Concilium from Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd silence

Theological reflection on the topic starts with hearing the voices of those who have experienced abuse. Contributions from different contexts show how victims/survivors themselves – or people who are working with them – process their experiences of abuse, how they reflect narratively or theologically, how they still suffer from it – or powerfully resist. In this line, Ute Leimgruber, Germany, sets out the significance of the project “Narrative as Resistance.” The article not only focuses on the phenomenon of ‘abuse against adult women,’ but also draws some key insights from reading the victims’ accounts. Rocío Figueroa Alvear and David Tombs demonstrate by way of harrowing testimonies of victims/survivors from the community Sodalitium Christianae Vitae in Peru how closely spiritual and sexual abuse are connected (not only) there. Mari Jo Thiel’s article outlines the French Church’s handling of the abuse crisis and examines the conclusions and recommendations of the CIASE (Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church) of October 2021, which came as a shock in France and beyond. Federica Tourn and Ludovica Eugenio take a look at the Italian situation and show how powerful the wall of silence still is - in the Church and also in society. Soledad de Villar asks, from the Chilean context, how the victims/survivors can be understood as a theological site (locus theologicus) and establishes a close relation to Christ crucified. Mumbi Kigutha reflects in a very personal way on the extent to which a great power imbalance in pastoral relationships fosters abuse, and she shows how this results in institutional violence. She argues for a victim centered approach.