Clergy sexual misconduct not only devastates the lives of its victims but also tears apart the fabric of faith communities. How are parishioners to respond and what questions will they have when they discover that abuse has occurred in their church? Available in booklet form to facilitate its use as an informational resource and counseling tool, "Questions and Answers about Clergy Sexual Misconduct" provides answers to eighteen key questions parishioners in this situation will likely have.
Clergy sexual misconduct challenges people's most basic assumptions about relationships, sexuality, and the way power operates in communities of faith. Addressing the problem requires a willingness to see the world from the point of view of those who have been harmed. For those used to thinking from the perspective of clergy and the faith traditions they represent, this is not a comfortable task. "Questions and Answers about Clergy Sexual Misconduct" answers some basic questions about clergy abuse in a way that helps all involved to continue the process of working toward healing and compassion.
"Elisabeth A. Horst, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Minneapolis. She is a member of the board of the Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute and the author of "Recovering the Lost Self: Shame-Healing for Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse" published by The Liturgical Press."
