How do we face the truth about spiritual abuse when it comes at a cost?

In Episode Four of Descent Into Light, “Bargaining with the Storm,” Sr. Danielle Victoria takes listeners into the turbulence of the bargaining stage of grief, confronting not only the abuse she experienced but the culture and systems that allowed it. During the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the storm outside mirrored the storm within—forcing Sr. Danielle to reckon with the full complexity of spiritual abuse.

This episode explores:

* How survivors can wrestle with conflicting versions of reality, holding onto what was safe while confronting what was harmful

* The subtle ways spiritual authority and obedience can be misused to manipulate conscience

* How institutional culture and vices can enable abuse, even when intentions are good

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Nick and Corynne Staresinic for their invaluable help in producing this project.

Concluding Song by Kevin Heider, "The Body," 2018. https://kevinheider.com/thebody/

This episode uses sounds from various sources, including:

distant_storm_04.wav by matucha -- https://freesound.org/s/115249/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

06.End-of-the-Storm.wav by LolitaPerdurabo -- https://freesound.org/s/208710/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

porto 19-05-14 quiet to moderate waves on sand and rock beach close recording.aif by bpayri -- https://freesound.org/s/245128/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Fontanelle_SeaOnBoats.flac by suonidigallipoli -- https://freesound.org/s/398434/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

1st case of coronavirus confirmed in US l ABC News on YouTube

Coronavirus: NY City May Soon Follow San Francisco’s Shelter-In-Place Directive ｜ NBC Nightly News on YouTube

First CBS News report on COVID in the U.S. on YouTube

When the truth about abuse in spiritual settings comes to light, anger is inevitable. But what does it mean to feel it fully?

In Episode Three of Descent Into Light, “The Courage to Be Angry,” Sr. Theresa Aletheia confronts the storm of emotions that followed learning about abuse within her community. What began as fear and confusion gradually gave way to anger—a stage of grief often misunderstood, especially in spiritual contexts.

This episode explores:

Why anger is a crucial and healthy part of healing from spiritual abuse

* How betrayal trauma and moral injury can disrupt faith, trust, and identity

* The subtle ways victim-blaming can compound harm in religious communities

* Why confronting institutional failure is necessary for real accountability and safety

Acknowledgements:

How can something that feels holy also be harmful? What does grooming look like when it happens to adults?

In Episode Two of Descent Into Light, “Bride Grooming,” Sr. Danielle Victoria shares the confusion and inner turmoil she experienced under the direction of a trusted priest. What seemed like guidance and intimacy with God gradually became a space where boundaries blurred and spiritual authority was misused.

This episode explores:

* How denial can protect us and keep us from facing abuse

* The subtle ways grooming—of both individuals and communities—can appear in adult spiritual settings

* The danger of spiritual bypassing: using faith to move past warning signs

* How vulnerability, devotion, and trust, all things necessary and good in the spiritual life, can also be exploited by predatory leaders