Recognising Jesus As a Victim of Sexual Abuse

By Rocio Figeuroa and David Tombs
Centre for Theology and Public Issues
April 5, 2019

https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/8976/Figueroa%20and%20Tombs%202019%20-%20Recognising%20Jesus%20as%20a%20Victim%20of%20Sexual%20Abuse.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y

The sexual abuse crisis within the Catholic Church compels a reassessment of topics within

both pastoral theology and Christology. The possible connection between the Passion

narratives and the reality of sexual abuse is an obvious, but so far neglected, resource for this

work.

The research project ‘When Did We See You Naked?’ at the University of Otago

(2018-20) investigates three related areas.

1. The historical question: ‘Did the torture and crucifixion of Jesus involve some form of

sexual abuse?’

2. The pastoral question: ‘What difference should this make for the Church today?’

3. The theological question: ‘What consequences does this have for a theological

understanding of God’s gracious and healing presence in the world?’