.The presentation will examine the pervasive, horrific epidemic of clerical sexual abuse in the Catholic church and its devastating impact on victims, often leading them to feel alienated from God, themselves, and the church. It will then delve into a re-examination of the crucifixion narrative, highlighting the elements of sexual violence and humiliation present in Jesus's suffering. The paper will argue that recognizing Jesus as a victim of sexual abuse allows for a powerful identification with survivors of abuse, validating their experiences and offering a theological framework that centers their pain and journey toward healing. Moreover, it asserts their bodies are sites of theological construction, where meaning is made from their embodied experience. Furthermore, the presentation will critique traditional atonement theologies that focus solely on Jesus's sacrificial death and identity as savior, proposing instead a theology of participation in which the woundedness of Christ meets and embraces the woundedness of abuse survivors. Finally, the presentation will explore methodologies for church reform, including open dialogue about sexual violence, acknowledging the ongoing reality of clerical abuse, and reimagining the sacrament of the Eucharist. This presentation aims to widen the altar, creating an inclusive theological understanding of sexual violence and its impact within faith communities, ultimately seeking to empower survivors and foster healing within the church.
This paper explores the clerical sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church. It proposes a re-reading of the crucifixion narrative, arguing that Jesus Christ was a victim of sexual abuse. Through the lens of power, violation, and humiliation, the crucifixion is examined to expose the sexual violence inflicted upon Jesus. This interpretation seeks to privilege the stories of those victimized by clerical abuse, offering a new theological framework for understanding their suffering and reclaiming their relationship with God and their faith communities. This theological framework is one in which the bodies of survivors are seen as sites of theological construction, theologizing from their bodies to make sense of their experience and their relationship with the divine in light of clerical abuse. By confronting the sexual dimensions of Jesus's suffering, this paper calls for the church to acknowledge and address the reality of clerical abuse, fostering a space of healing and belonging for survivors.