Shaun Blanchard is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia on the Sydney campus. A North Carolina native and graduate of UNC, Oxford (Blackfriars Hall), and Marquette, Shaun writes on a variety of topics in early modern and modern Catholicism, especially Jansenism, Catholic Enlightenment, the history of the papacy, and the Vatican councils.

LINKS

Shaun Blanchard:
https://nd-au.academia.edu/ShaunBlanchard

Shaun Blanchard - Doctor John Henry Newman
https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/p/29-shaun-blanchard-doctor-john-henry

Traditionis Custodes Was Never Merely About the Liturgy:
https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/traditionis-custodes-was-never-merely-about-the-liturgy/

The Reform Was Real: Continuity and change at Vatican II:
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/reform-was-real

ABOUT THIRD SPACE: Third Space is the podcast for those who see the beauty of Catholicism, as well as the ugliness, who have experienced real harm AND real grace in the Church. Every episode I will have conversations with guests about the good and the bad in the Church—avoiding easy answers or black & white fundamentalism—in order to hold on to all that is true.

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. All of your support directly helps my family and allows me to continue working on projects like this podcast, the newsletter, as well as resources about spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

www.catholicthirdspace.com

LIVING SOLIDARITY: Living Solidarity upholds the infinite dignity of every person by addressing the reality of spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Catholic Church. Living Solidarity helps to build a Church of integrity and solidarity by accompanying survivors of spiritual abuse with trauma-informed life coaching; equipping Church leaders and institutions to confront systemic harm; and creating resources grounded in psychological research and the Church’s Social Teaching. Visit livingsolidarity.com to learn more, to connect with Paul, to schedule individual life coaching, or to invite Paul to speak or consult with your community, parish, seminary, or diocese.

ABOUT THE HOST: Paul Fahey is currently a professional counselor, retreat leader, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and creates resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse. He previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. Paul Fahey lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and their five kids.

Highlights included discussion about the senses fidei (what does it mean and is universal consensus even possible?), the baptismal priesthood, how we have misunderstood the meaning of “hierarchy,” a question about the Church’s perspective on ordaining gay men to the priesthood, and more!

Sarah and I hope is to host live discussions every month following Leo’s catechesis. So keep an eye out for the next one.

Go ahead and follow Sarah at Recovering Catholic and Pope Leo Weekly.

Become a paid subscriber to Third Space here: https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Pope Leo Weekly here:
https://popeleoweekly.substack.com/subscribe

“As we approach the documents of Vatican Council II and rediscover their prophetic and contemporary relevance, we welcome the rich tradition of the life of the Church and, at the same time, we question ourselves about the present and renew our joy in running towards the world to bring it the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, justice and peace.” Pope Leo

Register Here!

I’m a professional counselor who previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. I provide counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and create resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against abuse.

Join me for an online workshop focused on recognizing, preventing, and responding to spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

This workshop is for:

• Individuals trying to better understand their experiences of spiritual abuse in the Church

• Clergy and lay leaders interested in safeguarding their communities from spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience

• Therapists or spiritual directors working with clients who have been spiritually abused

This workshop will help you:

• Recognize and prevent spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Church

• Know the symptoms of spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and moral injury

• Better understand and respond to abusive systems in the Church

Details:

This is five-part live workshop that will be held virtually. I’m running two workshops with day or evening sessions to accommodate different time zones and work schedules.

Groups will have between 5 and 12 participants and space will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Your space in the workshop will not be held until payment is received

• Group 1 - Mondays, 7:00-9:00pm(EST) | 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11

• Group 2 [SOLD OUT] - Wednesdays, 9:00-11:00am (EST) | 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

Register Here!

Price:

This five-week workshop is $400.

Making this workshop available to anyone who can benefit from it is important to me, but it’s also an essential part of my family’s income. I don’t want inability to pay to be obstacle for you to participate. So if you can’t pay the full $400, please pay what you can (even if it’s only $10).

And if you can’t attend this workshop, but you are grateful that resources like this exist, please consider financially supporting it.

