(6) Don't Plant Your Seeds: Chapter Four, Part One

Before we dive into the next chapter of my book, Don’t Plant Your Seeds Among Thorns: A Catholic Guide on Domestic Abuse, I want to give a huge shout-out — filled with tremendous thanksgiving and gratitude — for the immense response to my book. In just the short time that it’s been incrementally released, I’ve been awarded the “Substack Bestseller” status due to the large increase in readers. Each subscriber helps me continue my ministry, so I’m truly grateful to all.

I had no idea the response to my book would be so huge, yet it does speak to a lack in our Catholic culture, as I’m hearing so often from my clients, DV support group participants, and readers. So many groups, parishes and organizations in our Catholic community don’t want to touch the topic of intimate partner aggression, because it’s “too controversial.” Yet in reality, domestic abuse—even in Catholic marriages—is a sad fact. The most recent statistics report that about one-third of relationships are abusive—and this includes Catholic marriages. Even more so, with Catholic marriages, spiritual abuse is often at play. This isn’t a topic we should avoid as if it doesn’t exist. It’s one we need to face, head-on.

So again, thank you one and all! I’m filled with gratitude that, in whatever small way, I can help clarify the issues of intimate partner violence and what the Catholic Church teaches on abuse, personal dignity, mutual self-giving in relationships, and all aspects of healing and renewal.
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With that said, let’s get on with it! In chapter four of Don’t Plant Your Seeds, I cover the sad yet necessary topic of isolation.

Read Chapter Four on Substack