Adult Clergy Abuse : Healing Religious and Spiritual Trauma

There have been innumerable news stories about the horrific sexual abuse crimes against children by clergy and/or faith ministers.  Unfortunately, attention to sexual misconduct of adult victims by clergy/faith ministers has been negligible, ignored or dismissed as false claims, thus comprehensive research into the psychological impact of clergy/faith minister abuse on adult victims, and how it differs from other types of sexual abuse, has been obstructed and/or considered inconsequential.  Clergy and/or Faith ministers are spiritually ordained into a position of power, authority and influence over their faith communities.  As a result, churches often struggle with establishing measures of accountability for ministry leaders.  Whenever a spiritual leader exploits their authority for personal gain at the expense of another person, they abuse the power that has been entrusted to them. The clearest and most easily recognizable examples of abuse of power typically involve sexual harassment or misconduct.

Clergy Sexual Misconduct (CSM), also known as Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse (ACSA), is any sexualized behavior by a church leader/spiritual leader toward someone under their spiritual care, who by nature is in a position of less power and authority.  CSM/ACSA is an abuse of power and authority, not an “affair,” as it cannot be considered mutual consent due to the unequal power dynamic. In the same way counselors/therapists are required by law to abide by a professional code of ethics and maintain proper boundaries between themselves and their clients, likewise, spiritual leaders are accountable for maintaining ethical boundaries and avoiding any sexual behavior with those to whom they are entrusted to provide care.  When boundaries are violated, the victim is traumatized by the breach of sacred trust.

Who are perpetrators and victims of adult clergy sexual misconduct/abuse?  Those guilty of clergy sexual misconduct are not limited to paid priests or pastors but also include unpaid ministers, spiritual counselors and mentors, itinerant teachers and preachers, Bible study leaders, seminary professors, and anyone in a ministerial role with some level of spiritual authority.  Though rare, abusers can also be women.  Victims can be any age or gender, though sexual misconduct toward a minor is referred to as child sexual abuse.

How does clergy sexual misconduct/abuse of an adult happen?  When clergy sexual misconduct occurs within a ministry, many church members ask, “How could this happen?”, or exclaim, “This can’t be true!”.  Often, the lay community and church officials assume that the victim was pursuing the spiritual leader, as opposed to the leader misusing his power, ignoring proper protocol, stepping over professional boundaries, and covering up criminal behavior.  In a study by research of Clergy Sexual Abuse and Misconduct, https://clergysexualmisconduct.com , common factors in CSM/ACSA cases were identified, some of which include the following:

  1. The victim is vulnerable for a variety of possible reasons but most often the need is for spiritual guidance in dealing with personal issues that cause her/him to seek genuine help from the spiritual leader.  Unfortunately, their vulnerability and openness are used against them through manipulation and coercion.  Research shows that targets of adult clergy/minister sexual abuse are often in situations of increased vulnerability and dependency.
  2. The victim is spending a significant amount of time with the perpetrator due to counseling, volunteering, or working for the church, which allows the abuser repeated access to the victim, making sexual grooming easier and undetectable.
  3. A sense of spiritual dependency is developed through counseling or financial dependency if the victim works for the ministry.
  4. The victim rightly expects unconditional trust in their spiritually ordained leader to help and lead her/him with integrity and professionalism.  Therefore, the victim may question and doubt themselves when the leader begins acting inappropriately instead of speaking up to him and speaking out to others.
  5. The leader is looked to as a father figure by the victim and, in some instances, has a level of celebrity or respect that grants the leader an immediate form of credibility. The victim is drawn in by this credibility, eventually finding themselves ensnared due to the fear of revealing the leader’s “other side” to others and not being believed.
  6. There is a lack of accountability and oversight in the ministry.  Often a church may attempt to avoid a scandal by covering up a perpetrator’s crimes or simply moving them to other religious centers without notifying church authorities of the potential threat to their faith community.    
  7. The church has a culture that makes abuse easier to commit and harder to detect (e.g., “culture of niceness,” unquestionable loyalty, minsters are endowed with the “voice of God”, leaving no doubt of the spiritual leader’s intentions.

Though each case is different, the factors listed above are some of the most common threads through CSM/ASCM cases and can help explain how it happens and why it can go on undetected for many years.

If you, as a spiritual seeker, have found yourself in a compromising spiritual power dynamic that is sexually implicit/explicit, just know that you are not at fault for the abuse:

The responsibility for a priest/minister who chooses to violate sexual boundaries rests squarely on the priest/minister conscience, and never on the victim.  The abuse you endured was horrific and inexcusable. The Church should have been a sanctuary for spiritual health and healing, not a refuge for an offender.

If you have experienced sexual abuse by a spiritual leader, then I am glad you have found your way to my website.  Whether the CSM/ASCM abuse happened years ago or yesterday, I am committed to helping you recover your sense of dignity, safety, self-respect, and to return your self-confidence to continue developing your spiritual life and faith community, however that movement evolves for you.  You are not alone!  Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation and begin your journey toward recovery.

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