Spiritual Abuse Is Real, and Still Misunderstood
Tina outlines how spiritual abuse can manifest in subtle, damaging ways. It may involve misuse of scripture, manipulation through theological language, or weaponising a community’s founding charism to control others.
“Any abuse that takes place in a Church setting has a spiritual component.”
While the risks associated with this concept are gaining recognition, especially under Pope Francis, many institutions still lack clarity or frameworks to address it directly. She urges organisations to include spiritual harm in their definitions, training, and reporting structures.
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Women’s Roles in Safeguarding Deserve Greater Recognition
Many safeguarding staff in religious and educational settings are women, yet they are frequently described as supportive, rather than central. Tina highlights the quiet leadership that women offer - often holding fractured communities together, facilitating disclosures, and modelling healthy relational boundaries.
She calls for faith institutions to spotlight these contributions, and invest in visible leadership pathways for women in safeguarding.
“Women are sometimes seen as ‘helpers’ rather than leaders.”
This includes involvement in policy formation, training delivery, and international collaboration. Examples such as the International Safeguarding Conference’s “Women of Faith, Women of Strength” theme mark an important shift toward wider recognition.
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Safeguarding Culture Requires Presence and Practicality
At the heart of Tina’s approach is a belief that safeguarding culture must be personal, relational and present. She describes three critical enablers of this:
● Strong leadership presence during safeguarding work
● Use of standards as “scaffolding” to translate policy into lived values
● External consultants who bring accountability and clarity
In communal religious life, safeguarding cannot remain procedural. It must be woven into formation, communication and shared responsibility. Where difficult conversations are absent or poorly modelled, harm may be left unnamed.
She also explains how listening to victims has shaped her work, including her understanding that justice does not always mean punishment. Sometimes it means being heard, finding peace, or having power acknowledged.
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What You Will Learn in the Full Episode
● How spiritual abuse is defined and experienced in religious settings
● Why women’s safeguarding contributions need greater visibility and investment
● How to embed safeguarding through standards, leadership, and relational culture
Listen to Episode 8 of Faithful Safeguarding with Tina Campbell wherever you get your podcasts. Or, if you prefer to read, explore the condensed interview version in our magazine series.
