YOU, I speak with Lisa Leopold about her experience as a postulant in a Catholic religious order and the spiritual abuse she encountered during formation. Together we explore how authority in religious life can become distorted, how the misuse of obedience can cause emotional and spiritual trauma, and what healing looks like on the other side.

Spiritual abuse in the Church is often difficult to name, especially when it is cloaked in piety or justified as “God’s will.”

Now a wife, mother, and licensed therapist, Lisa accompanies former religious and others who are healing from spiritual abuse. Her work sheds light on both the wounds and the hope for reform and transparency within religious communities.

Lisa's Link(s)

Website: http://www.bethaniacounseling.com/

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation, click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

In this opening episode of a new series, I begin a much-needed conversation about spiritual abuse: what it is, how it manifests, and why so many suffer in silence within church communities. Drawing from Pope Francis’ definition and addressing the dangers of clericalism, I explore how manipulation of conscience, misuse of authority, and distorted interpretations of Scripture can wound the faithful.

I give a preview of upcoming episodes and use exhortations from the books of James and 1 Peter to encourage the Body of Christ to love another. This series is not about tearing down the Church, but about calling it higher so that true healing, accountability, and renewal can begin.

Reference(s):

Glatz, Carol (2021). Vatican City — August 6, 2021 Societies of Apostolic Life, attends a news conference at the Vatican July 22, 2016. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/spiritual-abuse-occurs-more-frequently-believed-vatican-official-says

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Sign up for the Free to Forgive Masterclass: Five Weeks to Release and Renewal
2. Partner with us HERE
3. Link to my weekly newsletter.
4. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

Friends,

In a culture that often equates success with wealth and possessions, author and former special education teacher and school administrator Rosemary Olender invites us to rethink inheritance altogether. In this episode, we explore how character and forgiveness form a legacy that outlasts money, status, and material goods.

Rosemary shares how forgiveness is not only a personal healing practice, but a formative virtue, one that shapes family culture, strengthens empathy, and influences generations to come. Together, we reflect on how parents and caregivers can model forgiveness in everyday life and intentionally pass on values that endure.

Rosemary's Links:

Profile: Talks.co: https://talks.co/rosemary-olender/

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/rosemary-olender-227660356

FB: https://www.facebook.com/people/Coffee-and-Wisdom/61575571752937/

Free Resource: Family Connection Insight Survey:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kP7y4tIkIkaYgFhfud2Lsx7k06c6Btgep7JbeptuLLI/edit?tab=t.

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Learn more about the Free to Forgive Masterclass
2. Visit www.drcarron.com to sign up for my weekly email newsletter, where I share mindset skills, life hacks, and reflections on healing and forgiveness. When you sign up, you’ll receive a free guide: The ABC’s of Supporting a Loved One in Trauma.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation, click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!

*Content warning* - Content not suitable for minors. Please listen with discretion.

Friends,

Many of us feel skeptical when someone says they’ve heard God or encountered Jesus in a tangible way. And yet, at the core of the human heart is a longing to be seen, known, and loved, especially in painful places.

What happens when God breaks into a life marked by deep childhood trauma?

In this episode, I reflect on how Jesus meets people exactly where they are, not only within the walls of faith or religious practice, but across denominations, belief systems, doubt, and even disbelief. My guest, author Lynn Busby, shares her story of surviving a childhood that could easily be the backdrop of a horror film. At just twelve years old, Lynn experienced a profound encounter with Jesus that revealed Christ as the Divine Physician, bringing healing, safety, and love in the midst of trauma.

Lynn's links:

Blog: lynnbusby.com

Lynn's book: The Scent of Water: Busby, Lynn: 9781951611675: Books - Amazon.ca

Connect with Dr. Carron

1. Partner with us HERE
2. Link to my weekly newsletter.
3. Need someone to accompany you on your journey to freedom in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space? Come into coaching with me. To schedule a free consultation click on this link and let's chat!

Note: Opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their personal opinions and do not necessarily represent those of the host. The host understands that guests have the right to freedom of expression.

If the Forgiveness is for YOU podcast resonates with you, please rate, share on social media, write a review, and subscribe.

Apple Podcasts Link:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forgiveness-is-for-you-overcome-trauma-through-forgiveness/id1721956839

How to write a review on Apple Podcast App

1. Open Apple Podcast App
2. Search for Forgiveness is for You: Overcome Trauma…
3. Click on the SHOW, not the episode
4. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews”
5. Click on “Write a Review”

Podcast Editor: Dr. Carron Silva

Cover Art Designer: Dr. Carron Silva

Music Provided by: Kode M @kodemaster90

Thank you, and remember Friend, Forgiveness is for YOU!