March, 13, 2025
12 p.m. to 1:30 PM (EST / UTC-5)
This free webinar is offered Online and in English only.
On a regular basis, people are confronted with the issue of sexual abuse within the church. In Belgium, a documentary was broadcast on national television in September 2023, allowing victims of sexual abuse to share their experiences. One year later, the Pope’s visit to Belgium sparked renewed discussions about sexual abuse in the church. In other countries, the publication of research findings or new cases of abuse may expose a wider audience to this painful reality. Each time, we observe various reactions from people working within the church, whether professionals or volunteers. These reactions range from initial indignation to a form of ‘fatigue’ (“Not again, let’s focus on positive things”), or even blaming those who speak out, or taking new initiatives for safeguarding.
In this presentation, I will explain how everyone working in the church, especially theologians, can take responsibility for the future. I will discuss how research on ‘bystandership’ and ‘implicated subjects’ can assist theologians in developing trauma-informed theologies. Specifically, I will explain why and how theologians can play a crucial role in transforming passive forms of bystandership into active forms of upstanding advocacy and theology.
Dr. Annemie Dillen
Dr. Annemie Dillen (Lier, 1978) is Full Professor in Pastoral and Empirical Theology and Vice-Dean for Education at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven. Her research focuses on theology regarding families and children, domestic violence, religious education in families, empirical theology, and fundamental practical theological reflections. In addition to articles in journals and edited volumes, she has published several books (as author and editor).
