Vatican City: Pope Francis has directed the Vatican to explore whether the Catholic Church should define “spiritual abuse” as a new crime within its legal framework. This move seeks to address instances where priests allegedly misuse claims of mystical experiences to exploit or harm others.
The Vatican’s doctrinal office announced the initiative without referencing specific cases but acknowledged that such incidents have emerged in recent years.
Evaluating the Proposal
According to a statement released by the doctrinal office, Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the head of the Church’s doctrinal body, met with Pope Francis on November 22 to discuss the proposal. The pontiff instructed Fernandez to collaborate with another Vatican office to assess the issue further.
The statement also cited recently approved Vatican norms from May, emphasizing the severity of exploiting supposed spiritual experiences for personal control or gain, labeling such acts as “morally grave.”
A Notable Case
The discussion of spiritual abuse follows several high-profile cases, including accusations against Rev. Marko Rupnik, a prominent Catholic artist and former leader of a spiritual community in Rome. Approximately 25 individuals, predominantly ex-nuns, have accused Rupnik of various forms of abuse.
One former nun alleged in February that Rupnik coerced her into sexual acts with him and another nun, claiming it was an expression of devotion to the Holy Trinity.
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While Rupnik has not publicly addressed the allegations, the Rome-based center he once led released a letter in July stating that he “had always firmly denied” the accusations.
In June 2023, the Catholic Jesuit order expelled Rupnik from its ranks, and the Vatican reopened its investigation into his behavior in October of the previous year. Rupnik was last reported ministering in Slovenia, his home country.
Moving Forward
The Vatican’s consideration of spiritual abuse as a crime underscores its growing recognition of psychological and emotional exploitation within religious contexts. If enacted, this classification could provide a framework for addressing and preventing such abuses in the future.
