Clergy Sexual Abuse as Moral Injury: Confronting a Wounded and Wounding Church
This essay interprets the ripple effects of harm caused by clergy sexual abuse and its concealment by Catholic Church officials through the lens of moral injury, an enduring spiritual and moral anguish experienced as betrayal, shame, confusion, futility, and distrust. First, the author articulates t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Moral Theology, Inc.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Moral Theology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.55476/001c.72061 |
| Summary: | This essay interprets the ripple effects of harm caused by clergy sexual abuse and its concealment by Catholic Church officials through the lens of moral injury, an enduring spiritual and moral anguish experienced as betrayal, shame, confusion, futility, and distrust. First, the author articulates the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and transpersonal impact of moral injury in five dimensions: self-image, moral perception and reasoning, agency, relationships, and institutional credibility. Second, moral injury is examined ecclesially in light of moral conscience, which signifies “to know together,” by centering the experience of survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Third, several strategies are proposed for healing the spiritual and moral wounds that remain in the church. |
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| ISSN: | 2166-2851 2166-2118 |