Catholic Clergy Abuse in the Netherlands: The Role of Social Relations in Redress Procedures

Clergy abuse is a major crisis in the Catholic Church’s recent history. This article examines the role of redress procedures in social relationships and how these relationships shape the redress experience of victim-survivors of clerical abuse in Dutch Catholic institutions, employing both a relational and intergenerational approach. It highlights how disclosing abuse, often accompanied by fear and shame, influences victim-survivors’ healing processes and their social environments. Using Relational Theory, the study examines ripple-effects of
abuse, which extend beyond individual survivors, impacting families of
origin, families of creation, fellow victims, and broader (faith) communities. Through qualitative interviews with 20 victim-survivors and 10 family members, the research reveals the pivotal role of social support in navigating justice mechanisms, namely complaint and compensation procedures, mediation and litigation. However, this support can also strain relationships due to the emotional and systemic repercussions of abuse. The article calls for a systemic approach to redress that addresses relational harm, aiming for a more effective redress procedure that acknowledges the multi-generational, intracommunal social impact of clerical abuse.