For years, I’ve wrestled with the trauma of abuse inflicted by someone I once trusted—a priest in the Church of England. The scars of that betrayal run deep, compounded not just by the abuse itself but by the institution’s response to it. Recently, my anguish was reignited when a senior Church leader described my abuser as a “Rolls-Royce priest,” a phrase that felt like a cruel insult to the pain I’ve endured.

Hearing such glowing praise for someone who destroyed a part of my life was both shocking and heartbreaking. It reflects a troubling reality within the Church: an unwillingness to fully confront the truth about abusive clergy. By elevating and lauding my abuser, the institution invalidates the suffering of survivors like me, undermining the very accountability it claims to uphold.

I want to make something clear—no matter how skilled or charismatic an individual may seem, it cannot and should not overshadow the harm they have caused. Abuse is not an isolated act. It is a violation of trust, leaving victims with lifelong repercussions. Praising an abuser in any capacity only reinforces the toxic culture of silence and denial that has allowed such acts to continue unchecked for decades.

As a survivor, I’ve often felt that my voice is drowned out by the Church’s desperate attempts to protect its image. Instead of prioritizing the welfare of survivors and ensuring justice, the focus seems to remain on maintaining institutional reputation. Such statements, like the one calling my abuser a “Rolls-Royce priest,” only deepen the divide between the Church and those it has wronged.

What survivors need isn’t admiration for abusers or vague acknowledgments of wrongdoing. We need action—genuine, tangible efforts to address the harm caused and prevent future abuses. This starts with leaders recognizing the gravity of their words and the impact they have on those already struggling to heal. Every compliment or defense of an abuser is a reminder to survivors that their suffering is secondary to the Church’s internal politics and hierarchies.

I refuse to remain silent, even though speaking out often feels like shouting into a void. My story, like those of countless others, deserves to be heard and believed. Survivors don’t need empty apologies or defensive rhetoric. We need accountability, empathy, and change. Until that happens, the wounds of the past will remain open, festering in a Church that continues to praise those who have caused irreparable harm.

It’s time for the Church to truly reflect on its priorities. No institution can claim moral authority while ignoring the voices of the abused. Survivors deserve better, and so does the Church.

The world of speculative fiction has always been a fertile ground for examining the intersection of human ambition and moral compromise, and Severance takes this premise to an entirely new level. This acclaimed sci-fi series delves into the eerie and thought-provoking concept of literally separating your work self from your personal life—a dream for some, a nightmare for others. But at what cost?

Severance is set in the sterile, clinical confines of Lumon Industries, a corporation that offers employees an extraordinary opportunity—or a disturbing one, depending on your perspective. Through a controversial surgical procedure, workers’ brains are divided into two distinct personas: the “innie,” who exists solely in the workplace, and the “outie,” who lives the personal life outside. These personas are completely unaware of each other’s experiences, memories, or actions. On the surface, this setup might seem like the ultimate work-life balance. Imagine leaving all your job-related stress at the door, never letting it seep into your personal time. However, this separation comes at a profound price: the loss of autonomy, identity, and self-awareness for the part of you that remains trapped in the office.

The series masterfully explores this duality, offering a chilling commentary on corporate exploitation and modern capitalism’s demand for total loyalty. What happens when your “innie” knows nothing of your personal joys, dreams, or aspirations? Worse still, what if your “outie” is completely oblivious to the monotony or even horrors that your workplace alter ego endures every day? The disconnect is not just a philosophical quandary but a deeply human one, forcing viewers to grapple with uncomfortable questions about individuality and the commodification of labor.

What makes Severance particularly gripping is its ability to balance its thought-provoking themes with an engaging narrative. As we follow the characters—Mark, Helly, Irving, and Dylan—through their compartmentalized lives, layers of intrigue unfold. Each character wrestles with their fragmented existence in different ways, revealing cracks in the system. The show builds suspense not just through its compelling plot but also through the unsettling realization that the “innies” are, in essence, prisoners to their employer. The workplace becomes a kind of dystopian purgatory, where freedom and identity are sacrificed on the altar of corporate control.

With sleek visuals, haunting performances, and razor-sharp social commentary, Severance is a poignant exploration of what it means to be human in an age of increasing corporate dominance. It’s not just a workplace drama but a darkly imaginative meditation on the value of the soul in a world where everything, even identity, can be commodified. Returning to this sci-fi workplace reminds us why Severance is not just entertainment—it’s a chilling mirror held up to our own reality.

Cameron Diaz, one of Hollywood’s most beloved and talented actresses, recently opened up about her decade-long retirement from acting, describing it as “the best years of my life.” The star, known for iconic roles in films like There’s Something About Mary, The Mask, and Charlie’s Angels, stepped away from the spotlight in 2014 to focus on her personal life and priorities beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

In a candid interview, Diaz reflected on her decision to step back from acting, sharing how it allowed her to embrace a new chapter of self-discovery, personal growth, and fulfillment. “I had spent so much of my life working at an intense pace,” she explained. “Acting is a beautiful craft, but it comes with a demanding schedule and a lot of external expectations. I realized I needed time for myself—to live life on my own terms and experience things beyond the confines of my career.”

The actress, who is now a devoted wife and mother, credits her time away from acting as a transformative period that redefined her perspective on life. Diaz married musician Benji Madden in 2015, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Raddix, in 2019. “Motherhood has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” she shared. “Having the freedom to focus on my family and build a life with Benji has been nothing short of magical.”

During her time away from Hollywood, Diaz also ventured into other creative pursuits. In 2020, she launched her wine brand, Avaline, which she co-founded with entrepreneur Katherine Power. The clean, organic wine brand reflects Diaz’s passion for healthy living and sustainability, values she has embraced wholeheartedly in recent years. “Creating Avaline was such a fun and fulfilling journey,” Diaz said. “It’s something I’m truly proud of because it aligns with my personal philosophy about wellness and enjoying life responsibly.”

Despite her hiatus from acting, Diaz remains deeply connected to her fans and grateful for the legacy of work she left behind. Her return to acting in Netflix’s Back in Action, a project announced in 2022, marks her reentry into the entertainment world. While Diaz is excited to share this new chapter of her career, she emphasizes that her decade of retirement was a time of immense happiness and clarity.

“I wouldn’t trade those years for anything,” she concluded. “It was a time when I rediscovered who I am and what truly matters to me. It’s given me a foundation to return to acting with a renewed sense of purpose and joy.”

As Diaz steps back onto the screen, fans eagerly await her next move, inspired by her journey of self-reflection and resilience.