French victims ask Pope Leo to take action on spiritual abuse
Over 200 French victims of spiritual abuse and relatives have written a letter to Pope Leo XIV urging concrete measures to define, prevent, and respond to spiritual abuse in the Church. The letter requests that canon law clearly define spiritual abuse, establish independent bodies for reporting, and provide new postulants with training on their rights and responsibilities. Victims highlight that spiritual abuse is often overlooked compared to sexual abuse, causing deep psychological trauma and loss of faith, and they note that some religious communities continue abusive practices even after dissolution. The French bishops have taken some actions such as apostolic visitations, canonical investigations, reforms, and dissolutions, but the letter argues that more systemic safeguards are needed.
22 days ago
More than 200 victims of spiritual abuse and their relatives in France have asked Pope Leo XIV to adopt Church-wide measures addressing abuse of conscience, religious manipulation, and failures in reporting and accountability. Their proposals include defining spiritual abuse in canon law, creating independent reporting bodies, protecting whistleblowers, and educating religious postulants about their rights. 1
The Sept. 7 letter, published in La Croix, represents 214 victims or relatives from 37 religious communities in France. It was signed by Bénédicte Nolet de Brauwere, a former member of the Community of the Lamb; Father Gabriel Laguarigue de Survilliers, a former member of the Congregation of St. John; and Fabio Barbero, a former member of the Monastic Family of Bethlehem, of the Assumption of the Virgin and of St. Bruno. 1
The signatories noted that Pope Leo’s encyclical Magnifica humanitas lists spiritual abuse first among several forms of abuse affecting the Church. They nevertheless said public recognition and denunciation of spiritual abuse remain secondary to the response to sexual abuse. 1
The victims said spiritual abuse attacks conscience, personal freedom, and a person’s relationship with God, meaning, and truth. They described lasting consequences including loss of faith, departure from the Church, psychological collapse, isolation, guilt, confusion, and difficulty trusting others. 1
According to the letter, abuse can involve:
The signatories said such abuse may be particularly difficult to identify when it occurs in communities with strong public reputations that attract young people and families. 1
The group asked Pope Leo to issue a legal and theological definition of spiritual abuse that would recognize it as violence against conscience, inner freedom, and human dignity. 1
They also called for:
The letter acknowledged actions taken by French bishops in some cases, including apostolic visitations, canonical investigations, major reforms, and the dissolution of religious communities. 1
The victims said, however, that some communities continue operating indirectly after dissolution, while others resist scrutiny or prevent access to rules of life containing provisions they consider contrary to canon law. 1
Canon law currently recognizes spiritual abuse as an aggravating factor in relation to certain other offenses, often sexual abuse. Advocates have called for spiritual abuse to be established as an independent canonical offense. 1
A Vatican working group has discussed the issue since late 2024. In October 2025, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández told Pope Leo that the group was making progress. 1
Fernández had previously proposed work on “false mysticism and spiritual abuse” during an audience with Pope Francis in 2024. He wrote that existing Church norms recognize the moral seriousness of using alleged supernatural experiences or mystical claims to control people or facilitate abuse, while also noting that canon law does not contain a specific offense called “false mysticism.” 1
He proposed that spiritual abuse could instead be classified as a distinct offense, avoiding the broader and potentially ambiguous terminology of “false mysticism.” 1
Define and enforce canonical safeguards against spiritual abuse
Canonical safeguards against spiritual abuse should combine a precise definition, enforceable procedures, protection of rights, and independent oversight. The Church’s present law already provides important tools, but “spiritual abuse” is not yet a distinct delict under that name; a 2024 proposal called for the Dicasteries for Legislative Texts and for the Doctrine of the Faith to study creating one.
A canonical definition could describe spiritual abuse as:
The intentional or culpably negligent use of spiritual authority, ecclesiastical office, purported supernatural experiences, conscience, or religious obedience to control, manipulate, intimidate, isolate, exploit, or unjustly harm a member of the faithful.
The definition should include conduct such as:
The last category is already recognized as especially morally grave when alleged supernatural experiences are used as a pretext for control or abuse.
The law should distinguish:
Until a specific delict is enacted, Canon 1378 already provides a basis for sanctioning abuse of ecclesiastical power, office, or function, including deprivation of office and the obligation to repair harm. It also addresses culpable negligence that causes harm or scandal.
A workable canonical system should require:
These safeguards must protect both complainants and accused persons. The faithful have the right to vindicate their rights in the Church, to be judged according to law and equity, and not to receive penalties except according to law. Authorities must also respect the presumption of innocence and legitimate confidentiality.
Every seminary, religious institute, association, shrine, and ecclesial movement should be required to adopt:
Regular assessments of ministerial responsibilities are consistent with Pope Leo XIV’s call for structures that correct inequality, opacity, and abuse of power. He specifically identifies listening to victims, acknowledging harm, reparation, prevention, and regular assessment as elements of ecclesial justice.
Oversight should not depend solely on the accused person’s superior. Authority exists to serve communion and mission, not personal domination. Canonical governance, administrative acts, procedures, and sanctions are properly understood as pastoral service that protects persons and communities.
Sanctions should be proportionate but real, including:
The guiding principle must be the salus animarum, the salvation and genuine spiritual welfare of persons. That principle requires opposing both abuse of authority and negligent inaction.
The essential reform, therefore, is to move from broad pastoral exhortations to a defined canonical delict with mandatory reporting pathways, independent investigation, interim protection, due process, anti-retaliation rules, and enforceable remedies. Until such legislation is enacted, dioceses should use Canon 1378, the rights of the faithful, and existing norms concerning alleged supernatural phenomena to act decisively against spiritual control and abuse.