How to Pay:

1. Pay $400 with a credit card here: https://buy.stripe.com/fZu8wOaEy48ogpU8XZdIA01

2. Send a custom amount via PayPal (paul@faheycounseling.com) or Venmo (@catholicthirdspace)

Register Here!

Dr. Julia Sadusky graciously joined me again on the podcast, this time to discuss the bad psychology and bad theology that underpins conversion therapy. Last year, Julia, along with a group of other Christian mental health professionals, submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court (in Chiles v. Salazar) defending a Colorado law that bans licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors. I spoke with Julia about the origins of conversion therapy, the harm it causes, and how this court case could impact Christian mental health providers.

Dr. Julia Sadusky is an author, speaker, and licensed psychologist. She owns Lux Counseling and Consulting in Littleton, CO., where she offers individual, family, and couples therapy in addition to consultations for individuals and families around sexuality and gender. She also serves as a ministry educator, offering trainings and consultations to counseling centers and faith-based institutions on sexuality, gender identity, mental health, trauma-informed care, and the intersection of sexuality, gender, and theology. Other areas of focus include work with those experiencing complex trauma and eating disorders.

Dr. Sadusky’s most recent books are Start Talking to Your Kids About Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics and Talking with Your Teen About Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics (Ave Maria Press). Dr. Sadusky has coauthored two other books, including Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today’s Youth (Brazos Press) and Gender Identity & Faith: Clinical Postures, Tools and Case Studies for Client-Centered Care (Intervarsity Press) with Mark Yarhouse, PsyD., and contributed to a four views book titled, Understanding Transgender Identities: 4 Views (Baker Academic).

LINKS

Julia Sadusky’s Website:

https://www.juliasadusky.com/

Conversion Truth For Families website:

https://www.conversiontruthforfamilies.org/free-guide

Julia Sadusky’s Amicus Brief:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-539/370705/20250826104808419_24-539%20Chiles%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf

Online Course: Talking with Your Teen about Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics:

https://talkingtoyourteencourse.com/

**Coupon code: Themiddlespace10 for 10% off the course for parents of teens

Book: Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding the Diverse Experiences of Today’s Youth:

https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Gender-Identities-Understanding-Experiences/dp/1587434342/

Book: Gender Identity and Faith: Clinical Postures, Tools, and Case Studies for Client-Centered Care:

https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Identity-Faith-Clinical-Client-Centered/dp/0830841814/

Book: Emerging Sexual Identities: Navigating the Landscape with Today’s Youth (A Christian Guide to Understanding and Ministering to LGBTQ+ Youth):

https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Sexual-Identities-Understanding-Ministering/dp/1587436442

Julia Sadusky’s Substack:

https://drsadusky.substack.com/

ABOUT THIRD SPACE: Third Space is the podcast for those who see the beauty of Catholicism, as well as the ugliness, who have experienced real harm AND real grace in the Church. Every episode I will have conversations with guests about the good and the bad in the Church—avoiding easy answers or black & white fundamentalism—in order to hold on to all that is true.

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. All of your support directly helps my family and allows me to continue working on projects like this podcast, the newsletter, as well as resources about spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

www.catholicthirdspace.com

LIVING SOLIDARITY: Living Solidarity upholds the infinite dignity of every person by addressing the reality of spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Catholic Church. Living Solidarity helps to build a Church of integrity and solidarity by accompanying survivors of spiritual abuse with trauma-informed life coaching; equipping Church leaders and institutions to confront systemic harm; and creating resources grounded in psychological research and the Church’s Social Teaching. Visit livingsolidarity.com to learn more, to connect with Paul, to schedule individual life coaching, or to invite Paul to speak or consult with your community, parish, seminary, or diocese.

ABOUT THE HOST: Paul Fahey is currently a professional counselor, retreat leader, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and creates resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse. He previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. Paul Fahey lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and their five kids.

introduced me to this quote a few months ago. And in the way the Good Spirit haunts me, it’s haunted me since.

Mercy, like water, always flows to the lowest point. Does this not illuminate the feast we are celebrating today?

