The Things I Can’t Remember

A Story of Abuse, Trauma, and Forgiveness

Allegory of the Holy Communion, artist unknown. Public domain.

As a queer, middle-aged, former Roman Catholic, the news of Sinéad O’Connor’s death left me pensive. I cannot help but think about my own Roman Catholic upbringing, of what I remember, and what I don’t remember.

I remember my childhood home. I remember Sunday morning mass followed by Sunday afternoon dinner with the whole family, my parents…