Study finds German dioceses failed to guard against spiritual abuse in lay groups

‘At its very core, spiritual abuse consists of gaining power over the conscience and innermost being of another person through the use of a spiritual doctrine and spirituality, and bringing about complete self-surrender.’

A study of spiritual abuse in Catholic lay groups in Germany called for its formal recognition in canon law.

Presented in Münster on 5 October, the 600-page study Power through charism: Spiritual abuse in spiritual communities qualitatively analysed two lay communities that had been recognised and supported within diocesan structures – the “Christusgemeinschaft” in Osnabrück and “Totus Tuus New Evangelisation” in Münster.

It is based on 117 interviews, including 81 with victims and survivors, and the archives of the two dioceses and the Franciscan community of Thuine.

Spiritual abuse is “the impermissible and always power-driven control over and interference in the spiritual life and spirituality of another person”, the study concluded.

“At its very core [it] consists of gaining power over the conscience and innermost being of another person through the use of – and within the framework of – a spiritual doctrine and spirituality, and – often using the vocabulary of ‘opening up’ – bringing about complete self-surrender.”

It said the authority of charismatic leaders may be dressed up as theological and willed by God, often by stressing obedience or humility, but also by shaming or excluding community members.

Commissioned by the dioceses of Münster and Osnabrück, the German Bishops’ Conference and the Franciscan Order of the Holy Martyr George at Thuine, the study was carried out by a team of academics at the University of Münster led by the sociologist Professor Judith Könemann.

She criticised the lack of engagement by church authorities which allowed themselves to be “hoodwinked by ‘spiritual fruits’ and many vocations”, meaning that they had not taken effective preventative measures, nor responded to hints that spiritual abuse was happening, and had trivialised specific events leaving victims unprotected.

Könemann said that “in principle every community and every spiritual community is susceptible to abuse”.

The study recommends that institutional support structures and more realistic interventions need to be established, including regular visitations and quality standards for spiritual accompaniment.

The Bishop of Münster Heiner Wilmer thanked those who had taken part in the study: “We – and I – must not stop at being moved. We must – I must – take action.”

“I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one in the Diocese of Münster is manipulated, made dependent, or has their conscience or freedom violated in the name of faith,” he said. “Our Church and our religious communities must be safe places – places where every person’s dignity is upheld, their conscience is respected, and their freedom is protected.”

He welcomed the work of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith towards including spiritual abuse as an offence in church law: “I will work in Rome to ensure that this process moves forward.”