When I was 14 I went to my bishop to confess to looking at pornography and masturbation. I remember the shame more than anything. My bishop at the time was my next door neighbor and father of one of my best friends. I remember confessing to him alone that I had looked at pornography, and…
At the age of 9, I was introduced to a powerful man, by the Rev/ Billy Graham. This powerful, loving man was my Lord, Jesus Christ, and it instilled in me a change and a protection throughout my life. However, four years later, my dad divorced his alcoholic second wife, and my brothers moved back…
Prior to my first interview with the Bishop, I had no idea about sexual things. “Doing it” was something adults did. I was 11. But I wore sun dresses outside of church, and was developing early (B cup by 5th grade) and this was somehow all related to my unworthiness before god. I had to…
I was 14 or 15 at the time and I remember my friends suddenly not attending church anymore. It all seemed to happen around the time that we were being asked if we masturbated by an adult male bishop. I remember some of the stories my friends were sharing about this and they certainly did…
I was always shamed by The Church like everyone else growing up. I’ve tried writing my story now twice and every time I feel too much pain as I write to finish it. I’ll just say this: Stop damaging us. It’s too late for me and I’ll continue therapy to help heal my wounds. The…