The paper focuses on one of the causes of sexual abuse: disregard for the dignity of the person - and especially for his or her self-determination. Although the claim of respect for the relational and vulnerable autonomy of the human person has become a nucleus of theological ethics, is still given too little consideration in the church’s debate about sexual violence. The article outlines the concept of vulnerable agency (Hille Haker) that links autonomy with relationality and vulnerability. It argues that the central moral problem of sexual violence is that it violates this vulnerable agency – and not the violation of the vow of chastity. Finally it is discussed that a culture of safety which has to protect vulnerable agency requires a changed understanding of power, as well as clear control structures.
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