When clergy abuse takes place, gaslighting may quickly follow. This is a type of manipulation typically used to make the victim question their own beliefs or perceptions.
For example, gaslighting may be as simple as denying the behavior. Someone may claim they were abused, and then the clergy member says the event simply never took place, pretending that interactions or conversations never happened in the first place.
Minimizing behavior
Often, though, gaslighting focuses on minimizing behavior or twisting events so that they seem different. The clergy member won’t directly deny that an interaction took place between the two people, but they’ll claim it was much different than what is being reported.
For instance, someone may claim they experienced unwanted sexual advances or that the clergy member told them they would be kicked out of the congregation if they didn’t engage in a sexual relationship. The clergy member, however, may claim that the two people simply had a consensual relationship and that there was no manipulation at play.
They may also try to imply that the victim doesn’t really remember or understand what happened. If inappropriate sexual comments were made, for example, the clergy member may claim they were just making a joke, that their comments are being taken out of context or that the victim misunderstood what they were trying to say. They’ll attempt to make it seem like the interaction was innocent, causing the victim to question if they even remember the event accurately.
This type of gaslighting can make these situations very complex, and it’s quite important for victims to know about the legal options at their disposal.