How much sexual abuse by priests was concealed by resorting to abortion?

Abortion and abuse: Doris Reisinger looks into the “blind spots” of research

The expert on spiritual abuse, Doris Reisinger, showed on Thursday at the University of Zurich: “There are blind spots in abuse research. These are aspects that we don’t see.” She talks about abortion as a cover-up for sexual abuse by priests. But religious men, non-ordained perpetrators and attacks on the disabled are also included.

Doris Reisinger says: “I could never have imagined that a bishop would lie in public.” And yet that happened in Germany. The German theologian is invited to the University of Zurich by Monika Dommann and Marietta Meier. Since September, the two historians have been holding a lecture series on sexual abuse in the Swiss Catholic Church. Doris Reisinger focuses her attention on “biases and blind spots”. She is concerned with perspectives in research on abuse that are consciously or unconsciously limited, as she says in her presentation.

Abortions have not been investigated

Doris Reisinger, for example, shows that abortion is not examined in abuse studies. Abortion after sexual assault by priests only occurs sporadically. She proves this using the “Philadelphia Grand Jury Report” from the USA or the MHG study from Germany. “I was shocked that priests who abuse girls can also force them to have an abortion. I just hadn't thought about it yet."

Perpetrators force victims to conceal births or abortions

In connection with abortion, Reisinger speaks of “reproductive violence”. It's about exploiting vulnerability. “Perpetrators forced victims to keep quiet about the birth.” In addition, those affected by abuse are blamed for having an abortion. This form of violence has not yet been visible in the studies.

“Celibacy as a direct incentive for abortion”

“Reproductive abuse is an additional dimension of suffering with serious consequences for those affected,” emphasizes Reisinger. Research should address this topic. “Reproductive abuse is a separate form of irresponsibility and violence on the part of the perpetrators.” And she emphasizes that celibacy is a direct incentive for abortion.

The disabled, the poor and the marginalized suffer particularly

But there are also other aspects that are not examined: "In the blind spot are the disabled or other minorities: those affected in 'mission areas', for example in the global south in China or India." Doris Reisinger explains that marginalized groups suffer particularly from abuse, but are not noticed. “The more marginalized a group is, the more ruthlessly they are treated.”

Religious and non-ordained perpetrators

There are words of appreciation for the Swiss abuse study. The orders are involved here. This is not the case in other countries. In Germany, the Dioceses commissioned the studies. “In the blind spot are also religious men in institutes with their own right of incardination, non-ordained perpetrators and Roman authorities,” explains Reisinger.

Why is the “abuse crisis” only affecting Catholics?

The word “abuse crisis” is receiving particular attention. Doris Reisinger wonders why this term was coined in the Catholic Church of all places. “We don’t have the word abuse crisis anywhere else.” There is a special dynamic that is triggered by the topic.

Alienation between church and state

“There is an alienation and a breakdown in the relationship between state and church.” Reisinger tries to explain this with the “drifting apart of the normative order”. The point is that Western societies have changed significantly in modern times. And the Church will remain standing. “When it comes to the topic of sexual abuse, it’s a big deal,” says Reisinger in a nutshell.

It is primarily about the question of sexual self-determination. “Church institutions cannot understand sexual abuse as a violation of the rights of the person concerned,” says Reisinger. No matter how hard they try, an estrangement between church and state is clearly visible.

Concern about the withdrawal of the Church

But Doris Reisinger remains modest: "We are only at the beginning in these questions. More research is needed." She stressed on Thursday in Zurich that she is observing a retreat of the church: "There is a retreat into narrowness in the church. I am concerned about such retreats, especially when it comes to abuse."

*Doris Reisinger is a theologian, philosopher and author. The German was a member of the spiritual family "Das Werk" and has herself been affected by sexual and spiritual abuse.

The lecture series at the University of Zurich "Sexual abuse in the environment of the Catholic Church. An intermediate balance." takes place weekly on Thursday evenings at 4.15 p.m., until 21 December 2023. At the next event on 19 October, Daniel Bogner will speak on the topic: Sexuality and Masculinity in the Catholic Church.

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Cathcon: Mrs Riesinger founded the #NunsToo movement.  Background Her claims were disputed by The Work and I will put more details on Cathcon shortly.  A Father Riesinger left The Work to marry her and they have raised a family.