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Managing Digital Reputation During Sexual Abuse Crises: Communication Strategies for the Catholic Church 1

Managing Digital Reputation During Sexual Abuse Crises: Communication Strategies for the Catholic Church

Religion and Social Communication Vol. 24, No. 1 (2026)
ISSN 3057-0883 (Online)

Author

Albertina Navas
Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (Ibarra Campus), Ecuador
Email: anavas@pucesi.edu.ec
ORCID: 0000-0003-3758-5834

Abstract

The Catholic Church’s reputation has been significantly compromised by intensifying the media coverage of sexual abuse scandals, resulting in disillusionment among its adherents and diminished conversion rates. This study employs a systematic approach to analyze real-world digital crisis behaviors across various contexts, identifying six critical indicators of impending digital crises and determining whether a series of criticisms in social media would constitute an incident or a crisis and how to manage them accordingly. Drawing from this analysis, a comprehensive framework tailored for the Catholic Church was developed, encompassing prevention, management, and mitigation phases. This structure transcends mere image preservation, aiming to demonstrate the Church’s commitment to rectifying past transgressions, fostering a culture of safety and protection, and resolutely addressing challenges. The proposed guidelines offer pragmatic approaches to managing digital crises, including protocols for establishing crisis committees, addressing negative social media discourse, and implementing data-driven decision-making processes. By emphasizing continuous monitoring, targeted spokesperson training, and active stakeholder engagement, these recommendations provide the Church with essential tools for effective crisis management. These orientations underscore the significance of post-crisis accountability and the incorporation of lessons learned to strengthen the Church’s evangelistic mission. By prioritizing empathy, accountability, and transparency in communication, this roadmap presents a strategic approach for enhancing the Church’s digital crisis response capabilities. This methodology enabled the institution to restore trust within its community and effectively realign its focus on its fundamental spiritual mission, thereby demonstrating an unwavering commitment to justice and healing.

Keywords

digital crisis management, Catholic Church, sexual abuse scandal, communication strategy, digital reputation

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Pages: 10–34

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62461/ALN090126

Submitted, Accepted & Published Dates

Submitted: February 15, 2025
Accepted: September 1, 2025
Published: January 1, 2026

Cite this article

Navas, Albertina. “Managing Digital Reputation During Sexual Abuse Crises: Communication Strategies for the Catholic Church.” Religion and Social Communication 24, no. 1 (2026): 10–34. https://doi.org/10.62461/ALN090126.

Managing Digital Reputation During Sexual Abuse Crises: Communication Strategies for the Catholic Church

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