Episode #74: Bearing Witness Series - Clergy Sexual Abuse with Sandy Phillips Kirkham
Continuing on to the Bearing Witness series, Listen in as Sandy Phillips Kirkham, author of “Let Me Prey Upon You: Breaking Free from a Minister’s Sexual Abuse.” shares her story of how she was targeted, groomed, and sexually abused by her youth pastor at the age of sixteen. Sandy successfully concealed her abuse for twenty-seven years until a trigger forced her to face the truth. She will talk about what led up to the abuse, the aftermath, and her journey of #healing and giving support to other victims. We hope that her courage and strength inspire you.
In this episode, we cover:
- Sandy's story
- What do #grooming and #gaslighting look like?
- Her #support after leaving the #church
- #Coverup in the Baptist church and their response to the victims #trauma
- How did the women in her church respond to her trauma?
- How can the #healing start and where can victims get support?
Helpful Links:
- Sandy Kirkham’s book, Let Me Prey Upon You
- Connect with Sandy on Facebook @kirkhamauthor
- Victims, survivors, advocates, and anyone looking to learn more about clergy sexual abuse can use the following resources to learn more about healing and understanding. Visit this link
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
- Episode #73 - Bearing Witness Series: Religion and the Feminine
- Do you want to share your thoughts on this episode? Find Rosebud Woman on Instagram as @rosebudwoman, Christine on Instagram as @the.rose.woman, and on Tiktok as @therosewoman108
Listen, Like, Share & Subscribe on Apple Podcast | Spotify | Youtube
“We hope that her courage and strength inspire you.”
Frequently asked
What happened to Sandy Phillips Kirkham?
She was targeted, groomed and sexually abused by her youth pastor at sixteen, and successfully concealed the abuse for twenty-seven years until a trigger forced her to face the truth.
What is Sandy's book about?
Let Me Prey Upon You: Breaking Free from a Minister's Sexual Abuse tells her story, including what led up to the abuse, its aftermath, and her journey of healing.
Where can survivors of clergy abuse find support?
The episode points listeners to Sandy's own resources page and to the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) for support and further information.
References
- Listen: Episode #74 - Bearing Witness Series: Clergy Sexual Abuse with Sandy Phillips Kirkham— The Rose Woman Podcast
- Let Me Prey Upon You— Sandy Phillips Kirkham
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)— SNAP
- Resources— Sandy Phillips Kirkham
Related Articles
Christine Mason
Founder & Author, Rosebud Woman
Christine Marie Mason is the founder and CEO of Rosebud Woman, a leading brand in women’s intimate wellness and self-care. She is the author of six books on embodiment, intimacy, and awakening, and the host of The Rose Woman podcast—ranked in the top 5% worldwide. A longtime yoga and consciousness teacher, Christine writes and speaks on women’s health, sexuality, and midlife vitality, helping people cultivate love, reverence, and radiant wellbeing in every stage of life.