Fractured Covenants: The Hidden Problem of Marital Abuse in the Church - Tapa blanda

"Trained as a nouthetic counselor, Marie O'Toole knows this counseling method well from the inside, which puts her in a position to be able to explain how harmful it can be in in cases of abuse--and she does that through telling her very own story. This description and analysis of her church's mishandling of her own personal situation at the hands of an abuser makes her book a truly worthwhile contribution to the ongoing conversation regarding the massive twin problems of domestic abuse in Christian homes and religious abuse at the hands of church leaders. This book will help readers understand and take action to bring truth and light into the churches and homes of Jesus Christ."--Rebecca Davis Author of Untwisting Scriptures, co-author of Unholy Charade: Unmasking the Domestic Abuser in the Church and Tear Down this Wall of Silence

"One of the greatest failures of the modern Church is its failure to understand, confront and respond to the horrors of domestic abuse - whether physical, verbal, or emotional. As a result, wounded women (and men) are so often left to suffer in silence while being pressured to remain or reconcile with the empowered abuser. Those who step forward are oftentimes ignored or even find themselves being the target of church discipline. This has been the tragic journey of Marie O'Toole and so many, many other women inside the Church. Marie has taken her experience and written this amazingly informative and helpful book that helps readers understand the evils associated with this offense, and the immense harm that is caused when we fail to respond to it in an informed and appropriate manner. I believe that Fractured Covenants has the potential to transform our churches into communities of refuge and unconditional support for victims of all forms of mistreatment, while ensuring that abusers are confronted, reported, and held accountable. Bravo Marie!--Basyle 'Boz' Tchividjian, Executive Director, G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) and Professor of Law, Liberty University School of Law