Post-Traumatic Theology?

The Outlines of Reflection on Abuse in the Catholic Church

Abstract

Sexual and spiritual abuse has been a major issue in the Catholic Church for almost four decades in the USA and almost two decades in Europe. The paper assesses the phenomenon of abuse from a theological perspective, highlighting its structural, historical, and ecclesiological-moral dimensions. Without analysing any concrete cases and the special attitude of any local church, it aims to investigate the background motives and institutional-intellectual conditions which made abuse possible. The author insists that it is vitally important to identify potential dangers for recent theological reflection concerning this crucial theme: although the issue of abuse is to be taken seriously, it may not be a reason for urging doctrinal or major structural changes in the Catholic Church.