What Survivors Tell Us About the Spiritual Harm of Abuse

Teresa Huizar interviews Victor Vieth about the spiritual harm child sexual abuse can cause and how child abuse professionals and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) can respond. Vieth describes how offenders may use religion to groom or silence children, and how faith-community reactions can deepen harm, recalling a 12-year-old asking if “God is against me.” The discussion defines spirituality versus religiosity, highlights children’s spiritual questions arising in forensic interviews and therapy, and notes research linking high spiritual distress (feeling abandoned by God) with greater trauma and suicidal thoughts. Vieth explains barriers to addressing the topic (discomfort discussing religion, negative associations, lack of training) and cites research showing 82% of mental health providers were not fluent in this literature. He outlines options such as chaplaincy and training (Keeping Faith), emphasizes consent-based, ecumenical spiritual care, and previews a forthcoming interactive spiritual care toolkit with models and resources.  Time Stamps Time Topic 00:00 Spiritual Harm Overview 01:59 Victor’s Wake Up Call 03:22 Why Research Is Rising 08:32 Defining Spiritual Harm 13:17 Trauma Informed Responses 16:21 Toolkit And Care Models 19:00 What Chaplains Do 23:33 Stories Of Spiritual Support 26:46 Programs That Get It Right 31:19 Research Next Steps 34:00 Closing And Where To Learn ResourcesSpiritual care in Children’s Advocacy Centers: results of a survey of CAC directors - ScienceDirectSupport the showDid you like this episode? Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.