Priest Abuse Information

Church Abuse includes a wide-range of illegal and improper behaviors frequently commited against kids and teens by predatory clergy or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The assault might be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barevent or it may involve numerous acts inside an ongoing interaction. For example, an ongoing “trusting” interaction with a young child created by the predatory behavior of a clergy member, cloaked by the trust and respect provided to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.

In all alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Church member’s superior to fully, adequately and immediately report the crime to law enforcement and other authorities, or its continuing failure to research, handle and deal entirely with the situation amplifies the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and possibly others. Recent Clergy Sexual Assault cases covered in the press uncover these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations when the perpetrator frequently a clergy in the Catholic Church, is quietly re-assigned from one parish to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an innocent parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse and Justice
Not a day passes without a media headline coverage regarding sexual abuse and molestation of young children by pedophile priests, or the effects of the abuse on the victims and their families. If you are a victim of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome thoughts hurting your well-being. Encouraged by the social movement and other channels that encourage them to reveal the abuse they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the life-long harm and injury they have suffered.

If you are a survivor of assault perpetrated by a member of the church, the result of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system may be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible person and institutions to blame for their crimes and indifference might provide an amount of justice and recompense to abuse survivors. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a motion might be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying amounts, use predatory methods that are generally known as grooming, targeting a possible abuse victim. Following is a survey of grooming actions used by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a major piece of a predator’s strategy. In a religious environment, the priest is held as God’s representative. Within this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small numbers of children, understanding each child’s needs, weaknesses and circumstances. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – such as tumultuous family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically exploited in the following ways:

Trust
An assaulter will initially try to gain the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as church communities are often tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator can pretend genuine concern in the child’s wellness and development – both emotional and religious.

Reliance
As a predator establishes a trusting relationship with the potential child-victim and oftentimes their family, the child will begin to rely more and more on the predator for whatever need it is that the priest is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim will spend more time with the predator, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible target may receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
As the grooming continues, the predator will try to isolate the possible victim. This may result in solo counseling sessions, meals or other forms of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator will begin to de-sensitize the child from reacting negatively to touching, caressing and other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may begin with crossing the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with inappropriate messages to gauge the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will escalate until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is created, the predator will try to keep control over the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely want to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the victim by whatever means needed to maintain the immoral physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The effect of childhood assault on the survivor can be severe and life-altering. Many priest abuse survivors suffer from lifelong effects of the abuse including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and difficulty creating and maintaining healthy relationships. abused by priest California and support groups can help survivors overcome these effects.

Legally, a survivor of Clergy Sexual Abuse can gain financial compensation from the predator and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to protect the victim from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its method of reviewing and responding to reports of assault. If you are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your experience and your legal options, we are ready to talk with you.