Sexual Abuse and Violence affecting a Person’s Faith Life: Need for Spiritual Integration and Pastoral Accompaniment
Paper presented by Fr. William Eronimoose PhD, MI at National Symposium: 17-19 November, St. Pius X College, Mumbai.

Faith communities can play a key role in helping to prevent, raise awareness about sexual abuse and violence (SAV) and help persons whose faith is affected by the same so as to integrate them back through Pastoral Accompaniment (PA). We know that the faithful are not immune to the effects of SAV. Therefore, faith communities are accountable for the violences and abuses. We also know that some survivors go to their faith communities and religious leaders for support and healing specially for a spiritual integration. Spiritual Integration is possible when there is proper PA which is the journeying of the Church with her unconditional acceptance to integrate the survivors spiritually into faith. Spiritual integration through PA is the need of the hour as the signs of SAV are heartbreaking. We will deal with an effective and powerful PA that will underline strategies for spiritual integration.

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Sexual Abuse and Violence – Fr. E. William MI