In Tom McCarthy's new film, Spotlight, he discusses the concept of spiritual abuse. For the purpose of this discussion, let's define spiritual abuse as follows: taking advantage of and exercising control over religious ideologies to dominate, silence and subordinate an individual or group of people. This movie details the systematic cover-up of child molestation by the Catholic Archdiocese in Boston. The Boston Globe investigated the story that showed an extensive underground culture of spiritual abuse in the Archdiocese and the myriad of personal lives and families that it destroyed.
McCarthy supported his point at the end of the film, listing all cities with priests who have been accused of child molestation. Almost every major American city and many cities around the world, from South America to Europe to Asia, were boldly exposed at the end of the movie. These accusations were just as powerful as the screenplay itself.
This system of abuse propagated by the leadership of the Catholic Church -- as perpetrators, bystanders and co-conspirators -- is but one example of how religion has been used as a front to take advantage of other's vulnerabilities, fears and reverence for authority. The Church leadership took advantage of their authoritative and respected position in Christian society; parents feel comfortable leaving their children with a leader of faith, one who is supposed to represent qualities of acceptance and purity. The abuse of this power led to the proliferation of these heinous crimes and a systematic cover-up by the institution in order to protect its reputation. I am not debating the root cause of child molestation by priests, but rather a discussion of a religious institution's response, or lack thereof, of a social epidemic within its leadership ranks.
Examining the past history of spiritual abuse can provide a framework in understanding other exploitations of religious and political power today. The current threat of ISIS and radical Islam poses some similarities to the abuse of power demonstrated by the leadership of the Catholic Church. The methodology in which ISIS has abused the interpretation of the Quran targets the vulnerability and blind faith of many of the organization's recruits. Simply said, the successful rise of ISIS is another example of the exploitation of a vulnerable society. The leaders of ISIS abused the influence of Islam as a way to justify and rationalize the horrific crimes and terrorist attacks committed. By calling upon the power of G-d, the leadership of ISIS has committed spiritual abuse.
ISIS has become a social and political factor tapping into the fears and vulnerabilities of the American people. The 2016 presidential election has major implications for how the United States will address the threat of ISIS and radical Islam. Moreover, there are several candidates (not naming names, but you know who I am referencing) who have focused their campaign directly upon these fears. These candidates are preying upon the desperate need for leadership and guidance at this time of unprecedented threat to American security. In the same way that the Catholic Church and ISIS have abused their power and influence as religious and political institutions, these American presidential candidates are committing spiritual abuse. In other words, they are violating the American spirit--a spirit fundamentally based upon the principles of freedom.
As we gather with our families, friends and loved ones to celebrate the holidays and the start of a new year, we must reevaluate our relationship with religion and power. We must be able to question the authorities that we have trusted for so long, those who have provided us with guidance and those who seek our votes. Our responsibility is to learn from history. The role of leadership is to respect the principles of the institution and guide its constituencies with integrity and humanity. Let's not succumb to any form of spiritual abuse.