Sons of Patriarchy Veneer of Righteousness: Abuse in the CREC, Part 5
Oct 30, 2025
Hayley McCord, a former New Saint Andrews student, shares her harrowing experiences with family and institutional abuse in patriarchal church circles. An anonymous insider discusses the suffocating culture of Christ Church, where questioning leadership leads to ostracism. Another anonymous wife recounts her distressing courtship, highlighting abuses and dismissals by church leadership. All guests reflect on the profound trauma and loss of faith stemming from coercive practices and the façade of community, issuing urgent warnings to potential members.
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Raised Into The Christchurch World
- Hayley McCord moved with her family to join Christchurch and was baptized by Doug Wilson as a child.
- Her upbringing included strict homeschooling, isolation, and heavy church involvement that shaped her early life.
Outward Holiness Over Child Well‑Being
- CREC culture enforced children attending lengthy services without breaks and prized outward obedience.
- Physical punishment was normalized and used publicly to enforce behavior and reputation.
Infractions And Domestic Punishments
- McCord describes 'infractions' leading to humiliating punishments like horseradish, soap, isolation, and belt beatings.
- She and siblings waited anxiously for their father after men's meetings which often preceded harsher discipline.
