Sick Pilgrim, Wounded Pilgrim

Last updated on: November 20, 2017 at 4:37 am by Henry Karlson

Sick Pilgrim, Wounded Pilgrim 2017-11-20T04:37:26-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The world is full of abuse. It should not be a surprise, then, that those who are wounded in the world (and who isn’t wounded in one way or another?), will look for and seek help. Those who sound reasonable and helpful, who seem beneficial and good, with charm and devotion, will attract vulnerable people. While those skilled with helping others and healing them will have these qualities, so will predators who will look like and appear to be healers when they are anything but. Such predators will find a way to get into positions of authority, and, being up to no good, will use their position of authority and respect for their own benefit.

Rasputin comes to mind as a rather infamous example of someone claiming spiritual authority who was able to use the appearance of holiness and being a healer as a way to get out and hurt many vulnerable in Russian society. He appeared to be a miracle worker, a holy man of God. Many women came to him, and he found his way to use and abuse them to his own benefit. He promoted a very warped view of sin and forgiveness to justify to his followers his abuse, which some, sadly accepted.

This is something I have experienced first-hand many times, but most recently, with friends I’ve met with the Sick Pilgrim Blog. The theme is good, right, and needed: those who are suffering in the world, who seek some sort of faith and yet find it difficult, need a place to feel safe, to talk, dialogue, without judgment. So many people work with and on the blog, and Sick Pilgrim itself is more than a blog but a form of engagement which is coming out in a variety of ways (that it is more than a blog as can be seen by the Trying to Say God Conference at Notre Dame). It is more than a blog. What exactly it is, and what it will be, continues to develop daily.

Sick Pilgrim was co-founded by Jessica Griffith and Jonathan “Ryan” Weyer. There are many others who work for and with the blog and what goes with the blog, several of whom I’ve met in person. I met Jonathan when he was in Indianapolis, doing a job interview; I met Jessica and several others when she was in town, celebrating the launch of the book she co-wrote with Jonathan. I’ve also talked with them for well over a year online, so that I thought I had a good sense of who everyone was.

But, as recent revelations have shown us, there was a wolf in sheep’s clothing; the pilgrimage, which should have been a safe one for those who were needing a safe space to heal, to talk, to explore their own spiritual direction in life, has had within someone looking in at all the pilgrims, and engaging them for his own misbegotten ends. Jonathan, who was interested in the demons of others, had his own demons which was leading him to no good, seen in his lust was for power and control over others, using them and dumping them when he got what he thought he could get from them.

The surprise, shock and awe which I felt when I learned of what happened, talking to some who have been abused, made me feel sick inside, looking back at warning signs which were there for those reading them. He fooled more than the women he hurt; he fooled a lot of us, even saying things which are indicative of trouble (talk of his past, for example, of what he was like before he became Catholic and the women he hooked up with, now reads differently and makes me wonder what the women would have to say). My own brief talk with him in person long before this came out also had signs that he himself at least knew being in a position of spiritual authority put him at risk – he was once a pastor, and he told me it gave him many temptations which wrecked his marriage and caused him serious problems; clearly he had not overcome the temptations and now, seeing what has been revealed, this sign should have been a warning. And yet, I thought he was a wounded Christian, seeking the good, doing what he could to make up for his past, and mercy is indeed key for wounded Christians.

But, as is now especially clear, so is prudence and caution. As I know all so well, converts are often the worst to be put into positions of authority because they have yet to be proven. They easily revert back to old habits. It’s like addicts. If something has caused them problems in the past, it is likely best to avoid similar situations.

It is easy to want to believe in the good, especially when elements of that good is before you; this makes it easy to be fooled. It is not just those who are abused who are fooled and hurt, but everyone, including, of course, those who trick and harm others. But the safety net should be out there for those who are hurt, for their stories to be heard, and for warning signs to be noted before people get hurt. And if they are hurt, people should be there for them, but also working for them to get proper help, from those capable of giving it, who have a proven record of offering such help.

I do not know how all of that is to be done. Part of being human is being vulnerable to others.

I do know, when spiritual or secular authority is used to abuse people, it needs to be called out and restitution made. Those who have been shown to do harm need to be stopped for the sake of others (and also for their own good).

Those who have been directly hurt need to be heard, given support, given affirmation to be strong and heal. But we must also see how the harm goes beyond the immediate victims: the victims must always remain the priority but in and through them, others are also hurt. There was good being done which was used to establish the space by which evil can find victims. Those working with that good have found their efforts slighted by the evil in their midst. They are also victims (and here, of course, Jessica is not just a victim in this way, but directly as well). They need to also be heeded and helped to find the grace to perfect what is wounded so they can continue the good and not let the evil which has been done to destroy it.

We need to keep track of the time we have been lied to and deceived, so that when we are deceived once again, or find others deceived, we can use the wisdom we have gained in the past to deal with the pain and suffering we see in the present. We must make sure the victims do not feel like it is their fault – it is not – that they should have seen and known what they did not see and know – because we also did not see and know until it was too late. We need to make sure that victims are given what they need to find themselves not only restored but better off than they were before they were harmed.

This is why it is important I say something, even if feebly, in support of those who have been harmed as a result of Jonathan’s connection with Sick Pilgrim. They did nothing wrong. They sought the good. He used the situation and confusion, hiding the reality from the rest of us. They are not to be looked down upon; rather, the way they have shown their strength, once the truth is known, is indicative that victims do not have to remain victims but can fight on, rising with a fiery spirit to promote justice and healing for all who suffer like this.

Men especially must watch and respect the voices of victims. They must let the victims have priority to tell their stories. They must let the victims take priority for their own healing. But they must also be there, with all others, listening, indeed, being vulnerable, helping and encouraging the victims as best they can. Not making judgments on the victims. Not pressuring the victims to follow programs which they think will help the victims. But being there, humbly giving advice when asked, but never making expectations on any of those harmed. Sexual abuse is a grave, demonic evil, because it seeks to destroy, turning a free person in the image and likeness of God into an object to be possessed by the abuser. Men have a role here, helping to tear down the structures of sin which help create such abusive situations, but they must always do it not with programs establishing new forms of reification, but as servants working out of charity and justice.

Sick Pilgrim was formed for the wounded to grow and heal. Its mission remains. The strength of the victims and the community around them proves the mission is true. The demons will come and attack, but hopefully here and elsewhere, when the light shines in the darkness, the darkness can be confronted and expelled time and time again.

[Image=Public Domain image of Rasputin from Wikimedia Commons]

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook

Previous Post

November 16, 2017

Seek Not to Comprehend Virtue, but to be Comprehended by It

Next Post

November 22, 2017 Legalistic Condemnation Must Give Way To The Humble Spirit Of Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz