There is a sense in which all abuse can be spiritualabuse. Spiritual abuse - 1800RESPECT An understanding of drug use patterns among different abstinence-teaching religious groups may be useful in prevention and treatment efforts. On the one hand, the number of devout Christians who belong to the older generations continues to decline. Drug abuse, as well as the way in which people respond to treatment, also varies within groups. Spiritual abuse can be a form of domestic and family violence. The women and children, however, have no authority or input at all. This is perpetrated by members of the same or similar faith and includes the use of a position of authority within the religion. . Children abused by religious figures less likely to report crimes ... There are studies that demonstrate that the faith community is even more vulnerable to abuse than secular environments. Americans' Views on Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse - Pew Research Center Religious and Spiritual Abuse | lwa.org.uk : LWA RELIGIOUS ABUSE - What Exactly Is it? | RELIGION'S CELL Usually these types of religious systems give men unquestionable authority over women and children. VicHealth (Australia) has noted that one of the underlying and contributing factors towards violence against women is their environment, citing 'faith-based institutions' such as churches as one such environment for many women. In the context of violence against women, religious teachings and communities will play a role; they will never be neutral . A 2004 report from the U.S. Department of Education indicated that one out of ten public school students experience some kind of unwanted sexual advance from an educator.