034: Epstein and the Church’s response to the Sexual Abuse Crisis

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(TW: Frank discussions of exploitation, sexual abuse, rape, and assault)

The news feels like a gut punch, and yet the patterns are old: powerful people exploit the vulnerable, and too many institutions fall silent. We sit down with sexual health educator and Sex Ed Reclaimed founder Kristen to process the latest Epstein files and the wider sexual abuse crisis in churches and culture. Together we trace how objectification and porn create a pipeline to power-seeking behavior, why “just talk about lust” solutions miss the mark, and what genuine repentance looks like when harm has been done.

We don’t sanitize Scripture to make it easy. Esther wasn’t a pageant winner; she was a trafficked teenager in a predatory system. Bathsheba wasn’t a seductress; she was targeted by a king. When study notes and sermons blame victims, congregations learn to miss abuse in real life. We challenge that lens and point to Jesus, who consistently dignifies women, commissions them as witnesses, and dismantles status games by redefining greatness as service. The way of Jesus is not quiet neutrality—it’s courageous protection of the vulnerable and clear-eyed truth about power.

Expect practical steps, not platitudes. We walk through survivor-first policies, mandatory reporting, boundaries for leaders, and how to build a culture that talks plainly about sex, consent, and digital habits. Kristen opens a window into solicitor education—what actually shifts men who’ve been caught paying for sex—and offers tools parents can use to teach their kids dignity and safety from an early age. If you’ve felt angry, numb, or alone in the weight of these stories, this conversation names the grief and points to a faithful path forward.

If this resonates, share it with someone who needs language for what they’re feeling, subscribe for upcoming episodes on the female disciples during Lent, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. Your voice matters—how will you use it today?

Find Kristen Miele at https://www.sexedreclaimed.com/ or on social media @sexedreclaimed

Watch for her upcoming book in Fall 2026!

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