From Spiritual Coercion to Systemic Harm: The Role of Power Abuse in the Escalation of Violence Against Vulnerable Populations in Religious Institutions

This article addresses the phenomenon of power abuse within religious institutions as a key structural factor in the escalation of violence against vulnerable populations, with profound societal implications. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach that integrates law, sociology of religion, and trauma psychology, this research seeks to demonstrate that spiritual coercion constitutes a distinct form of abuse underlying multiple manifestations of institutional violence. The central hypothesis posits that spiritual authority, when exercised without oversight, may devolve into coercive dynamics that obscure, justify, and perpetuate sexual, psychological, economic, and symbolic violence. Such violence primarily impacts the quality of life, psychological well-being, and social development of victims, their families, and communities at large. The study employs qualitative analysis of paradigmatic cases documented between 1995 and 2024 in Latin America, Europe, and North America, supported by documentary sources (official reports, judicial rulings, legal doctrine) and interviews with expert professionals, alongside the authors’ direct experience in addressing abuse within religious contexts. The analysis reveals recurring structural patterns: closed hierarchical structures, absence of external oversight, theological narratives weaponized to justify subjugation, and institutional silencing mechanisms. Results confirm that spiritual abuse is neither anecdotal nor isolated but rather a systematic form of symbolic and institutionalized violence. In response, this article proposes the legal recognition of spiritual abuse as an autonomous category, the creation of independent oversight bodies, and institutional reforms grounded in transparency, horizontal governance, and human rights principles.