When the Church Looks Away: Chronic Illness, Faith, and the Call to Love with Claire Staples and Sarah Perry

The Bad Roman

Craig welcomes Claire Staples (The Clarity Podcast) and Sarah Perry (Voluntarism in Action) for a deeply honest conversation about chronic illness, church hurt, and what it really means to follow Jesus. Drawing from their personal experiences in the LDS Church, Claire and Sarah unpack how institutional religion—particularly within Mormonism—can create a culture that sidelines the suffering instead of stepping toward them.

The episode doesn’t shy away from hard truths: how church systems can often mirror state structures, how chronic illness is misunderstood and neglected, and how church members are sometimes conditioned to fear rather than embrace the suffering. But at its core, this is a conversation about Jesus—how He touched the untouchable, sat with the rejected, and showed us a better way.

From the Good Samaritan to the story of Job, this episode is a call back to the Gospel’s heart: love God, love your neighbor, and never forget the people Jesus was most drawn to—the overlooked, the hurting, and the left behind. God set us up to learn how to love. So let’s do it.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now for wisdom, scripture, and encouragement—and reflect on how your own church community can better walk with the hurting.

Together, let’s close the gap between suffering and faith—and build churches that look more like Jesus.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

• Chronic illness is often invisible—and ignored. Churches tend to show up for acute or visible illnesses, but those with long-term conditions are often forgotten or dismissed.
• Religious institutions may mirror the state more than scripture. When churches follow government health narratives without question, they can become complicit in systems of neglect or harm.
• Scriptural models of care (Good Samaritan, Jesus healing lepers, Job) offer clear directives to love persistently, touch the untouchable, and sit with those who suffer.
• Suffering isn’t punishment. The idea that illness is a sign of spiritual failure is harmful and unbiblical. Jesus’ response to the blind man (John 9) and the story of Job contradict this view.

📌 Topics Covered:

• The cultural impact of statism on faith communities
• Chronic illness and ableism within religious institutions
• How churches often fail to embody the Good Samaritan model
• Theological reflections on Job, leprosy, and the purpose of suffering
• Faith-based mutual aid vs state-controlled charity
• The need for compassionate, consistent presence in others’ pain

🎧 Who is this episode for:

• Christians deconstructing faith & church culture
• Chronically ill or disabled individuals seeking spiritual support
• Listeners interested in Christian anarchism or voluntarism
• Pastors and church leaders looking to better serve marginalized members

Claire Staples – The Clarity Podcast

Claire shares faith-centered conversations on recovering from high-demand religion, chronic illness, and returning to Christ-centered living.

• Podcast: The Clarity Podcast on Spotify

• Instagram: @theclarity.podcast

• YouTube Channel: The Clarity Podcast on YouTube

• Website + Nonprofit: ChronicallyBeautifulLife.com

  • Learn more about the Chronically Care Project and donate or contribute to care packages for the chronically ill.

🤝 Sarah Perry – Voluntarism in Action

Sarah volunteers with VIA, a liberty-rooted nonprofit providing direct aid and resources to communities in need—without state involvement.

• Organization Website: viaction.org

• Instagram: @voluntarism_in_action

  • Support ongoing humanitarian campaigns (e.g. Gaza relief, Congo gardens, US seed kits)

  • Sign up to receive free spring gardening kits (US-only) to promote food sovereignty

• Blog: VIA’s website also features resources on mutual aid, self-sufficiency, and disaster relief.

📖For Full Show Notes: https://www.thebadroman.com/show-notes/episode-133

💕 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT: TASTE IT BAD ROMAN SALSA, ADD TO THE BAG thebadroman.com/donate, and share with a friend it (it's free!)🌶️

Starting Points and Key Moments:

(00:22) Exploring Christian Responsibility in Healthcare

• Episode 113 with Claire: From Mormon LDS to Freedom in Christ: Unveiling Lies in Medicine, Government, and Religion

• Episode 100 with Sarah: Christian Ethics and Stateless Societies: The Anarchist Approach of the Perry Family

(00:45) Claire and Sarah's Background with Chronic Illness

(02:11) Claire's Nonprofit Work

(04:30) Sarah's Experience with Chronic Illness and Church

(07:41) Church Leadership Response to Illness

(12:07) Comparing Church Experiences to Cult Documentaries

(17:21) Cultural Influences on Church Attitudes Towards Illness

(25:48) The Role of Medical System in Church Attitudes

(30:28) LDS Church's Relationship with Government and Healthcare

(36:06) Scriptural Solutions for Caring for the Sick

(49:33) The Book of Job and Suffering

(1:03:38) Why Bad Things Happen to Good People

(1:12:26) God's Love and Community Support

(1:15:11) Closing Thoughts and Plugs

🔗For more on The Bad Roman Project

Blog submissions: thebadroman.com/contribute-to-the-blog

Connect with us on social: thebadroman.com/social-links

Want to get more involved? Request to join the private discussion group on Facebook (Bad Romans Only!!)

No King but Christ Network: nokingbutchristnetwork.com