I used to experience Holy Saturday as a day of sorrowful waiting. And in many ways, it is. The apostles were in mourning. Hopeless. Too exhausted and ashamed to do anything but nothing.

The Son of God died. Actually died. Not pretend death. Actual death. “He shared our radical poverty, which is death.” Mercy ran down to the lowest point.

But Mary must have known death hadn’t won.2 She knew that today was a day of liberation. “It is the day of the Paschal Mystery in which everything seems immobile and silent, while in reality an invisible action of salvation is being fulfilled.”3

The ancient icons of Holy Saturday depict that revelation we profess in the Creed: Jesus descended into hell…in order to liberate it.

“This event, which the liturgy and tradition have handed down to us, represents the most profound and radical gesture of God’s love for humanity…He enters, so to speak, in the very house of death, to empty it, to free its inhabitants, taking them by the hand one by one.”4

Mercy flowed to the lowest point. “He wanted to sink so low that in the future all falling would be a falling into him.”5

In the process he broke down the gates of death, trampled the accuser, and, seeing his son far off, ran down the road to embrace Adam. There were no words of condemnation. No annoyance. No shame. Only liberation.

Like the shepherd who after searching—relentlessly, until he found it—for the lost sheep, bent down to the sheep and lifted it up onto his shoulders, rejoicing, Mercy looked into the eyes of the human who started all of this mess and said:

“Arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.”6

This event isn’t merely historical: it’s personal.

“Dear friends, this descent of Christ does not relate only to the past, but touches the life of every one of us. The underworld is not only the condition of the dead, but also of those who live death as a result of evil and sin. It is also the daily hell of loneliness, shame, abandonment, and the struggle of life. Christ enters into all these dark realities to bear witness to the love of the Father. Not to judge, but to set free. Not to blame, but to save. He does so quietly, on tiptoe, like one who enters a hospital room to offer comfort and help… He does so with full authority, but also with infinite gentleness, like a father with the son who fears that he is no longer loved.”7

God’s mercy flows—runs—down to the lowest part of my life. Christ rushes down to my greatest failures, where I’m most ashamed, where I experience the greatest weakness. And, like water, when Mercy reaches the bottom, it pools. It is in my poverty and powerlessness that I encounter Christ. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

“Holy Saturday, then, is the day in which heaven visits earth most deeply. It is the time in which every corner of human history is touched by the light of Easter. And if Christ was able to descend all the way down there, nothing can be excluded from his redemption. Not even our nights, not even our oldest faults, not even our broken bonds. There is no past so ruined, no history so compromised that it cannot be touched by mercy.

“Dear brothers and sisters, to descend, for God, is not a defeat, but the fulfilment of his love. It is not a failure, but the way by which he shows that no place is too far away, no heart is too closed, no tomb too tightly sealed for his love. This consoles us, this sustains us. And if at times we seem to have hit rock bottom, let us remember: that is the place from which God is able to begin a new creation.”8

I know you’ve been anxiously waiting for me and Sarah Carter to schedule the next Leo Live, but the wait is over!

Next Thursday at 8:00pm (EST) we will discussing Pope Leo’s ongoing catechetical series about Vatican II (and if the pope has some banger homilies through the Triduum, maybe we’ll talk about those too).

This month, my friend Shaun Blanchard will be joining us all the way from Australia. Shaun is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia on the Sydney campus. In addition to constantly talking about Jansenism, Shaun brings an extensive knowledge of the papacy, the Vatican councils, development of doctrine, and Cardinal (Saint! (Doctor!!)) John Henry Newman.

Also new this month: the live conversation will be open to all subscribers of Third Space or Pope Leo Weekly (not only paid). As usual, the recording will be published in the days following.

Over at Pope Leo Weekly, Sarah will have a Leo Live Reading Companion available next week with the addresses from Pope Leo (as well as some of the Vatican II documents he references) that we’ll be discussing.

You can access the livestream here:
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/153088

Become a paid subscriber to Third Space here: https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Pope Leo Weekly here:
https://popeleoweekly.substack.com/subscribe

“As we approach the documents of Vatican Council II and rediscover their prophetic and contemporary relevance, we welcome the rich tradition of the life of the Church and, at the same time, we question ourselves about the present and renew our joy in running towards the world to bring it the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, justice and peace.” Pope Leo

Listen to the podcast episode here!

