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Hell on the Way to Heaven
A heartbreaking, searing exposé of the Catholic church
This is the harrowing, true story of a mother's struggle for justice. Chrissie and Anthony Foster were like any other young suburban family, raising their three daughters, Emma, Katie, and Aimee in a quiet spot and educating them with what they hoped were the right values. In Chrissie's case, these values were based on her Catholic faith; when she married Anthony, not a religious man, they both committed to bringing up their children in the faith, which included attending Catholic schools. Carefully driving her children to school each day, Chrissie could not have known that the stranger-danger she feared lurked not on the streets, but in the presbytery attached to the school. There, an evil man dwelled whom the Church knew to be a long-term pedophile, moving him from parish to parish in order to avoid his career of sexual assault on children becoming public. This was Father Kevin O'Donnell. First one, then two of their beautiful girls fell victim to the after-effects of O'Donnell’s crimes against them as small children. Chrissie and Anthony Foster began a battle to find out the truth of what had happened, and how it was that the very Church which promised to love and protect their children could slam the doors shut on them. Instead, the Church offered silence, lies, denials, broken promises, and threats, until one day the Bag Man arrived. This is a courageous account of a family's suffering and their determination to stand up for themselves against the massive power of the Catholic Church.
376 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
11 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 15, 2014
This book serves as a WARNING. You can't put your trust in anyone. As a catholic, reading this disturbed me even more. And more to the fact, that it happened so close to home. So I will always now bravely question my faith and wipe my hands of it, because of the evil that surrounds it. The author is a mother, like any other good mother in suburban Melbourne. The hell that Chrissie Foster and her family went through are completely at the hands of a pitiful man (now deceased) named Kevin O'Donnell. Unfortunately he didn't get what was coming to him. But I'm sure God has greatly punished him. This book isn't for the faint hearted. As it will break your heart and make you angry at the Catholic Church itself for the treatment of the victims. George Pell is completely responsible. He is not a holy man. But I know how strong Chrissie and her family are, and will continue to fight against the Catholic Church in honour of their now deceased Dear daughter Emma. Who was a victim of Kevin O'Donnell. She sadly committed suicide in 2008. And as horrific as the words are in this book. It is sadly a very real true story.
January 4, 2020
Another devastated family left in ruins to pick up the pieces. Where was the support? Where was the Christian charity? Where was the ‘practice what you preach’?
I just can’t fathom that this is the church I grew up with, this is the church I trusted implicitly. How can these men - the abusers and the ones that turned a blind eye - have ignored their Christian values and allowed this to continue. These same men, who preached at us week in and week out, describing us as sinners for our minor misdemeanors. What hypocrites!!
No wonder the churches are so empty these days, the trust is gone.
Hell on the Way to Heaven is the third book I have read on this subject and I’m still having trouble getting my head around it all.
It had a profound affect on me, so much that in the time it took to read I began incorporating it into my dreams, waking feeling low and depressed. I have so much empathy for Chrissie Foster and her family.
I just can’t fathom that this is the church I grew up with, this is the church I trusted implicitly. How can these men - the abusers and the ones that turned a blind eye - have ignored their Christian values and allowed this to continue. These same men, who preached at us week in and week out, describing us as sinners for our minor misdemeanors. What hypocrites!!
No wonder the churches are so empty these days, the trust is gone.
Hell on the Way to Heaven is the third book I have read on this subject and I’m still having trouble getting my head around it all.
It had a profound affect on me, so much that in the time it took to read I began incorporating it into my dreams, waking feeling low and depressed. I have so much empathy for Chrissie Foster and her family.
April 25, 2014
‘We should have been suspicious but he was beyond suspicion because of his collar.’
If anyone wonders about the need for the current (Australian) Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which was established in January 2013, reading this book will certainly help answer that question.
The role of the Royal Commission is to investigate how institutions like schools, churches, sports clubs and government organisations have responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse. It’s a big investigation.
‘The hierarchy had so many chances to do the right thing.’
Chrissie Foster’s focus in this book (published in 2010) is on justice for her family. Chrissie and Anthony Foster had three daughters: Emma, Katie and Aimee. Chrissie, a Catholic, and Anthony were committed to bringing their children up in the Catholic faith, which included intending Catholic schools. Unfortunately for the Foster family, the presbytery attached to the girls’ school was occupied by an active paedophile, Father Kevin O’Donnell. Apparently, Father O’Donnell’s proclivities were known to the church: he had been moved from parish to parish to avoid negative publicity for the church. I wonder how many additional children were abused as a consequence of the church’s actions? How many lives have been destroyed, lost or scarred?
‘We view the Church hierarchy as we do the paedophile – as cruel and possessing a heart of stone.’
