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Each week the editors of Christianity Today go beyond hashtags and hot-takes and set aside time to explore the reality behind a major cultural event.
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Reeling from the Jean Vanier Abuse Allegations?

Quick to Listen

Published on 02/26/2020

Transcribed highlights of the show can be found in our episode summaries.When Jean Vanier died last year at age 90, his life and ministry working with people with disabilities was nearly universally celebrated. “We don’t often find people born into privilege and status, and highly educated, who then follow the downward path of Jesus,” wrote Bethany McKinney Fox. “But as founder of L’Arche International, Vanier spent decades in community with people with and without intellectual disabilities and embraced the joys, complications, and demands that go along with such a life.”Then, last weekend, L’Arche International released a report, over a 30-year span, stating that multiple women told an investigative team about experiences of sexual assault with Jean Vanier.“The relationships involved various kinds of sexual behavior often combined with so-called ‘mystical and spiritual’ justifications for this conduct,” it stated. The report went on to say that the women provided, “sufficient evidence to establish that Jean Vanier engaged in manipulative sexual relationships with at least 6 adult (not disabled) women. This number does not presume that there were no other cases, but takes into account spontaneously received testimony.”This news comes at a time when many are undoubtedly exhausted by the number of scandals and exploits of high-profile leaders. “Right now, that this is starting to feel very routine, is pointing to the fact that the Church has done a very poor job of dealing with issues of sexuality and spirituality and power,” said Ruth Haley Barton, the founder of the Transforming Center, an ecumenical leadership organization. “We just don't talk about them and we haven't helped our leaders in our clergy know how to be with themselves around these issues.”For Barton, one of the keys for leaders is submitting themselves to spiritual direction. “It really almost a non-negotiable if you want to stay the course and stay on your own journey of transformation, stay on your own journey of encounter with God while you are leading others,” she said. “ You've just got to have this place outside the limelight where you can bring your whole self.”Barton joined digital media producer Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss how to handle anger when learning these frustrating revelations, the relationship between power and sexuality, and how to process this seemingly never-ending bad news of disappointing leaders without losing your faith.

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