“What happens when the Church you love has also hurt you? For many Catholics, there’s no safe space to hold both truths at once, until now. In this powerful bonus episode, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich talk with Paul Fahey, licensed counselor, catechist, and host of the Third Space Podcast, to unpack what spiritual abuse really looks like, why so many Catholics unknowingly surrender their freedom, and how genuine listening may be the most prophetic act the Church can offer right now.”

Check out Carron’s podcast

“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.”

One thing led to another, and we ended up doing an impromptu live conversation diving into our personal interactions with this teaching and some of the controversies around it.

Every person responds to that question in their own way. Maybe the most common response I hear is that it’s the sacraments, the Eucharist, that’s the thing that people feel keeps them connected to Catholicism.

But my answer to that question isn’t the Eucharist or the liturgy. Maybe the biggest thing keeping me Catholic is the Church’s teaching on the infinite dignity of every human person. Not the teaching itself necessarily, but the worldview, the moral vision, that comes out of it.

I wanted to share my love of this teaching, so for the past several weeks I have released a series of videos unpacking the prophetic and wildly unrealistic proclamation that every single human being has infinite dignity. I’m publishing these talks all together now into one podcast episode.

These talks will include discussion of the Church’s teaching on the universal destination of goods, the rights of immigrants, the death penalty, spiritual abuse, the preferential option for the poor, and more.

LINKS:

Watch the video series here:
https://www.youtube.com/@CatholicThirdSpace/playlists

Dignitas Infinita
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240402_dignitas-infinita_en.html

Fratelli Tutti
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html

Dilexi Te
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html

ABOUT THIRD SPACE: Third Space is the podcast for those who see the beauty of Catholicism, as well as the ugliness, who have experienced real harm AND real grace in the Church. Every episode I will have conversations with guests about the good and the bad in the Church—avoiding easy answers or black & white fundamentalism—in order to hold on to all that is true.

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. All of your support directly helps my family and allows me to continue working on projects like this podcast, the newsletter, as well as resources about spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

www.catholicthirdspace.com

LIVING SOLIDARITY: Living Solidarity upholds the infinite dignity of every person by addressing the reality of spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Catholic Church. Living Solidarity helps to build a Church of integrity and solidarity by accompanying survivors of spiritual abuse with trauma-informed life coaching; equipping Church leaders and institutions to confront systemic harm; and creating resources grounded in psychological research and the Church’s Social Teaching. Visit livingsolidarity.com to learn more, to connect with Paul, to schedule individual life coaching, or to invite Paul to speak or consult with your community, parish, seminary, or diocese.

ABOUT THE HOST: Paul Fahey is currently a professional counselor, retreat leader, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and creates resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse. He previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. Paul Fahey lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and their five kids.

One essential doctrine that flows from the Church’s understanding of human dignity is the preferential option for the poor.

In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo said that this “preferential option on the part of God for the poor” is “an expression that arose in the context of the Latin American continent” and that “has been well integrated into subsequent teachings of the Church” (DT 16).

Pope Leo is clear that not only is this preference for the vulnerable and marginalized the very heart of the Church’s mission and identity, but it’s also a source of renewal for the Church and the world.

“God shows a preference for the poor: the Lord’s words of hope and liberation are addressed first of all to them. Therefore, even in their poverty or weakness, no one should feel abandoned. And the Church, if she wants to be Christ’s Church, must be a Church of the Beatitudes, one that makes room for the little ones and walks poor with the poor, a place where the poor have a privileged place” (Dilexi Te 21).

I’ve noticed a shift in language between Pope Francis and Pope Leo. It gives me hope that the Church is moving closer to the truth in its understanding, defense and support of adults harmed by clergy and Catholic leaders.

Pope Leo has chosen to describe adults and vulnerability with the phrase “persons in vulnerable situations” rather than “vulnerable adults” as did Pope Francis, and it matters.

