Gebrochenes Ver(-)sprechen Der Glaube der Kirche, ihr sexueller Missbrauch und die Macht der Scham

Abstract

The Christian faith promises a future that invites a strong presence, mistaken by those who mistake this future for self-righteous power at their disposal. Here, Saint Peter serves as the primary Biblical example and the sexual abuse within the church is pressing evidence. The case of cardinal Groer shows how a dominant presence of religious belief designed to shame others invites shameless self-righteousness. It is no coincidence that this deviant habitus has become a defining burden of the papacy of John Paul II. His episcopal nominations strategically encouraged this, which is why he was unable to resolutely combat sexual
abuse on the inside, thus sealing his admission of guilt to outside observers. The culpability of the church will not be sufficiently accounted as long as the culture of shameless behaviour with which perpetrators oppress their victims beyond admission of guilt is not dealt with. Victims continue to suffer shame, which serves as an identity-based tool for the dominant presence of belief. As long as this pattern is not dismantled within the church its faith mistakes its promises.