SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. - TelAve -- Connecticut entrepreneur, author, and business consultant Justin Calabrese is publicly raising awareness about emotional and verbal abuse he experienced while attending Wapping Community Church's Senior Pilgrim Fellowship (SPF) program between 2004 and 2008. During his time in the program, Calabrese states he was subjected to verbal harassment, humiliation, and inappropriate conduct by then-minister Rev. Kristen Klieman—who is currently employed by The First Congregational Church of Bristol in Bristol, Connecticut.

Calabrese explains that the behavior he experienced went far beyond typical youth group discipline or pastoral leadership. He recalls moments that left him feeling targeted, embarrassed, and diminished in front of his peers. "The verbal harassment was horrible," Calabrese says. "I was a teenager looking for guidance, community, and faith—and instead, I was met with comments and actions that broke my spirit."

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He emphasizes that the harm extended beyond himself. "It wasn't just me," he adds. "My peers were hurt as well. Many of us were embarrassed, humiliated, and fed an agenda that did not reflect God's love, compassion, or the values a church should uphold."

Calabrese says it has taken years to fully understand the impact these experiences had on his mental health and emotional well-being. Today, as a public figure and mental health advocate, he is speaking up to encourage other survivors of religious abuse to feel empowered to share their stories. "For a long time, I stayed quiet because I thought no one would listen," Calabrese says. "Now I know that silence protects the wrong people. Coming forward isn't about blame—it's about healing, accountability, and ensuring that young people in faith spaces are truly safe."

Calabrese is currently working cooperatively with church leadership to address and resolve these claims in a constructive manner. His goal, he says, is not retaliation but change. "My hope is that by telling the truth about what happened, we can prevent it from happening to someone else," he notes. "Faith communities should lift people up—not tear them down."

Calabrese continues his advocacy while pursuing projects that support mental health awareness and emotional resilience for those healing from religious trauma.