Betrayal trauma theory: when abuse comes from someone you depend on, the brain suppresses awareness of the betrayal to maintain the relationship. This betrayal blindness is why victims often do not recognize what happened until years later. It is not denial. It is neurological survival.
Adults in authority hold structural power: grades, playing time, spiritual validation. Any sexual relationship between an authority figure and a minor is inherently coercive, regardless of whether the minor “consented.” A child cannot consent to someone who holds power over their future.
Institutions often prioritize reputation over safety. If the institution failed you, it is not because your story does not matter. It is because the institution chose itself over you. And that choice was wrong.
God does not live in institutions. God lives in truth. When you speak truth, you are closer to the divine than any building will ever be.