Ep. 226 Kristin Kobes Du Mez - The Crisis of Abuse in the Church and What To Do About It
Sep 26, 2024
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Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a New York Times bestselling author and professor specializing in gender, religion, and politics, reveals the troubling realities of abuse within the church. She discusses how victims are frequently silenced while abusers find quick forgiveness. The conversation covers systemic power dynamics, the urgent need for accountability, and the need for churches to embody true justice and care. Through her research, she amplifies the voices of survivors and challenges the church to confront its dark truths and foster genuine change.
The church's culture of silence and cover-ups prioritizes its reputation over victim support, allowing systemic abuse to persist unchallenged.
To protect vulnerable individuals, church communities must foster openness and empower youth to question authority and articulate feelings of discomfort.
Deep dives
The Threat of Abuse Over Cover-Ups
Abuse threatening the church is not merely its exposure but rather the silence and cover-ups surrounding it. When cases of abuse are kept quiet, both vulnerable individuals and systemic accountability suffer. Those in positions of power often prioritize the reputation of the church over the wellbeing of victims, leading to patterns where abusers receive swift forgiveness while survivors are marginalized. This culture of silence fosters an environment where the needs of the abused are neglected, ultimately putting the integrity of the church at risk.
Patterns of Forgiveness and Restitution
The response of church leaders to reports of abuse typically follows a predictable and troubling pattern. Initially, victims are encouraged to remain silent, and their reports are handled privately, often leading to a facade of repentance for the abuser while the victim remains ostracized. Frequently, the abuser is restored to a position of influence with little consequence, allowing the cycle of abuse to continue unchallenged. The systemic issues surrounding this response highlight a dangerous intersection of power dynamics that prioritize male authority at the expense of victims' justice.
Fear and Its Role in Authority Dynamics
Fear within church structures often perpetuates a culture of secrecy that protects abusers rather than victims, stemming from concerns about losing financial support and institutional stability. Leaders may feel compelled to maintain the facade of a harmonious community by hiding abuses to avoid damaging the church's reputation. This creates a toxic environment where authority figures misuse their power to silence dissenting voices, while survivors remain fearful of retaliation if they speak out. Challenging this culture requires courage and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths, prioritizing transparency and accountability over self-preservation.
Empowering the Next Generation
Protecting children within faith-based communities begins with fostering an environment of openness and trust where they feel safe to express their feelings. Encouraging youth to question authority and providing them with the language to articulate when something feels wrong prevents manipulation by charismatic leaders. It is vital for parents and church leaders to communicate that the responsibility for abuse lies with the abuser, not the victim, and to establish clear protocols for reporting abuse. By engaging the next generation in conversations about boundaries and safety, a culture of vigilance and protection can emerge that stands against future abuses.
In this conversation, Kristin Kobes Du Mez dives deep into the hidden crisis of abuse and cover-ups within the church. She pulls back the curtain on the disturbing patterns she's uncovered - where abusers are often quickly forgiven and restored, while victims are shamed and silenced. Kristin shares how her research for the acclaimed book "Jesus and John Wayne" led her to uncover these systemic issues, and how she felt compelled to give a platform to the brave women who have come forward with their stories. We explore the complex dynamics at play - the fear of losing power and reputation that drives the cover-ups, the authoritarian tendencies that enable abuse, and the urgent need for true accountability and justice within the church. This is a conversation that challenges us to confront hard truths, to stand up for the vulnerable, and to imagine a path forward where the church truly reflects the radical love and justice of Christ.
Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, and Christianity Today, and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.