Clergy Abuse Research
Start Date
7-8-2026 11:15 AM
End Date
7-8-2026 11:30 AM
Location
ALT 204
Abstract
There has been fairly little research on clergy abuse in comparison to other types of abuse. The majority of the research done has been through a psychological or legal framework. This is helpful and needed, but to clearly understand the depths of the damage that survivors of clergy abuse experience. This project examines clergy abuse as a multidimensional betrayal that damages not only psychological well-being, but also identity, relationships, moral reasoning, spirituality, and trust in both individuals and institutions. The majority of this research draws from experts from their respective fields to see what we can learn from clergy abuse. The research was pulled from experts in psychology, theology, trauma studies, moral injury, and institutional trust. Only when there is a proper understanding of the hurt that clergy abuse manufactures.
There was also an emphasis on not viewing clergy abuse as an isolated moral failure but a process that is formed through a relationship with a spiritual authority that has power and a perception as God’s representative. Because spiritual leaders have positions of sacred responsibility, violations of that sacred trust often result in betrayal, trauma, moral injury, institutional distrust, and warp the survivors' relationships with themselves, others, and God. From this place, healing itself must not be rooted in psychological treatment alone, but healing must address the broken and fractured parts of oneself. The healing must be relational, institutional, training and educating of respective leadership, communal, and reforming of policies and preventive measures.
Clergy Abuse Research
ALT 204
There has been fairly little research on clergy abuse in comparison to other types of abuse. The majority of the research done has been through a psychological or legal framework. This is helpful and needed, but to clearly understand the depths of the damage that survivors of clergy abuse experience. This project examines clergy abuse as a multidimensional betrayal that damages not only psychological well-being, but also identity, relationships, moral reasoning, spirituality, and trust in both individuals and institutions. The majority of this research draws from experts from their respective fields to see what we can learn from clergy abuse. The research was pulled from experts in psychology, theology, trauma studies, moral injury, and institutional trust. Only when there is a proper understanding of the hurt that clergy abuse manufactures.
There was also an emphasis on not viewing clergy abuse as an isolated moral failure but a process that is formed through a relationship with a spiritual authority that has power and a perception as God’s representative. Because spiritual leaders have positions of sacred responsibility, violations of that sacred trust often result in betrayal, trauma, moral injury, institutional distrust, and warp the survivors' relationships with themselves, others, and God. From this place, healing itself must not be rooted in psychological treatment alone, but healing must address the broken and fractured parts of oneself. The healing must be relational, institutional, training and educating of respective leadership, communal, and reforming of policies and preventive measures.
