Abstract:
The theme of this article is pastoral counselling with women who have been sexually violated in an ecclesial context. The article focuses on the exegesis of those passages on guilt and forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew frequently used by theologians and pastors in this regard. The article points to the implications for counselling. The aim is to empower women who have been violated and who struggle with the Christian imperative to forgive. Donald Capps’ notion of “reframing” with regard to “first order” and “second order” change is complemented by the narrative philosophy of Paul Ricoeur on prefiguartion, configuration and refiguartion. The article is concluded by indicating a possibility for the abused woman to be liberated from the lingering power of the abuser. There is no direct link between them any longer. To become whole is the acceptance of forgiveness and to empower others to heal.
