Injury from Clergy/Religious Sexual Misconduct
When abuse involves violation by a clergy-person or minister, the task of reclaiming the sacredness and wholeness of the self can be especially challenging. Believers have a faith-grounded expectation that their ministers will practice what they preach and obey God's law, not only in public, but in private, personal relationships. The spiritual and psychological disillusionment victims suffer over clerical boundary-violations makes recovery from this type of misconduct uniquely burdensomeClergy who have committed abuse are known to their victims as offenders, but are typically seen by the congregation as persons who are trustworthy and admirable. The contrast between the public role and secret violation is part of the emotional violence done to the victim in sexual abuse.
Spiritual Convictions Which Can Confront the Crime of Sexual Abuse
A spiritual conviction that God forgives sin does not, however, address the physical and emotional injuries inflicted on the victim of sexual abuse. A victim distinguishes the spiritual world of God's forgiveness of individual persons from the fact that a criminal act requires accountability to society, as well as to the victim.If survivors of sexual abuse want to report what happened, they may feel pressure not to take action from their faith values. However, they can find clarity by thinking things through:
God's forgiveness for sin is not the same as public
accountability for a criminal act. Victims are not
required to make a choice between forgiveness of a
offender and seeking justice for themselves after being a
crime victim.
For Christians, Jesus suffered and died to redeem sin. Imitation of Jesus' self-sacrifice can either inspire victims to be passive in their suffering, or give them energy to risk speaking up about what happened. The determination to end suffering can inspire members of faith communities to speak up on behalf of their friends.
The notion of the "common good" can pressure some people to make an issue of past injuries because it's an individual experience, or the same principle of working for the common good can motivate them to do something about the problem the whole community has with sexual abuse.
For Christians, Eucharist is a sacred encounter with Jesus which offers every believer a special and repeatable experience of God's mercy. This encounter remains true when victims of sexual abuse make public the fact that celebrants of the Eucharist have betrayed their pastoral responsibilities and been unfaithful to their sacred duties
Clergy who commit sexual abuse bring shame on the church. But victims and congregational members need not lose faith in their religion because some of the clergy have been faithless.
For Christians, Jesus suffered and died to redeem sin. Imitation of Jesus' self-sacrifice can either inspire victims to be passive in their suffering, or give them energy to risk speaking up about what happened. The determination to end suffering can inspire members of faith communities to speak up on behalf of their friends.
The notion of the "common good" can pressure some people to make an issue of past injuries because it's an individual experience, or the same principle of working for the common good can motivate them to do something about the problem the whole community has with sexual abuse.
For Christians, Eucharist is a sacred encounter with Jesus which offers every believer a special and repeatable experience of God's mercy. This encounter remains true when victims of sexual abuse make public the fact that celebrants of the Eucharist have betrayed their pastoral responsibilities and been unfaithful to their sacred duties
Clergy who commit sexual abuse bring shame on the church. But victims and congregational members need not lose faith in their religion because some of the clergy have been faithless.
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