ECCLESIASTICAL SEXUAL ABUSE IN CHILE. MEANINGS OF A FORMER REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION.

A CASE STUDY.

Abstract

The aims of this study was to learn how representative of the Catholic Church interpreted situations of sexual abuse committed by his peers. A study was conducted with a qualitative methodology through a single case study design. The participant was a lay adult former representative of the Chilean Catholic Church, who served as priest, priest and vicar within the institution. An in-depth interview was conducted, and a thematic analysis was carried out based on the content of the interview. Five emerging categories were revealed in the results obtained: the institutional structure of the church; the abuse of power and conscience; the pedestalization of the clergy; the survivor's experience; and the church's reaction to the crisis. These structural and institutional elements were described as significant factors in the reproduction and maintenance of church sexual abuse. Indeed, from the analysis of the results it can be concluded that these elements could contribute to harboring and maintaining sexual crimes within the Catholic Church; causing an defficient response to the crisis; and generating significative harm to the victims. Implications for the study and management of the Catholic Church to address the institutional crisis are discussed.