Has anyone else had to face a truth like this?
This article hit my area today, exposing my former pastor for abuse of his daughters, and the church leadership for refusing to name them or hold him accountable.
There’s no descriptors in the article, so I hope it’s ok to share.
https://sjmagazine.net/wide-awake/good-men
In my case, this pastor also facilitated lesser abuse against me when I was younger, but we were “counseled” after each event, and my parents were essentially rewarded with ministries both times they submitted to the pastor instead of pressing charges.
The church never addressed what happened to me, and I was gaslit for 5 years. And it worked. Because I spent the next 20 years trying to convince myself I must’ve missed something, even though I’ve always known what happened was wrong.
So I guess my question is double-sided: Have you ever experienced abuse that you tried to expose but the church covered up? And/or have you ever been confronted with information that forced you to see a pastor or former pastor for the monster they are?