Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Spiritual abuse rarely comes from someone who ever raises a voice or a hand. It comes wrapped in scripture, obedience, and the assumption that questioning it means questioning God himself.
On this episode of The Eternal Life Plan, I sit down with Paul Fahey, a licensed counselor, catechist, and co founder of Where Peter Is, to talk about what spiritual abuse actually looks like inside the Catholic Church, how it hides behind good intentions, and why so many faithful Catholics have lived through it without ever having language for what happened to them.
Paul spent years working as a Director of Religious Education before turning his focus toward counseling Catholics who have been harmed by the very people meant to shepherd them. He is also the host of the Third Space Podcast and has written extensively on recognizing, preventing, and healing from spiritual abuse in Catholic communities.
We talk about:
The difference between legitimate spiritual authority and control
How guilt and conscience get weaponized in the name of obedience
Warning signs in a parish, ministry, or spiritual direction relationship
What healing can actually look like without leaving the faith behind
If you have ever wondered whether what you experienced in a Catholic community was normal, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Paul Fahey: livingsolidarity.com
Where Peter Is: wherepeteris.com
Third Space Podcast:catholicthirdspace.com/podcast
Mrs. Fahey"s Painted Sanctuary, sacred art website: paintedsanctuary.com
Follow The Eternal Life Plan for more conversations on faith, healing, and living the Catholic life honestly.
#CatholicPodcast #SpiritualAbuse #TheEternalLifePlan #CatholicChurch #Healing
Spiritual abuse rarely comes from someone who ever raises a voice or a hand. It comes wrapped in scripture, obedience, and the assumption that questioning it means questioning God himself.
On this episode of The Eternal Life Plan, I sit down with Paul Fahey, a licensed counselor, catechist, and co founder of Where Peter Is, to talk about what spiritual abuse actually looks like inside the Catholic Church, how it hides behind good intentions, and why so many faithful Catholics have lived through it without ever having language for what happened to them.
Paul spent years working as a Director of Religious Education before turning his focus toward counseling Catholics who have been harmed by the very people meant to shepherd them. He is also the host of the Third Space Podcast and has written extensively on recognizing, preventing, and healing from spiritual abuse in Catholic communities.
We talk about:
The difference between legitimate spiritual authority and control
How guilt and conscience get weaponized in the name of obedience
Warning signs in a parish, ministry, or spiritual direction relationship
What healing can actually look like without leaving the faith behind
If you have ever wondered whether what you experienced in a Catholic community was normal, this conversation is for you.
Connect with Paul Fahey: livingsolidarity.com
Where Peter Is: wherepeteris.com
Third Space Podcast:catholicthirdspace.com/podcast
Mrs. Fahey"s Painted Sanctuary, sacred art website: paintedsanctuary.com
Follow The Eternal Life Plan for more conversations on faith, healing, and living the Catholic life honestly.
#CatholicPodcast #SpiritualAbuse #TheEternalLifePlan #CatholicChurch #Healing
