"The Church, of course, is doing everything it can to silence victims." - Brendan Watkins

EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, the host, Beth Syverson, interviews Brendan Watkins, an Australian adoptee who shares his emotional journey of discovering his origin story filled with religious intrigue. Brendan found out that his birth mother became pregnant in the 1950s and relinquished him for adoption, and later became a nun. He then discovered that his birth father was a Catholic priest. Brendan's memoir, Tell No One, sheds light on the challenges faced by children of priests and nuns. The episode delves into the complexities of adoption, the impact of secrecy and shame, and the need for awareness and support for individuals affected by such circumstances. Brendan emphasizes the importance of mental health support and seeking legal assistance for those in similar situations. The episode highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition faced by children of priests and nuns, urging listeners to educate themselves and support those affected by these issues. 

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RESOURCES:

Brendan Watkin’s information:

• Check out Brendan’s website: www.brendanwatkins.com.au

• Grab Brendan’s memoir Tell No One: https://www.amazon.com/Tell-No-One-Brendan-Watkins-ebook/dp/B0CJ3P5HNT

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

• SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests): https://www.snapnetwork.org/

• Coping International (Children of Priests International): https://www.copinginternational.com/

Other Resources:

• APtitude Support Group for Adoptive Parents Facing Adoption’s Challenges: http://UnravelingAdoption.com/APtitude

• Other Parents Like Me - http://oplm.com

• Heather Ross - Life Coaching for Parents who have a child struggling with addiction: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/

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Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson

Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao

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TIME STAMPS:

• Introduction to Unraveling Adoption: 00:00:02-00:00:34

• Brendan's Early Childhood and Adoption Revelation: 00:01:36-00:03:08

• Discovering Birth Mother's Identity: 00:03:28-00:05:14

• Revealing Birth Father's Identity: 00:06:34-00:08:53

• Insights into Relationship Between Birth Parents: 00:09:19-00:09:51

• Discussion on Celibacy and Wealth in the Church: 00:10:32-00:12:53

• Impact of NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements: 00:16:15-00:19:01

• Support and Justice for Children of Priests and Nuns: 00:20:11-00:22:56

• Reflections on the Church's Actions and Victims: 00:23:20-00:26:04

• Resources and Conclusion: 00:26:54-00:28:30