At the beginning of his March 16 audience with participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Leo said (emphasis mine):

“I likewise express gratitude to all of you, members and staff, for your service to the Church by protecting children, adolescents and persons in vulnerable situations. It is a demanding service, sometimes silent, often burdensome, but one which is essential for the life of the Church and for the building of an authentic culture of care.”

Then again, towards the end of his address, he said:

“Before concluding, let me reiterate that the protection of minors and persons in vulnerable situations is not an isolated area of ecclesial life, but a dimension that permeates pastoral care, formation, governance and discipline. Every step forward on this journey is a step towards Christ and towards a more evangelical and authentic Church.”

Pope Leo’s phrase hits differently, and here’s why.

Vulnerable adult terminology places the responsibility for harm on the condition of the victim, rather than the behavior of the abuser where it belongs. Using a label of “vulnerable adult” implies that a disability or some cognitive impairment must be present before the criteria for harm is met. Any “normal” person who isn’t a minor doesn’t qualify for harm.

Wrong! The term doesn’t express what any adult survivor can tell you is true.

In the spiritual life where harm and abuse may occur, vulnerability of a person is NOT a deficit or a detriment but is highly desirable and actually preferred. Vulnerability is a proper disposition among those who seek God. It is often prayerfully asked for, even begged for so as to encounter the living God. Furthermore, it’s biblical to be vulnerable “blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5).

Pope Leo’s terminology matures the language Pope Francis began by extending the understanding of adult vulnerability. In 2019, Francis issued a Motu Proprio titled, On The Protection Of Minors And Vulnerable Persons. In it he defined “vulnerable person” saying:

“A person is vulnerable when in a state of infirmity, of physical or mental deficiency, or deprived of personal liberty, which, in fact, even if occasionally, limits their ability to understand or to want or otherwise resist the offence.”

Francis adds an acknowledgment of temporary, situational vulnerability in addition to those of cognition and developmental disability. However, the inclusion still relates vulnerability to the condition of the victim. Leo speaks differently, more accurately. He uses the phrase “persons in vulnerable situations”. The expression hits differently because it hits closer to the truth.

Vulnerability for each and every person always exists given humanity’s fallen nature. We are ALL vulnerable to the occasion of sin, whether our own or of another, anywhere, anytime. An additional layer of vulnerability that can be physical, emotional, spiritual or all of the above is situational vulnerability. There are circumstances and occasions that create vulnerability that have nothing to do with age, infirmity or disability.

The phrasing “persons in vulnerable situations” more appropriately places the context of vulnerability on the occasion rather than the person. Strong, capable, intelligent people that no one would describe as “vulnerable” find themselves in vulnerable situations often, especially if they are seeking God through mediators the Church says are worthy of giving good counsel (priests, spiritual directors, etc).

In these situations, vulnerability exists for the seeker because of the inherent power differential the Church representative has in the encounter. The seeker trusts and the one trusted is responsible to recognize and protect the vulnerability of the moment. When the trusted one fails, harm happens. This harm has nothing to do with a person’s age, nor their level of cognition or impairment. Harm can happen to anyone, not just “vulnerable persons” but any “person in a vulnerable situation”.

I imagine this change in language went unnoticed by many. If pointed out, it might even create confusion. Even if you’ve read this far, you may not be convinced the two popes aren’t saying the same thing. Listening as an adult survivor of clergy abuse, it sounds as different as night and day.

Pope Leo’s turn of phrase indicates a greater understanding and awareness of adult clergy abuse than I’ve ever heard publicly declared by the papacy. His choice of words means to me that he “gets it” and is willing to speak the truth. It’s a satisfying qualifier that I find refreshing and relieving. Someone gets it and that someone is the pope, the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Roman Catholics and respected by many more across the world.

Will it really matter? Only God knows… but right now, it matters to me.

• PS. Not that I expected it at all, but media reports also missed the change! The Associated Press’s reporting on this address, and even Vatican News’s own Facebook summary, inaccurately say Pope Leo spoke about the “vulnerable adult” and “vulnerable people.”

