Institutional Betrayal

In this pivotal episode, we begin our deep dive into the summer of 2022 — a season marked by fresh wounds inflicted by an institution that continues to prioritize its reputation over its people. Shielagh walks listeners through a psychological evaluation prepared for trial, exposing how Hyde Park Baptist Church’s response to her abuse matched every known facet of institutional betrayal: failure to protect, cover-ups, misinformation, and punishing the victim.

Drawing from expert analysis and deeply personal reflections, Shielagh details the devastating impact of being retraumatized — not by the original abuse alone, but by the church's ongoing refusal to respond with honesty, vulnerability, and care. We explore how DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) plays out not just on an individual level, but systemically, and how scapegoating a former secretary became a chilling modern-day reenactment of the Day of Atonement — a deflection of guilt at the cost of yet another innocent woman.

This episode confronts hard truths, including the heartbreak of being re-cast as the enemy simply for seeking justice, and the emotional toll of watching others turn away in confusion or disbelief. As always, we name these patterns not just to expose them, but to create space for something more honest, courageous, and redemptive to rise in their place. Video referenced: https://youtu.be/BddWs7_EA7o Time period covered: Summer 2022