Teresa Huizar interviews Victor Vieth about the spiritual harm child sexual abuse can cause and how child abuse professionals and Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) can respond. Vieth describes how offenders may use religion to groom or silence children, and how faith-community reactions can deepen harm, recalling a 12-year-old asking if “God is against me.” The discussion defines spirituality versus religiosity, highlights children’s spiritual questions arising in forensic interviews and therapy, and notes research linking high spiritual distress (feeling abandoned by God) with greater trauma and suicidal thoughts. Vieth explains barriers to addressing the topic (discomfort discussing religion, negative associations, lack of training) and cites research showing 82% of mental health providers were not fluent in this literature. He outlines options such as chaplaincy and training (Keeping Faith), emphasizes consent-based, ecumenical spiritual care, and previews a forthcoming interactive spiritual care toolkit with models and resources.

Time Stamps

Time Topic

00:00 Spiritual Harm Overview

01:59 Victor’s Wake Up Call

03:22 Why Research Is Rising

08:32 Defining Spiritual Harm

13:17 Trauma Informed Responses

16:21 Toolkit And Care Models

19:00 What Chaplains Do

23:33 Stories Of Spiritual Support

26:46 Programs That Get It Right

31:19 Research Next Steps

34:00 Closing And Where To Learn

Resources

Spiritual care in Children’s Advocacy Centers: results of a survey of CAC directors - ScienceDirect

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