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III: The Courage to Be Angry

Descent Into Light

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 Special thanks to Nick and Corynne Staresinic for their invaluable help in producing this project. This episode uses sounds from various sources, including: Concluding Song by Kevin Heider, "The Body," 2018. https://kevinheider.com/thebody/ Heart Beat After 20 Min.mp3 by family1st: https://freesound.org/s/44778/ Get full access to Sisters of the Little Way at www.sistersofthelittleway.com/subscribe