Spiritual Abuse:
A Result of the Dereliction of Duty by the Bishops of Christ's Church
Spiritual Abuse is as old as the “Father of Lies” … Satan himself. It is “biblically” depicted as being first effectively used against mankind in the Garden of Eden, when Eve was beguiled by the Serpent (Genesis 3), resulting in “The Fall”.
Spiritual Abuse has numerous definitions but for the most part it is recognized as the willful misuse of religious influence (authority … ecclesiastic, patriarchal, etc.) to further the self-centered interests of someone other than the individual seeking religious counseling / guidance / help.
There are multiple forms of Spiritual Abuse; such as:
Psychological and/or emotional abuse.
Physical abuse and/or deprivation of sustenance.
Sexual abuse.
Deeds or words that shame or diminish the dignity of a person.
Intimidation to submit to a spiritual authority without any right to dissent.
Unreasonable control of a person's basic right to exercise freewill in spiritual matters.
Estrangement from family and friends outside the religious community.
Financial exploitation of adherents.
Etcetera ...
Spiritual Abuse can occur in any religious community but seems to take root and ”flourish” in those institutions that possess a "top-down" hierarchical structure; which is found in the majority, if not all, of the estimated 41,000+ Christian denominations worldwide.
No religious institution can rationally / realistically proclaim themselves (or their “Shepherds”) exempt from or spiritually inoculated against contracting this contagious immoral pathogen and infecting the most vulnerable of the lambs of God found in their congregations or families.
Tragically, the history of the Roman Catholic Church bears stark witness to the loathsome fact that certain “Ambassadors of Christ” (Popes, Bishops, Priests, Monks, etc.) have succumbed to temptation, concealed their wickedness under their “holy” vestments, and used their charismatic influence to prey upon the unsuspecting laity in order to satisfy their worldly desires.
In many instances these miscreant Shepherds have escaped punishment on Earth for their crimes committed against those entrusted to their care. Yet, we learn from the bible that their crime will not be forgotten or go unpunished.
“But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” – St Matthew 18:6
More often than not, the victims of Spiritual Abuse within the Roman Catholic Church fault the Holy See as being an accomplice (of sorts) in the offense committed against them … and rightly so.
Pope Francis shamefully affirmed on June 1, 2018 that there exists a “culture of abuse and cover-up” within the Church that needs to be confronted and dealt with. He acknowledged the Church’s shortcomings (its dereliction of duty) in ignoring the "cries for help" and the suffering of the victims of Spiritual Abuse.
Tell me, who is there that doesn’t understand that the “dereliction of duty” by the Bishops of the Church in ignoring Spiritual Abuse is, in and of itself, another atrocious form of Spiritual Abuse?
One non-negligible disastrous consequence of that slothful "dereliction of duty" happens when the “victims” of ignored Spiritual Abuse seek each other out, band together as “disgruntled Catholics”, and set out to “right the wrong” by establishing off-shoot (schismatic) religious communities.
In their delusional and manipulative desire to rival and/or take charge over the Roman Catholic Church; these disgruntled Catholics, these “victims” of Spiritual Abuse, join ranks with their tormentors and become Spiritual Abusers themselves.
"Jesus Wept." - St John 11:35.