Two of the Foster daughters fell victim to O’Donnell, and Chrissie and Anthony Foster began a battle to find out what had happened. Unfortunately, the Fosters were to discover that the church was more interested in protecting its own, and itself, than the children it had promised to love and protect.
This book is the story of the Foster’s struggle. It is heartbreaking to read, and hard to reconcile this vision of an uncaring institution with Christianity as espoused by Christ. Once can only hope that the Royal Commission, with all its power and resources, will be able to help all victims, and make the institutions responsible accountable for the actions of their representatives.
This is not an easy book to read: the subject matter is confronting and the presentation is sometimes patchy. But I admire Chrissie and Anthony Foster immensely for continuing their fight for justice, and I’m glad that the Commonwealth Government established a Royal Commission. The Catholic Church is not the only institution that needs to be investigated, sadly there will be many similar stories of how powerless, innocent children were abused and not protected.
‘Children: our joy, our future and our greatest yet most vulnerable treasure.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
If anyone wonders about the need for the current (Australian) Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which was established in January 2013, reading this book will certainly help answer that question.
The role of the Royal Commission is to investigate how institutions like schools, churches, sports clubs and government organisations have responded to allegations and instances of child sexual abuse. It’s a big investigation.
‘The hierarchy had so many chances to do the right thing.’
Chrissie Foster’s focus in this book (published in 2010) is on justice for her family. Chrissie and Anthony Foster had three daughters: Emma, Katie and Aimee. Chrissie, a Catholic, and Anthony were committed to bringing their children up in the Catholic faith, which included intending Catholic schools. Unfortunately for the Foster family, the presbytery attached to the girls’ school was occupied by an active paedophile, Father Kevin O’Donnell. Apparently, Father O’Donnell’s proclivities were known to the church: he had been moved from parish to parish to avoid negative publicity for the church. I wonder how many additional children were abused as a consequence of the church’s actions? How many lives have been destroyed, lost or scarred?
‘We view the Church hierarchy as we do the paedophile – as cruel and possessing a heart of stone.’
Two of the Foster daughters fell victim to O’Donnell, and Chrissie and Anthony Foster began a battle to find out what had happened. Unfortunately, the Fosters were to discover that the church was more interested in protecting its own, and itself, than the children it had promised to love and protect.
This book is the story of the Foster’s struggle. It is heartbreaking to read, and hard to reconcile this vision of an uncaring institution with Christianity as espoused by Christ. Once can only hope that the Royal Commission, with all its power and resources, will be able to help all victims, and make the institutions responsible accountable for the actions of their representatives.
This is not an easy book to read: the subject matter is confronting and the presentation is sometimes patchy. But I admire Chrissie and Anthony Foster immensely for continuing their fight for justice, and I’m glad that the Commonwealth Government established a Royal Commission. The Catholic Church is not the only institution that needs to be investigated, sadly there will be many similar stories of how powerless, innocent children were abused and not protected.
‘Children: our joy, our future and our greatest yet most vulnerable treasure.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
September 9, 2023
This is one of the sadest story I have ever read. As a father of two children, this story totally destroyed me! If you ever needed proof that blind faith is deadly dangerous and the vatican is a pedophile safe house run by corrupt and perverted individuals that control a vast amount of power and money, I urge you to read this book.
December 8, 2017
At times, so so hard to read. However, my admiration and goodwill for this woman, her husband and daughters made me realise this book MUST be read. The knowledge I have gained by being in the head of Chrissie is enormous. Most people I tell about this book say, oh no, I couldn’t read that. My advice is - do it. The writer deserves it, the Roman Catholic Church deserves it, and you deserve it.
January 31, 2022
Harrowing and heartbreaking; and as someone brought up in the Catholic Church, very confronting. I didn’t think it was possible to despise George Pell more, but the Foster’s story left me seething with anger and disgust.
July 13, 2017
Thank you Chrissie Foster for writing this book and sharing the sadness that has been your life. This story reinforces my anger at the Catholic Church, I really don't understand how anyone can continue to support such an evil institution. I know most Catholics are good people, but why can you not just believe in your god without supporting this evil church. I have no religion, so the closet I would get to this would be my football club, Collingwood. If I found out one player had been protected by the club for even one case of assault against one child, I would not hesitate to make it my life's work to destroy the club and the scum that did. So where is the outrage in the Catholic community?
Now to the book, it is well written and easy and hard to read at the same time, it is just so sad, but also heartwarming to meet a family that is so strong and loving. It also explains the pain that assault victims endure and how child abuse in any form can and does destroy lives.
Now to the book, it is well written and easy and hard to read at the same time, it is just so sad, but also heartwarming to meet a family that is so strong and loving. It also explains the pain that assault victims endure and how child abuse in any form can and does destroy lives.
