Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Hell on the Way to Heaven cover art

Hell on the Way to Heaven

By: Chrissie Foster, Paul Kennedy
Narrated by: Chrissie Foster
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $42.99

Buy Now for $42.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

An Australian mother's love, the power of the Catholic Church and the fight for justice over child sexual abuse.  

Chrissie and Anthony Foster were like any other young family, raising their three daughters in suburban Melbourne with what they hoped were the right values. Chrissie could not have known that the stranger-danger she feared actually lurked in the presbytery attached to the girls' Catholic primary school. 

Father Kevin O'Donnell, a long-term paedophile, lived and worked there. Two of their young daughters became victims of O'Donnell. And once the truth was revealed, the Fosters began a battle to find out how this could have happened. 

The Church offered silence, lies, denials and threats. Meanwhile, their daughters tried to piece together their fractured lives.  

This is the chilling true story that made national and international headlines. Chrissie Foster's heartbreaking account of her family's suffering, and their determination to stand up for themselves against the might of the Catholic Church, is testament to the strength of a mother's love and the resilience of the human spirit.

©2010 Chrissie Foster and Paul Kennedy (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic Reviews

"We would never have achieved (a national apology) without Chrissie’s bravery and tireless advocacy." (Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard)

"By speaking out against child sexual abuse, Chrissie helped out victims find their voice and gave them strength. Because of Chrissie, our nation is changed for the better." (Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria)

"Many people would have been destroyed by that suffering. Many would have been overwhelmed by what they saw. But the Fosters did not let this happen." (Justice Peter McLellan, Royal Commissioner)

More from the same

What listeners say about Hell on the Way to Heaven

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you

I have never written a review before as always thought tedious and no one would care what I thought anyway; this may still be the case but this book is essential reading for all of us. It is hard to read. Very hard. I have shed so many tears. It is now November 2019 and I understand there is still an argument over compensation to victims, especially those that have a criminal record. I thought that unfair before I read this book. I now find it insanely cruel. As Emma was quoted, she had been taking drugs since she was 5 years old! Now George Pell is in jail. He is still claiming his innocence, his first appeal has failed. It is so clear to me he is guilty. Yet George still has support from ex prime ministers and some loud voices. This is perplexing.
Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read!

This was a very well written and spoken account of the absolute horror that so many families have faced and are currently facing from the Catholic Church. Chrissie, my heart absolutely breaks for you and too all those families suffering due to the church and their people. You’re a brave, wonderful woman and this is a book that I believe needs to be discussed at all schools. Although, extremely difficult content and a upsetting story. I am greatly moved by this book and would recommend this to everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartbreaking but important read

Very factual, heartbreaking story, but showed the impact it had on the family and d how the family turned it into supporting others.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heart breaking story

Incredible story and very brave for any person to put this forward being so personal,
Unfortunately it was hard to get into sometimes and I found my mind would drift having to remind myself to pay attention as the voice was slow, monotone and unclear :(
Would of made a world of difference with a clear professional reader

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Empowering

One of the most heart felt stories that I have ever listened too! Chrissie you amaze me how you faced each day. The Catholic Church absolutely disgust me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.