Named as one of the "top 10 religion newsmakers" of 2022 today’s guest, Christa Brown has persisted for two decades in working to peel back the truth about clergy sex abuse and coverups in the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. She was one of the first to go public with substantiated child molestation allegations against a Baptist minister, along with documentation that others knew, and she has consistently demanded reforms to make other kids and congregants safer. Christa is a retired attorney, a mom, a wife, and a grandma. And now she's the author of the new book, Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation, which weaves together Christa’s vulnerable survivor story of hope amid Southern patriarchy, religious fundamentalism, and clergy abuse.

Christa bravely shares her own story of substantiated child molestation allegations against a Baptist minister, and her relentless fight for reforms to protect other children and congregants. She discusses the pervasive issue of victim blaming, the weaponization of faith against victims, and the systemic failures of religious institutions to protect their most vulnerable members. Christa also highlights the broader societal implications of these issues, including the troubling rise of Christian nationalism and the erosion of the separation between church and state.

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of clergy abuse, the dynamics of high-control religious environments, and the importance of advocacy and systemic change. Christa's story is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience required to confront deeply entrenched systems of power and abuse.

Christa's book, Baptist: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal is available everywhere. Learn more about Christa and her work at:

https://christabrown.me/

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