Sons of Patriarchy Immersive Communities: Abuse in the CREC, Part 3
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Oct 16, 2025 Tony Baker, former COO at New Saint Andrews College, shares his shocking insights into the mishandling of abuse reports and a culture of silence. He recounts troubling incidents, including neglected background checks and discouraged reporting to protect leadership. Callie Cole reveals her journey through the emotional turmoil of growing up in Christ Church, highlighting institutional cover-ups and the pressure of strict gender roles. Both guests urge listeners to be cautious about community and relationships, advocating for awareness and personal intuition in seeking support.
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Student Disclosure Handled Internally First
- During a CALD conference Tony noticed a student reporting abuse to Jemima Merkel and urged reporting to police.
- Ben Merkel delayed and counseled handling it within the church, and the victim later recanted to police as "just a dream."
Loyalty Pressure Overrode Reporting Norms
- The church leadership framed reporting choices as a loyalty test between church authority and civil authorities.
- Tony prioritized child safety and legal reporting over institutional loyalty to Christ Church leaders.
Pornography Incident And Quiet Reassignment
- A professor showed pornography to a female student; leadership labelled it a "moral blunder" and quietly reassigned him nearby.
- Tony saw the cover-up pattern and soon received a review saying he "didn't fit," prompting his resignation.