Sacrificed

Catholic survivor Chris O'Leary explains his painting, Special Training (The Ugly Truth), which discusses how his sexual abuse by a Priest happened and what it was like.

I was watching the movie The Shining the other day. The controversy about the movie -- Stephen King hated it, in part because it twisted Jack's motivation and emotions -- got me thinking about what it's like to be a survivor; how it FEELS.

The musical Wicked asks a question about the nature of evil. “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” But does Wicked get it right? I have thoughts about that question, especially given my story and knowledge of and experience with My Friend The Cardinal and the Catholic sex abuse crisis.

Bishop Richard Rick Stika, the Bishop of Knoxville, the man whose Cathedral I've been standing vigil out front of, for more than a year, has resigned. Which, juxtaposed with a HORRIBLE discovery I made today, has me thinking...

Father's Day has me thinking about how to explain what happened to me to my kids. So, perhaps, they'll start speaking to me again. If they know I didn't abandon them. Instead, I got sick.