June 25, 2012
Paedophile priests, the damage they can do to a family. The heads of the churches knew what was happening. This family went to hell - all while still living. If you have doubts about how the church deals with this subject still, then read this book. Great book, an eye opener. Must read.
April 12, 2013
Heartbreaking. Hard to comprehend how this family could be put through all they did. I couldn't put this book down, even though I knew what was coming I just kept hoping for a different outcome. A real eye-opener & the Foster family is a true inspiration.
March 14, 2018
The Catholic church should be ashamed
How the church coverup destroyed this and many other innocent families. Shame on them and the disgusting men that ruined so many vulnerable innocent children
How the church coverup destroyed this and many other innocent families. Shame on them and the disgusting men that ruined so many vulnerable innocent children
August 26, 2020
This was by far the most heartbreaking book I’ve ever come across. I listened to it on audio. It was read by the author, Chrissie Foster, which made it twice as sad I felt. Her bravery and strength will stay with me always.
August 12, 2011
I can't believe what this family was put through by the Catholic Church.Shame on those so called Christian Priests.
August 9, 2016
One of the most heartbreaking books I've ever read
November 4, 2019
So sad, I hate the Catholic Church for what they have done iam an ex catholic i always thought is was
bullshit religion, my heart goes out to you Chrissie and your family love to meet you one day.
bullshit religion, my heart goes out to you Chrissie and your family love to meet you one day.
August 18, 2019
A very heartfelt and devastating retelling of events that overtook the Foster family. There are many similar stories across Australia, to our great dishonour. Chrissie Foster was happily married with3 small daughters. Against her atheist husband’s preference, she followed the catholic traditions of her family and sent her small daughters to the local Catholic primary school, under the auspices of the local Priest, Kevin O’Donnell. O’Donnell had a great fondness for children spending much of his time with young girls and boys, taking them out of class, taking them on special trips. With infinite trust and naïveté the parishioners believed that despite his brusqueness and unsociable, unsympathetic approach, he was the symbol of authority of the Catholic Church and their faith. What followed was the unravelling of a long history of O’Donnell’s paedophile depravities, but only after he defiled the innocence of, among others, the eldest two Foster daughters and set them on a path of self destruction as the post traumatic stress his activities caused destroyed their sense of peace and safety.
As if these results were not bad enough, the church attempted to wriggle out of its responsibilities to these youngest members of the faith, offering up to $50000 per claim if the claimant would sign a document waiving their right to other reparation or court case. Blackmail, bribery, greed, it has a number of names, but the failure to acknowledge responsibility for a lapse of care, and to avoid providing care and reparation to victims is so unloving, so hateful and unjust. That some counsellors went so far as to blame parents and victims and defend priests is so wrong. Foster brings together the painful story of the decline of her eldest two daughters in the aftermath of their experiences and the court case she and her husband mounted against the church - and won. But life would never be the same again, for any of them, and reparations do not bring your happy family back again. A story that needed to be told, so that it may never happen again, and the deciders be made to accept responsibility.
As if these results were not bad enough, the church attempted to wriggle out of its responsibilities to these youngest members of the faith, offering up to $50000 per claim if the claimant would sign a document waiving their right to other reparation or court case. Blackmail, bribery, greed, it has a number of names, but the failure to acknowledge responsibility for a lapse of care, and to avoid providing care and reparation to victims is so unloving, so hateful and unjust. That some counsellors went so far as to blame parents and victims and defend priests is so wrong. Foster brings together the painful story of the decline of her eldest two daughters in the aftermath of their experiences and the court case she and her husband mounted against the church - and won. But life would never be the same again, for any of them, and reparations do not bring your happy family back again. A story that needed to be told, so that it may never happen again, and the deciders be made to accept responsibility.
July 4, 2020
If a miracle is the sustained expression of love amidst immense challenges, then this story is filled with miracles of love and justice to Chrissie's daughters and other victim survivors.
I saw Chrissie at the start of her journey as a mild, meek and obedient follower of authority. It is with fascination and respectful abundance that I get to hear her voice read in this audio book, having found her voice in the writing of the book and through the expansive activism Anthony, her husband, and her have persisted through. An utterly remarkable and inspiring journey.
It is a book that in the least all Catholics ought to read, especially the type of Catholic who still endures with minimisations, defensiveness and smokescreens of the Church's relationship with child sex abuse. They ought to read it because they ought to know of the extent of cover ups and blatant disregard for others amidst the Church's acrimonious use of power and authority. For, in reality if a perpetrator - the Church, does not take fully responsibility for past mistakes without minimising their criminality, then such situations are still occurring and will continue to occur. The Church's faith based followers realising this, is another step towards preventing this child sex abuse from happening.
