The crisis of sexual abuse committed within the Church has brought about a profound purification for the ecclesial community. Far from being a mere media scandal, it has revealed itself as an open wound in the Mystical Body of Christ, a betrayal of the little ones, and a challenge that radically confronts us as an institution. In this context of pain and necessary conversion, prophetic voices emerge that, drawing upon professional knowledge and faith, help us rediscover the roots of our obligation to care. One such voice is that of lawyer and researcher Renato Vera Osuna, whose work—particularly his book Spiritual Abuse: Anatomy of Sacred Manipulation—offers fundamental insights for understanding the gravity of the problem and, above all, for articulating an effective response worthy of the Gospel mandate.
This article aims to build a bridge between Vera Osuna's incisive analysis and the doctrine and norms of the Catholic Church, demonstrating that both realities converge on the same point: the inescapable obligation to prevent abuse and protect minors and vulnerable adults is not a concession to social pressure, but an imperative that flows directly from the mandate of Jesus Christ.
The "Evangelical Mandate" and the denunciation of the "culture of silence"
Renato Vera Osuna introduces a crucial concept to the debate: the distinction between spiritual abuse (committed by the direct aggressor), religious abuse (the institutional responsibility for cover-up), and abuse of conscience. When the Church fails to act diligently to prevent or to sanction, it is not a mere spectator; according to Vera Osuna's analysis, it becomes complicit in a dynamic of religious abuse by prioritizing "the preservation of the institutional image over the protection of victims."
This "culture of silence" is the antithesis of the evangelical message. Jesus was unequivocal in his warning about causing scandal: "If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Mark 9:42). Pope Francis, capturing this spirit, has transformed this warning into normative action. In his Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio, As a Loving Mother (2016), he established that negligence on the part of bishops and religious superiors in applying norms against abuse constitutes just cause for their removal from office. More recently, the Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio on the protection of minors and vulnerable persons (March 26, 2019) has extended and reinforced these obligations for the entire Vatican City State, setting a model for transparency and accountability. The Church, guided by Francis, has institutionally dismantled that culture of silence which Vera Osuna identifies as the "perfect accomplice."
Placing the victim at the center
One of Renato Vera Osuna's significant contributions is his focus on the actual harm inflicted upon victims, whom he describes as bearers of a specific "religious trauma" leading to a "silent diaspora of believers." This victim-centered approach is not merely a sound practice of modern psychology; it is the essence of encountering the suffering Christ. The Church, enlightened by the Gospel, is called to see in the victim not a legal or economic problem, but a wounded brother or sister.
This perspective has been embraced and elevated to doctrine by the Pontifical magisterium. Pope Francis, during the meeting on "The Protection of Minors in the Church" (February 2019), gathered the presidents of the world's bishops' conferences to listen, pray, and chart a common path. That meeting emphasized that the first step is to "hear the cry of the little ones asking for justice." The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in number 2286, already establishes that scandal is grave when caused by "persons who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others." This heightened responsibility implies that repairing the harm caused and restoring trust are inescapable moral demands.
Towards a Comprehensive Reform: Proposals and Ecclesial Reality
Renato Vera does not limit himself to diagnosing the problem; he proposes concrete solutions, including the creation of rigorous protocols, codes of conduct with external verification, and outsourcing to professional firms for victim care. Far from viewing these measures as an intrusion, the Church has progressively incorporated them as part of its duty of accountability before God and the community.
The Holy See has demonstrated a growing commitment to this "comprehensive reform" to which the author refers. The publication on the Vatican website of an extensive compendium of resources—ranging from the Normae de gravioribus delictis (which regulate the most grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) to reports on specific cases—is a testament to this transparency. This effort to make laws (such as Law N. CCXCVII of the Vatican City State) and guidelines publicly available is an exercise in that "radical transparency" which, in Vera Osuna's words, "is not a threat to religious institutions, but the only path to regain credibility and authentically fulfill their spiritual mission."
One Spirit for the Same Purpose
Whatever our position within the Church—whether bishops, priests, consecrated persons, or pastoral workers—we find in the work of Renato Vera Osuna a valuable ally. His rigorous analysis from the perspectives of law and psychology confirms what our faith dictates: the obligation to care for the little ones is the seal of authenticity for the Christian community. Far from being an "internal matter" of the Church, abuse and its cover-up are a wound on the face of humanity and a contradiction to the message of love we proclaim.
The Church's response, through the documents and declarations of the Holy See, the magisterium of the Popes, and the living tradition of the Catechism, is not merely a reaction to a crisis. It is, or should be, the faithful reinterpretation of that evangelical mandate that calls us to be "good Samaritans" to the most vulnerable. Prevention is not a bureaucratic protocol; it is a way of living the Gospel. And in this task, the constructive criticism and proposals of professionals like Renato Vera Osuna are a gift that helps us become a holier, safer Church, more faithful to its Lord.
