One of the most disturbing practices observed in the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and the Servants of the Lord and of the Virgin of Matará (SSVM) is the dynamic of “love bombing” during recruitment, followed by a total abandonment of those who decide to leave the institute. This strategy, typical of organizations with sectarian dynamics, illustrates how they emotionally manipulate people to ensure their loyalty, while dehumanizing those who choose to step aside.
Love bombing: the initial trap
In the recruitment process, both the IVE and the SSVM display intense emotional attention towards new applicants. This practice involves bombarding them with praise, affection, and promises, creating an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance. Aspirants are persuaded that they have been “chosen by God” and that their vocation is a unique and inalienable calling.
They are presented with a seemingly warm community and a divine purpose that promises to fill any emotional or spiritual voids they may have. This emotional bombardment generates a strong initial attachment, in which the applicants believe that the institute is the solution to their problems and the place where they can achieve fulfillment and holiness.
The Radical Change: From Love to Abandonment
However, when a member begins to question their vocation or decides to drop out of high school, the treatment changes dramatically. Instead of receiving support or accompaniment, they are treated with coldness and even contempt. This change manifests itself in the following ways:
- Emotional isolation: They are ignored or morally condemned, making them feel that their decision is a betrayal of God and the institute.
- Lack of material support: Many are literally left on the street, without economic resources or housing, especially if they have spent years inside the institute and have broken their ties with the outside.
- Guilt and condemnation: Discourse is used that blames them for “failing God” or not being spiritually strong enough, aggravating their emotional suffering.
The consequences on former members
This total abandonment leaves deep consequences in those who decide to leave. Many former members experience:
- Emotional and psychological problems: Anxiety, depression, and a sense of emptiness stemming from the sudden loss of community and purpose that had been instilled in them.
- Spiritual uncertainty: Having been formed under the idea that the institute represents the will of God, leaving implies a crisis of faith that can last for years.
- Practical difficulties: Without economic resources or social support, many face problems reintegrating into society or finding a place to start over.
Conclusion
The contrast between the “love bombing” of recruitment and total abandonment upon leaving not only reveals a profound lack of empathy in the IVE and SSVM, but also reinforces the manipulative dynamics of emotional control that characterize these institutes. This pattern does not seek the good of people, but to perpetuate dependence and loyalty, at the expense of the dignity and humanity of its members.
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