Faith Hakesley, author of Glimmers of Grace: Moments of Peace and Healing Following Sexual Abuse (Our Sunday Visitor 2020) as well as the Ruth Institute blog, Advice from a Survivor, reacted to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández’s recently resurfaced book, The Mystical Passion.
“I found it nauseating,” Hakesley said. “It’s sexually graphic, blasphemous, and completely inappropriate on so many levels. That a Catholic priest would write so graphically is despicable.”
“The book would likely be triggering for any survivor of sexual abuse. It certainly was for me. I only got through a few portions before I felt physically ill and had to stop.”
“Even more concerning than this book’s graphic descriptions is that it was inspired by a 16-year-old girl’s ‘spiritual’ but sensual encounter with Jesus, which is included in the book. I sincerely hope the girl got the help she needed.”
“I’m not saying Fernández abused anyone; however, what I read suggests manipulation, grooming, and spiritual abuse. Some of the lines stood out because my rapist said almost identical things while he was grooming and abusing me.”
“As has happened in many cases of clerical abuse, my rapist often combined abuse with spirituality. He would try to make the awful things he was doing seem beautiful and godly.”
Fernández authored The Mystical Passion in 1998 but suppressed it not long after, fearing it could be “misinterpreted.”
“The gas lighting is obvious,” Hakesley said. “There is nothing to be misinterpreted. We are seeing it for what it is. This filth was published just a few years before news of the clerical abuse scandal broke in Boston in 2002. It’s no wonder he got worried. Even he recognized that his book’s content would be of concern.”
“Fernández also stated that he wouldn’t write such a book today. Quite frankly, he never should have written it in the first place.”
Pope Francis elevated Fernández to prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2023. In December, with the pope’s approval, Fernández released the controversial Fiducia Supplicans, a doctrinal declaration regarding blessing gay unions.
“Fernández stated that Pope Francis knew about Mystical Passion when he appointed him prefect. If this is true, then the Vatican sends a clear message to survivors: ‘You don’t matter,’” Hakesley stated.
“It also sends the message that sexual abuse isn’t high on the Vatican’s priority list, and that some priests, cardinals, and bishops are receiving preferential treatment over others. This is further betrayal for clerical abuse survivors and for all Catholics.”
“Further, Fernández’s lack of remorse or apology for The Mystical Passion is not at all befitting the head of a Vatican department that promotes and defends Catholic doctrine, not to mention oversees sexual abuse cases.”
“This is a huge red flag. Anyone in charge of deciding matters of faith had darn well better be able to make good, holy decisions. That is what the Church needs, and what all Catholics deserve.”