• PPS. It also matters that a friend of mine believes how I express what this means to me has value. So much so that he’s sharing my words in his public space. Now, that really matters! Thanks, Paul!

Spiritual abuse is a grave violation of a person’s infinite dignity. Yet while it’s often rarely talked about, it’s historically—and presently—a huge problem in the Church, an area where serious reform is needed.

The Church recognizes that respecting the dignity of others is an even greater priority than spreading the Gospel. And those in positions of spiritual authority must have the most absolute respect for the conscience and freedom of the people they are ministering to.

“In spreading religious faith and in introducing religious practices everyone ought at all times to refrain from any manner of action which might seem to carry a hint of coercion or of a kind of persuasion that would be dishonorable or unworthy, especially when dealing with poor or uneducated people. Such a manner of action would have to be considered an abuse of one’s right and a violation of the right of others” (Dignitatis Humanae 4).

I was sent a copy of Rycerz Młodych (Young Knight), a Polish Catholic magazine published by the Franciscan Fathers Publishing House in Niepokalanów, Poland. The same Niepokalanów monastery that Maximilian Kolbe founded.

They republished my spiritual abuse article in this edition of their magazine.

They emailed me a year ago to ask permission to reprint it. It’s been so long that I forgot about it.

They also sent me a second class relic of Kolbe.

So, that’s really cool.

“Taking seriously Jesus’ teaching that whatever we do to the least among us, we do to Him, I can only conclude that the crimes and misconduct you suffered were nothing short of an attack on Christ Himself.”

This is absolutely and profoundly true.

And notice crucially how the archbishop refers to the individuals harmed by clergy as Christ, and not those ordained to act “in persona Christi capitis.” Indeed, the vulnerable, marginalized, and those oppressed by the powerful are “the sacramental presence of the Lord.” (Dilexi Te 44)

What would it look like if the archbishop, if you and me, if religious orders, if the pope, if your pastor, if the whole Body of Christ actually treated everyone who had been abused in the Church as they would treat Christ?

What would change if the Church lived out a preferential option for everyone who has been abused in the Church?

That’s our mandate.

As we are all so personally deeply aware, human beings can “commit inestimably profound acts of evil against others. Those who act this way seem to have lost any trace of humanity and dignity” (Dignitas Infinita 7). However, even when a person behaves this way, they have not lost their ontological, infinite dignity.

“Let us keep in mind that ‘not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this’.The firm rejection of the death penalty shows to what extent it is possible to recognize the inalienable dignity of every human being and to accept that he or she has a place in this universe. If I do not deny that dignity to the worst of criminals, I will not deny it to anyone. I will give everyone the possibility of sharing this planet with me, despite all our differences” (Fratelli Tutti 269).

Highlights included discussion about what it means for Scripture to be read in and for the Church; the Church as mystery and sacrament; the human and divine aspects of the Church; and the unity and diversity of the People of God. (It also seems worthy to mention that the resident Dominican breaks the stereotype and references Augustine ceaselessly while, if I recall correctly, not mentioning Aquinas once.)

Sarah and I hope is to host live discussions every month following Leo’s catechesis. So keep an eye out for the next one.

Go ahead and follow Sarah at Recovering Catholic and Pope Leo Weekly. She also put together a Leo Live Reading Companion.

Become a paid subscriber to Third Space here: https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Pope Leo Weekly here:
https://popeleoweekly.substack.com/subscribe

“As we approach the documents of Vatican Council II and rediscover their prophetic and contemporary relevance, we welcome the rich tradition of the life of the Church and, at the same time, we question ourselves about the present and renew our joy in running towards the world to bring it the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, justice and peace.” Pope Leo

Join Sarah Carter and I at 10:00am (EST) this morning for another round of live discussions about Pope Leo’s ongoing catechesis about Vatican II. And this time we will be joined by Sr Carino Hodder OP!

The live discussion will be available for paid subscribers of either Third Space or Pope Leo Weekly. Then the recording will be made available to everyone in the days following.

