Sons of Patriarchy A Minister Asks an 8 Year Old About Touching Herself
Nov 27, 2025
Guest
Elaine and Fred Hoffland
Guest
Anonymous woman (voiced by Helen Shores Peters)
Guest
Chelsea Gondrez
Chelsea Gondrez shares her harrowing story of sexual and spiritual abuse within conservative Reformed churches, detailing experiences from childhood questioning about her body to molestation at a church gathering. Alongside her parents, Elaine and Fred Hoffland, they reflect on their struggles against institutional silence and blame. An anonymous guest unveils the toxic culture at Christchurch, highlighting the manipulative teachings of Doug Wilson. This heartfelt conversation illuminates the oppressive dynamics faced by women and urges support for survivors.
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Episode notes
Early Humiliation Over Childhood Curiosity
- Chelsea Gondrez describes being interrogated alone by male elders about touching herself at age eight or nine, which left her humiliated and ashamed.
- That meeting taught her to fear her body and avoid normal bathing behaviors due to guilt and degradation.
Molested At A Church Potluck
- At about 11, Chelsea was molested at a church potluck by a young man who had later raped a six-year-old in the same congregation.
- The church failed to protect children and left perpetrators free, deepening her confusion and self-blame.
Abuse By A Youth Leader And Silent Survival
- A youth leader introduced Chelsea to pornography and then raped and coerced her repeatedly when she was 14–15, including an incident where she escaped from a forcible rape.
- She stayed silent to avoid shame and later lied to authorities, which compounded the trauma and allowed the abuser to avoid full accountability.
