Through the summer I’m reposting throwback episodes, and today I’m resharing an episode from my old podcast, Pope Francis Generation, where Dominic and I spoke with Brad Jersak.
Brad Jersak is the Dean of Theology & Culture at St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick, Canada, and editor in chief of Clarion-Journal.com. He is also the author or coauthor of a number of nonfiction and fiction books, including the More Christlike series.
I first came across Brad’s work several years ago when a friend shared a video of his talk “The Gospel in Chairs.” I’ve watched it dozens of times since then and am still sharing it with others. It is one of the most compelling proclamations of the kerygma that I’ve ever heard.
Then a few years ago I read Brad’s book, “Out of the Embers: Faith After the Great Deconstruction.” The book was healing for me and helped me navigate my own struggles trying to exist in a Church that has harmed me and people I care about. It’s a book I’ve returned to often in my conversations with folks who are going through deconstruction or have been spiritually abused.
In this conversation, we talk about this book and discuss what it looks like to follow Jesus in the midst of suffering and trauma, even when the harm is coming from the Church.
I’m excited to share it with you again!
Two quick announcements before we jump into the episode!
First, Sarah Carter (from Pope Leo Weekly and Recovering Catholic) and I are doing a new project together, The Leo Seminar: a space where people could read Pope Leo’s actual words, in community, without an ideological agenda.
Sarah and I believe that striving for integrity is more important than having the right answers; dialogue and curiosity are more important than ideological purity; unity in diversity is more important than uniformity; “truth is not a territory to be defended, but a good to be shared” (Magnifica Humanitas 25); and “realities are greater than ideas” (Evangelii Gaudium231).
The Leo Seminar exists for anyone who wants to step into a process of collective study and discernment instead of consuming “hot takes.” In this seminar, you will spend twelve weeks digging into primary texts, guided discussion, and honestly wrestling with what Pope Leo is actually saying and where he’s leading the Church.
You won’t leave with a verdict handed to you, but you’ll have the opportunity to form your own conclusions in a community of people who take the questions as seriously as you do. People who are willing to undertake this kind of slow and serious formation will be agents of renewal in the Church, more equipped to proclaim the Gospel in the modern world.
The Leo Seminar is a small group online seminar starting on Friday, September 4 at 12:00 (ET). The group will meet every week for 90 minutes, for 12 consecutive weeks. Sarah and Paul will lead each discussion, and we will have occasional special guests, including Pope Leo’s biographer, Elise Ann Allen!
Registration closes this Friday.
For more details, visit catholicthirdspace.com
Also, registration is still open for my next round of spiritual abuse workshops. This is 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
This is a live online workshop that meets in a small group over the course of five weeks. The workshops begin next week, so sign up now!
Visit catholicthirdspace.com for more details.
LINKS:
The Leo Seminar
https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/p/enrollment-is-open-for-the-leo-seminar
Spiritual Abuse Workshop
https://www.catholicthirdspace.com/p/spiritual-abuse-workshop-34d
Out of the Embers: Faith After the Great Deconstruction
https://www.amazon.com/Out-Embers-Faith-After-Deconstruction/dp/1641238887
The Gospel in Chairs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_aALyEKh_A
Brad’s Substack
https://bradleyjersak124315.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.
