Sep 2, 2024
"The Church, of course, is doing everything it can to silence victims." - Brendan Watkins
EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, the host, Beth Syverson,
interviews Brendan Watkins, an Australian adoptee who shares his
emotional journey of discovering his origin story filled with
religious intrigue. Brendan found out that his birth mother became
pregnant in the 1950s and relinquished him for adoption, and later
became a nun. He then discovered that his birth father was a
Catholic priest. Brendan's memoir, Tell No One, sheds light on the
challenges faced by children of priests and nuns. The episode
delves into the complexities of adoption, the impact of secrecy and
shame, and the need for awareness and support for individuals
affected by such circumstances. Brendan emphasizes the importance
of mental health support and seeking legal assistance for those in
similar situations. The episode highlights the ongoing struggle for
justice and recognition faced by children of priests and nuns,
urging listeners to educate themselves and support those affected
by these issues.
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RESOURCES:
Brendan Watkin’s information:
Check out Brendan’s website: www.brendanwatkins.com.au
Grab Brendan’s memoir Tell No One: https://www.amazon.com/Tell-No-One-Brendan-Watkins-ebook/dp/B0CJ3P5HNT
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests): https://www.snapnetwork.org/
Coping International (Children of Priests International): https://www.copinginternational.com/
Other Resources:
APtitude Support Group for Adoptive Parents Facing Adoption’s Challenges: http://UnravelingAdoption.com/APtitude
Other Parents Like Me - http://oplm.com
Heather Ross - Life Coaching for Parents who have a child struggling with addiction: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/
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Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson
Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao
Email questions or comments to Beth@UnravelingAdoption.com
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Support Unraveling Adoption on Patreon: http://Patreon.com/UnravelingAdoption
Check out our website: http://UnravelingAdoption.com
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TIME STAMPS:
Introduction to Unraveling Adoption: 00:00:02-00:00:34
Brendan's Early Childhood and Adoption Revelation: 00:01:36-00:03:08
Discovering Birth Mother's Identity: 00:03:28-00:05:14
Revealing Birth Father's Identity: 00:06:34-00:08:53
Insights into Relationship Between Birth Parents: 00:09:19-00:09:51
Discussion on Celibacy and Wealth in the Church: 00:10:32-00:12:53
Impact of NDAs and Confidentiality Agreements: 00:16:15-00:19:01
Support and Justice for Children of Priests and Nuns: 00:20:11-00:22:56
Reflections on the Church's Actions and Victims: 00:23:20-00:26:04
Resources and Conclusion: 00:26:54-00:28:30