Clergy Assault Information

Church Sexual Abuse includes a wide-range of immoral and improper behaviors often commited against kids and tweens by predatory priests or other church members involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The sexual assault may be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it can involve numerous assaults within a continuing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” interaction with a child created by the predatory behavior of a clergy member, cloaked by the trust and respect imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual abuse acts of molestation.

In nearly all alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Church member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly disclose the crime to law enforcement and other authorities, or its further failure to research, contend with and resolve entirely with the occurrence increases the harm on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Clergy Sexual Abuse cases covered in the press highlight these failures, including “pass-the-trash” scenarios when the abuser frequently a priest in the Catholic Church, is suddenly transferred from one parish to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an unsuspecting parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault & Retribution
Not a week goes by without a news announcement reporting regarding sexual assault and molestation of children by predator clergy, or the effects of the assault on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual assault from a priest or other clergy member, these reports are most likely to serve as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and various unwanted feelings harming your well-being. Encouraged by the social movement and other pathways that encourage them to disclose the abuse they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong harm and injury they have experienced.

If you are a survivor of assault perpetrated by a member of the church, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system can be immeasurable. Regardless, holding the responsible person and institutions accountable for their crimes and failures might provide an amount of justice and recompense to assault survivors. Frequently, survivors can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation thereby avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is necessary, a motion might be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, employ predatory methods which are commonly referred to as grooming, focusing on a possible abuse victim. Following is a list 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 part of a predator’s strategy. In a religious environment, the clergy member is held as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator often works closely with small numbers of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like tumultuous family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically leveraged in the following ways:

Trust
A predator will first work to gain the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to notice as religious communities are often tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator can pretend sincere concern in the child’s wellbeing and development – both emotional and religious.

Reliance
As a predator creates 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 child may devote more time with the priest, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible victim may receive presents from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator will try to isolate the potential victim. This may result in single counseling meetings, meals or other methods of one-on-one isolated encounters.
Sexualization
The predator will start to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may start with crossing the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to determine the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will continue until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to keep control over the child and the continuing interaction. The priest will likely want to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever ways necessary to maintain the immoral physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood abuse on the victim can be overwhelming and life-changing. Several clergy abuse survivors suffer from long-term effects of the assault including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and problems establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. abused in church Texas and support groups can help survivors overcome these effects.

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