A man prays on his knees during a service to remember victims of abuse by church members © Fabrice Caterini-Inediz (CBA)
Spiritual abuse: This is when someone presumes to know the will of God for another and imposes it on them. Because spiritual abuse often turns into sexual abuse, the German Bishops' Conference has now addressed the ie.
It is a first for the German Bishops' Conference – as is so often the case when it comes to the abuse scandal in the church: for the first time, the bishops have discussed how to deal with "spiritual abuse". On Wednesday, the Pastoral Commission, the Commission for Spiritual Vocations and Church Services and the Youth Commission of the German Bishops' Conference met for the first expert conference on this topic. Participants from religious orders and the "Conference of Episcopal Commissioners for Ecclesial Movements and New Spiritual Communities" were also present.
Sexual abuse is often preceded by spiritual, psychological abuse – emphasized Bishop Felix Genn, chairman of the Commission for Spiritual Vocations and Church Services. In many cases, "false spiritual guidance" creates a dependency that makes abuse possible in the first place.
Where does spiritual abuse come from?
"Forcing my decision on the other person, which I think is right for him, instead of leaving him the freedom", that is according to Bishop Genn a – and indeed widespread – form of spiritual abuse. More and more of those affected are also reporting this. Pastoral care and spiritual guidance should contribute to the freedom and self-confidence of God's children, not the other way around, Genn emphasized.
Especially when, for example, power, prestige and career thinking prevail in a religious community, freedom is in danger. "If the superior or superiors have a false image of God or a strong need for power or control, it does no good," knew Abbess M. Petra Articus OC to report from practice. A life pleasing to God with unrealistic ideals and in blind striving to be led by someone higher or to be recognized – all that can pre-program spiritual abuse, she said.
What to do about spiritual abuse?
Freedom – in spiritual direction and in oneself – best protects against spiritual abuse, says Jesuit Klaus Mertes. For those who are free, who question critically and are not afraid of conflict, do not need dependencies. In order to achieve this freedom, Mertes proposed the theological discernment of spirits to the church. According to this, it is important to ask oneself again and again where inner impulses come from and where they can lead to.
But what to do when dependence has already existed for a long time?? Then what is needed above all is courage, said the president of the German Conference of Superiors of Religious Orders, Sr. Katharina Kluitmann OSF. She called for a culture that helps people to dare a cautious new beginning. "For this to happen – psychologically speaking – a tension must learn to mature that speaks out against the overvaluation of the ideal," said Sr. Catherine. In other words, it must be recognized that not every word of a clergyman is law. Even clergy are human beings and they can err, as is well known.