It’s easy to poke fun at language church officials use. And to be generally appalled with them.

It’s less easy to absorb the reality, in ‘apology’ meetings behind closed doors.

Believe me, it’s harder to laugh when they’re saying it to you, with their lawyer beside them.
/1

You realise pretty fast that not only are you not really human to these people, but you really are hated; you are something worse than an animal to them.

I’ll never forget, forgive or move past it.

A year later, I try to joke about it too- it was unbelievably cruel & weird.
/2

The hurtful stuff was that I gave them the benefit of the doubt, only to be lied to, like I wasn’t intelligent enough to see through it.

They said mum’s suicide was ‘unfortunate’.

A woman who devoted her whole life to their beliefs. Who chose religion over her own daughter.
/3

Who suicided rather than see me tell the truth. She protected their officials to her last breath.

She gave them her life; I lost my mum & they felt so entitled that her life & death was just ‘unfortunate’.

These people give news interviews about abortion;confessional rights.
/4

They abuse women for the temerity to control our own bodies; they tell LGBT+ teens like Mia, that they’re going to hell.

But my mum? My life?

Oh, there’s only one word to say.

‘Unfortunate.’

Anyone who believes the churches have changed is deluded.
/5

Ask yourselves; how often have you seen your ‘good priests’ speak openly about the Aitchison case?

Have you seen them post articles about it?

Say my name, even once?

Reply to me on the rare times I interact with them?

Seriously. What does the answer tell you?
/6

It’s okay by me to challenge this language. And to joke about it.

But please, do it to the expense of the churches & priests.

Not at the expense of victims.

If you haven’t been in these meetings, or testified yourself- be mindful of that.

Honour us.

Thanks.
/7