I saw Chrissie at the start of her journey as a mild, meek and obedient follower of authority. It is with fascination and respectful abundance that I get to hear her voice read in this audio book, having found her voice in the writing of the book and through the expansive activism Anthony, her husband, and her have persisted through. An utterly remarkable and inspiring journey.
It is a book that in the least all Catholics ought to read, especially the type of Catholic who still endures with minimisations, defensiveness and smokescreens of the Church's relationship with child sex abuse. They ought to read it because they ought to know of the extent of cover ups and blatant disregard for others amidst the Church's acrimonious use of power and authority. For, in reality if a perpetrator - the Church, does not take fully responsibility for past mistakes without minimising their criminality, then such situations are still occurring and will continue to occur. The Church's faith based followers realising this, is another step towards preventing this child sex abuse from happening.
December 8, 2019
This is a brave and heart-breaking book. I don't know where Chrissie Foster got the strength to endure through events that would have broken most people, let alone write it down. I listened to the audio-book, read by the author herself, in her hesitant and husky voice. It brought me to tears many times. The unspeakable wrongs done to Emma and Katie Foster, the unrepentant Catholic church, led by Archbishop, then Cardinal Pell, the complete lack of compassion, the secrecy, the hypocrisy, the countless broken lives. Only 3% of victims ever speak of their abuse, and then, usually only decades after the abuse occurred. It's hard to escape the conclusion that the Catholic church has knowingly harboured sexual predators, and protected them from the law and from justice, whilst disregarding the victims.
May 18, 2018
An interesting, and disturbing, read. The book describes one family's torment as a result of the abuse of two of its children by a paedophile parish priest. The suffering of the children and, consequently, the family as a whole is hard to read. The convoluted reasoning of the Roman Catholic church and its clergy as they try to escape blame is both enlightening and horrifying. I was particularly disgusted by the theory of "mental reservation" which allows the clergy to lie without committing a sin in doing so. Surely anybody who reads this book with an open mind cannot remain a member of the Roman Catholic church. The enormity of the problems described here is just too great.
July 15, 2021
I have been horrified by the Catholic church and its hierarchy for a long time but this book is a must read for everyone to understand the full extent of their depravity. I now have a full understanding of the how the total trauma of young, innocent victims is also the total trauma of every member of the family. All so avoidable had the church been compassionate of the victims and dealt with these vile pedophiles immediately. More needs to be done. Much more. And the church needs to be brought down from its unworthy pedestal. I am fuming.
June 20, 2017
A real eye opener into the terrible abuse of two young primary aged girls by a Catholic priest and the demons that are unleashed.This heartbreaking real life story takes you on a shocking journey and uncovers many dark secrets within the Catholic church.
July 15, 2018
Heartbreaking. Eye opening
March 28, 2019
Not a pleasant read but pleased that I did it.
April 20, 2019
Heart Breaking
I went to a Catholic boarding school and I witnessed firsthand abuses against children by many of the school’s staff.
I went to a Catholic boarding school and I witnessed firsthand abuses against children by many of the school’s staff.
May 4, 2022
A shocking account of the abuse of children and the abuse of power in an organisation.
Read
May 4, 2022A shocking account of Child abuse and the abuse of power by those who ostensibly stand for moral authority. The church leaders need to be held to account.
May 3, 2025
Absolute waste of time a definite 'DO NOT READ'
February 16, 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever cried as much as I did reading this! How much can one family go through? a truly harrowing story. I really appreciate Chrissie’s honesty and I admire her strength in coming forward with this story and fighting for her family! I wish this family nothing by peace
April 28, 2014
I thought I would just skim a chapter or two and drop this back to the library - wrong, it was so absorbing, indeed deeply shocking, I read it right through, wanting to find out it wasn't true. This is a very personal account of two girls' encounter with a depraved priest and their family's unbearable stuggle for justice with the Catholic Church. I can't begin to understand how the family was able to get through this ordeal. It certainly puts a human face to the "abuse scandal" - understatement. The bit about "mental reservation" is unbelievable.
August 31, 2010
This is a heartbreaking and powerful true story. My friends story about her families betrayal by the Catholic church is a shocking account to read. The survival of this family and their determination to publicise the appalling response of the Catholic hierarchy to child sexual abuse by its priests makes for painful reading.
December 9, 2010
So heartbreaking - well written...this is the sister of a friend of mine - so hard to imagine how she survived this tragedy...wow - the human spirit inspires me and the inhumanity of the church disgusts me...I will never enter another Catholic church in my life without thinking of Chrissie's story...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews