Addressing clergy-perpetrated abuse in the Orthodox Church with Maximus the Confessor’s practical advice as a tool for healing

Clergy sexual abuse and misconduct in ungodly, deeply wrong, and extremely harmful not only to the victims but entire communities and diocese. Clergy sexual abuse happens in the Orthodox Church and it is hardly a rare occurrence. According to some reports, 20% of pastors (of all Christian groups) have misused their power and position to sexual abuse or sexually harass victims in their congregations. It is estimated that 90-95% of victims of clergy sexual abuse are adult women congregants, although most media stories report child victims of clergy sexual abuse. Women are abused three to four times more than children by clergy, making women the “silent” majority used as prey for abusive shepherds. I propose to address this issue in a multi-step process including truth telling, naming the harm, accepting the suffering, and relying on Maximus the Confessor’s practical advice and modern methods to bring restoration and healing to all.