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Paula Ruddy's avatar

Thanks so much, Paul. Raising these questions is extremely valuable for the Church. One thought: the perpetrators of spiritual abuse in the Church have this in common: they do not honor the freedom of the persons they think they are serving. It is in the person's freedom to be a self that they are vulnerable and take the wounding. If the "ministers" were to honor that freedom, they would "accompany" like the Sisters you are promoting. Take courage.

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Paul Fahey's avatar

Thank you. And yes, I think you're right. And consistently in the Church's teaching about conscience is the unequivocal exhortation for those with spiritual authority to have the most absolute respect for the conscience and freedom of others.

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Paula Ruddy's avatar

I remember that you went into that reasoning in your conversation with Ann Yeung. The bishops could teach that for one year and change the culture of the Church!!!

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