My Therapist Told Me to Leave the Catholic Church

My Therapist Told Me to Leave the Catholic Church

August 20, 2026 · 35 min · Episode 66

About this episode

The episode discusses the complexities of church hurt and healing within the Catholic faith.

What do you do when you've been genuinely hurt by someone in the Catholic Church? What if a therapist, friend, or loved one tells you that leaving the Church is the answer? In this episode of Godsplaining, Fr. Gregory and Fr. Bonaventure discuss church hurt, trauma, abuse, forgiveness, and the difficult distinction between the holiness of the Church and the failures of her members. The friars explore why Catholics shouldn't dismiss real experiences of pain or mistreatment, why the failures of priests and other Catholics don't negate Christ's promises to His Church, and how someone who has been hurt can begin to heal without abandoning the faith. During their discussion they offer practical advice for Catholics struggling to return to a parish or trust Church leaders again—including when it may be appropriate to create space, attend another parish, seek professional and spiritual guidance, and allow healing to unfold over time. What does forgiveness require? Does forgiveness always mean reconciliation? And can God bring something new out of even our deepest wounds? Listen to the full episode to hear what the friars have to say. Join Exodus 90 for St. Michael's Lent with with Fr…

People in this episode

Hosts: Fr. Gregory, Fr. Bonaventure

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Exodus 90

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Catholic Church, Catholic Woodworker

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