As a Catholic, I was unaware of any of this. And our tribe did not have missionary kids by and large (most missionaries were nuns and priests). So all I can say is that religion is no protection against abuse. And... boarding schools seem a really terrible idea across the board.
Holly, I have read and followed your efforts for about a year now and have learned quite a bit from you and your experiences as you have related them. Against that backdrop, I must say that for me, this presentation is the most powerful and poignant piece you have produced. The Darrs' stories relate a horrendous abusive, supposedly religious, boarding school environment even without the sexual component, and the actions of the adults at every level who committed, witnessed without action, actively condoned, covered up these actual crimes, and who then gaslit vulnerable children at such young ages to silence them, frighten them, and deflect blame to them, while they were separated from their parents and any protective support structure, are as close to pure evil as it comes. Their stories of the decades of continuing toleration, deflection, and denial by the missionary heirachy of these children's persistent physical and psychological injuries resonates with me, a now former Catholic due to the sadly recognizable pattern of abuse and avoidance that extended all the way to Rome under several popes. Given the similarities of responses by the various church heirarchies, it seems as if there is an instruction book or manual for religious organizations to use in their efforts to deflect accountability and responsibility for their egregiously harmful actions. Whatever book they are using, it is certainly not their precious bible - a point made clearly and strongly by the Darrs.
I am glad your experience was not traumatic (or as traumatic) as the Darrs' and hundreds of others in their situation. I deeply hope they they receive the help they still need and am very grateful for their courage and persistence in speaking out about this continuing scourge. May they find and dwell in peace.
Thank you, Holly, for interviewing us. Our story is, unfortunately, a tale as old as time and a story as current as today. Anyone who thinks what happened to us is an anomaly needs to Google "abuse in Christian settings" and they'll see that stories are unfolding that script exactly like ours. Our emphasis has always been to raise awareness so that TODAY does not unfold for other kids like the past did for us.
Absolutely heartbreaking, and enraging. Unfortunately, this fits right in with the abuse happening in so many churches, especially conservative evangelical ones. My friend Darrell Lucus is doing yeoman's work in keeping track of all this and exposing it:
These people are courageous and inspiring. For anyone interested in exploring the issue of the misuse and abuse of forgiveness in the church and in our culture, Kaya Oakes wrote an excellent book on this topic https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203893164
As a Catholic, I was unaware of any of this. And our tribe did not have missionary kids by and large (most missionaries were nuns and priests). So all I can say is that religion is no protection against abuse. And... boarding schools seem a really terrible idea across the board.
As an Episcopalian with our own awful history of abusive boarding schools, I endorse this view.
Holly, I have read and followed your efforts for about a year now and have learned quite a bit from you and your experiences as you have related them. Against that backdrop, I must say that for me, this presentation is the most powerful and poignant piece you have produced. The Darrs' stories relate a horrendous abusive, supposedly religious, boarding school environment even without the sexual component, and the actions of the adults at every level who committed, witnessed without action, actively condoned, covered up these actual crimes, and who then gaslit vulnerable children at such young ages to silence them, frighten them, and deflect blame to them, while they were separated from their parents and any protective support structure, are as close to pure evil as it comes. Their stories of the decades of continuing toleration, deflection, and denial by the missionary heirachy of these children's persistent physical and psychological injuries resonates with me, a now former Catholic due to the sadly recognizable pattern of abuse and avoidance that extended all the way to Rome under several popes. Given the similarities of responses by the various church heirarchies, it seems as if there is an instruction book or manual for religious organizations to use in their efforts to deflect accountability and responsibility for their egregiously harmful actions. Whatever book they are using, it is certainly not their precious bible - a point made clearly and strongly by the Darrs.
I am glad your experience was not traumatic (or as traumatic) as the Darrs' and hundreds of others in their situation. I deeply hope they they receive the help they still need and am very grateful for their courage and persistence in speaking out about this continuing scourge. May they find and dwell in peace.
Thank you, Holly, for interviewing us. Our story is, unfortunately, a tale as old as time and a story as current as today. Anyone who thinks what happened to us is an anomaly needs to Google "abuse in Christian settings" and they'll see that stories are unfolding that script exactly like ours. Our emphasis has always been to raise awareness so that TODAY does not unfold for other kids like the past did for us.
Absolutely heartbreaking, and enraging. Unfortunately, this fits right in with the abuse happening in so many churches, especially conservative evangelical ones. My friend Darrell Lucus is doing yeoman's work in keeping track of all this and exposing it:
https://darrelllucus.substack.com
Blessings on him, and on Richard and Dianne, for continuing to bring the truth into the light!
These people are courageous and inspiring. For anyone interested in exploring the issue of the misuse and abuse of forgiveness in the church and in our culture, Kaya Oakes wrote an excellent book on this topic https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203893164
what an excellent interview... thanks