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Sure. Clinical depression, which can happen in every kind of economic or cultural setting. </p>
<p>Or possibly some kind of sensory hyper-sensitivity about skin that is on the autism spectrum which would make an individual averse to rubbing one’s own body with soap or washcloth, coupled with fear of water. If that was/is the Mom’s problem, she wouldn’t keep soap around, so the daughter got socialized that way. These are medical issues.</p>
<p>FME, it is NOT “telling on someone” if you go advise a clergy in context of church group work. If there’s a congregant with some issue that impacts church committee work or impedes their acceptance among other church members, that IS clergy business. </p>
<p>Beyond that, your clergy might know much more about the family in confidence, and so can know who might talk with them (their doc, their social worker…) or just do it in some of the crazy subtle ways clergy have to influence congregants towards the positive. </p>
<p>H was clergy and people would whisper to him that so-and-so is smelling like urine, so he’d pull over the spouse to inqire in general on their health, see what they already knew and listen about what they were doing on it so far. They always knew, but were worn down. By his offering to be a support to that support system, that often kickstarted the closest support person to bring it up again with a bit more resolve. Sometimes - not always - this indirect intervention worked. </p>
<p>No harm mentioning this in confidence to your clergy, couching it in your personal reaction plus concern for the progress of the church committee in case others feel similarly. </p>
<p>Believe me, clergy work is not just writing sermons!</p>