If you’re a paid subscriber you can access the livestream here (Note, the livestream is only accessible using the Substack app):
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/122886

Become a paid subscriber to Third Space here: https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Pope Leo Weekly here:
https://popeleoweekly.substack.com/subscribe

“As we approach the documents of Vatican Council II and rediscover their prophetic and contemporary relevance, we welcome the rich tradition of the life of the Church and, at the same time, we question ourselves about the present and renew our joy in running towards the world to bring it the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, justice and peace.” Pope Leo XIV

Through the Scriptures, Tradition, liturgies, and devotions, people can encounter the living Christ and experience his love, healing, and freedom.

But what happens when the women and men in the Church who are tasked with teaching doctrine, preaching God’s word, or presiding over the sacraments, do so with carelessness or coercion? What harm is done when the place of healing becomes a source of harm?

I’m a professional counselor who previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. I accompany those who have been spiritually abused and create resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against abuse.

Join me for an online workshop focused on recognizing, preventing, and responding to spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Register Here!

This workshop is for:

• Individuals trying to better understand their experiences of spiritual abuse in the Church

• Clergy and lay leaders interested in safeguarding their communities from spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience

• Therapists or spiritual directors working with clients who have been spiritually abused

This workshop will help you:

• Recognize and prevent spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Church

• Know the symptoms of spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and moral injury

• Better understand and respond to abusive systems in the Church

  Register Here!

Details:

This is five-part live workshop that will be held virtually. I’m running two workshops with day or evening sessions to accommodate different time zones and work schedules.

Groups will have between 5 and 12 participants and space will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. Your space in the workshop will not be held until payment is received

• Group 1 - Mondays, 7:00-9:00pm(EST) | 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11

• Group 2 [SOLD OUT] - Wednesdays, 9:00-11:00am (EST) | 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

Register Here!

Price:

This five-week workshop is $400.

Making this workshop available to anyone who can benefit from it is important to me, but it’s also an essential part of my family’s income. I don’t want inability to pay to be obstacle for you to participate. So if you can’t pay the full $400, please pay what you can (even if it’s only $10).

And if you can’t attend this workshop, but you are grateful that resources like this exist, please consider financially supporting it.

How to Pay:

1. Pay $400 with a credit card here: https://buy.stripe.com/fZu8wOaEy48ogpU8XZdIA01

2. Send a custom amount via PayPal (paul@faheycounseling.com) or Venmo (@catholicthirdspace)

Register Here!

I’m looking forward to having you in the workshop!

Anne Carpenter is a professor in the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. She is the author of Theo-Poetics: Hans Urs von Balthasar and the Risk of Art and Being (University of Notre Dame Press) and Nothing Gained Is Eternal: A Theology of Tradition (Fortress Press).

LINKS:

Raising the Bastions: Why the American Catholic right turned against Balthasar
https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/carpenter-anne-balthasar-catholic-right

ABOUT THIRD SPACE: Third Space is the podcast for those who see the beauty of Catholicism, as well as the ugliness, who have experienced real harm AND real grace in the Church. Every episode I will have conversations with guests about the good and the bad in the Church—avoiding easy answers or black & white fundamentalism—in order to hold on to all that is true.

SUPPORT THIS SHOW: Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. All of your support directly helps my family and allows me to continue working on projects like this podcast, the newsletter, as well as resources about spiritual abuse in the Catholic Church.

www.catholicthirdspace.com

LIVING SOLIDARITY: Living Solidarity upholds the infinite dignity of every person by addressing the reality of spiritual abuse and abuse of conscience in the Catholic Church. Living Solidarity helps to build a Church of integrity and solidarity by accompanying survivors of spiritual abuse with trauma-informed life coaching; equipping Church leaders and institutions to confront systemic harm; and creating resources grounded in psychological research and the Church’s Social Teaching. Visit livingsolidarity.com to learn more, to connect with Paul, to schedule individual life coaching, or to invite Paul to speak or consult with your community, parish, seminary, or diocese.

ABOUT THE HOST: Paul Fahey is currently a professional counselor, retreat leader, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and creates resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse. He previously worked for eight years as the Director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish. Paul Fahey lives in Michigan with his wife, Kristina, and their five kids.