049: Confronting Clergy Abuse and Institutional Betrayal with David Pooler
May 06, 2025
CW/TW: This episode is centered largely around the topic of Clergy Sexual Abuse (CSA) and its effects. Please be gentle with yourself. If it feels like too much at any point, please feel free to stop, take a break, or skip this episode altogether.
What happens when those in church leadership become the ones who harm—and the institution covers it up? Where does one go to hold these abusers accountable?
In this episode, I talk with Dr. David Pooler, professor, researcher, and therapist, who has spent over a decade studying adult clergy sexual abuse. We talk about his landmark study with staggering data and the failure of church institutions to offer care or accountability after abuse. Dr. Pooler also shares what healing can look like and offers powerful insights on institutional betrayal, grooming, consent, and how we must center survivors in our systems of justice.
download Episode Transcript 📄
Guest Spotlight ✨
Dr. Pooler has more than 15 years of social work practice experience with several different populations including at-risk and abused children, adults with severe and persistent mental illness, persons with addictions, and homeless men. Dr. Pooler studies social workers and the organizational contexts in which social workers are employed. A primary focus of his research is studying how social workers find great joy in their work. He is interested in social work management and leadership. As an occupational social worker, Dr. Pooler is interested in assessing and developing interventions for social service organizations so that work environments are healthy, supportive, and just. He also has a strong interest in developing healthy congregations so that they can transform communities.
Dr. Pooler is married to Cheryl who is a lecturer in the Garland School of Social Work. Their two children were adopted from China; they are Josianne (2000) and Emilie (2003).
Links & Resources 🔗
- Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse Advocacy and Research Collaborative
- Blind to Betrayal by Jennifer Freyd Amazon | Bookshop
- Truth and Repair by Judith Herman Amazon | Bookshop
- Awake (formerly Awake Milwaukee)
- Restored Voices Collective
- The Hope of Survivors
- Faith Trust Institute
- EMDRIA (EMDR International Association)
- All the Buried Women Podcast
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Broken to Beloved is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide those wounded by spiritual abuse and religious trauma with practical resources moving toward healing and wholeness, and to provide pastors and church leaders with resources to grow in trauma awareness and implement safeguarding practices. Get more information or give a tax-free donation here.
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