36 - Power and Purity

Potstirrer Podcast

Episode 36 - Power and Purity

Several scandals involving sexual harassment and sexual abuse have been uncovered recently in a number of churches across the Christian landscape. Why is abuse within the church such a huge story, why does it occur, and what can churches do better to reduce abuse occurrences and respond to these incidents? Jaye discusses a few of these recent scandals - delving into authoritarianism, sexual repression, and purity culture, and how these mechanisms can enable perpetrators and silence victims.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of sexual activity, sexual assault and child abuse. Please be advised.

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Citations:

"As Pope Ignores Claims He Shielded Sex Abuser, Some Catholics Struggle." 2018. CBS News. August 29. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pope-francis-no-comment-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-cover-up-vigano-letter/ (September 9, 2018)

Burton, Tara Isabella. 2018. "Megachurch Leadership Resigns to Protest Their Church's Handling of Sexual Misconduct Allegations." Vox. August 9. https://www.vox.com/2018/8/7/17657730/bill-hybels-willow-creek-steve-carter-resigned-allegations-sex-harassment (September 9, 2018)

Galli, Mark. 2018. "We Need an Independent Investigation of Sovereign Grace Ministries." Christianity Today. March 22. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/march-web-only/sovereign-grace-need-investigation-sgm-mahaney-denhollander.html (September 9, 2018)

Goodstein, Laurie. 2018. "How the Willow Creek Church Scandal Has Stunned the Evangelical World." The New York Times. August 9. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/us/evangelicals-willow-creek-scandal.html (September 9, 2018)

Gryboski, Michael. 2018. "Rachael Denhollander's Former Church Apologizes for Mishandling Ex-Gymnast's Concerns." The Christian Post. June 1. https://www.christianpost.com/news/rachael-denhollanders-former-church-apologizes-mishandling-ex-gymnasts-concerns-sovereign-grace-224568/ (September 9, 2018)

Moon, Sarah, and Jo Reger. 2014. “’You Are Not Your Own:’ Rape, Sexual Assault, and Consent in Evangelical Christian Dating Books.” Journal of Integrated Social Sciences. 4(1): 55-74. http://www.jiss.org/documents/volume_4/issue_1/JISS%202014%204(1)%2055-74%20Christian%20Dating%20Books.pdf (September 9, 2018)

"New York, New Jersey, Launch Investigations Into Catholic Church's Handling of Sex Abuse Allegations." 2018. CBS News. September 6. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-new-jersey-launch-investigations-into-catholic-churchs-handling-of-sex-abuse-allegations/ (September 9, 2018)

"Part Three: Life in Christ." Catechism of the Catholic Church. S2:C2:A6 http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c2a6.htm (September 9, 2018)

Showalter, Brandon. 2018. "Bishop Apologizes for Groping Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin's Funeral." The Christian Post. September 3. https://www.christianpost.com/news/bishop-apologizes-groping-ariana-grande-aretha-franklin-funeral-227155/ (September 9, 2018)

Sheehan, Andy. 2018. "301 ‘Predator Priests’ Named In Pa. Grand Jury Sex Abuse Report: ‘They Were Raping Little Boys & Girls’" KDKA-TV. August 14. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/08/14/pennsylvania-diocese-sex-abuse-grand-jury-report-released/ (September 9, 2018)

Music:

Potstirrer Podcast Theme composed by Jon Biegen from Stranger Still http://strangerstillshow.com/

Sunflower composed by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena