Clergy Assault Information

Priest Sexual Abuse encompasses a range of illegal and improper actions often commited on young children and teens by pedophilic clergy or other church employees involving sexual abuse of varying degrees. The sexual assault might be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it can involve many acts within a continuing interaction. For instance, an ongoing “trusting” relationship with a child spawned by the predatory intent of a church member, blanketed by the trust and respect imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.

In all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the failure by the Church member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly disclose the crime to police and other authorities, or the further failure to investigate, contend with and resolve fully with the situation increases the harm on the assault survivor, the community and potentially others. Recent Church Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media uncover these failures, that includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios when the abuser oftentimes a priest in the Catholic Church, is secretly moved from one location to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal action on an unsuspecting parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault & Justice
Not a week goes by without a news headline coverage regarding sexual assault and molestation of young children by predator priests, or the legacy of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a victim of sexual assault from a priest or other church member, these reports are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and other unwanted feelings harming your wellness. Encouraged by the social movement and other pathways that encourage victims to disclose the assault they suffered, survivors of abuse are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime damage and injury they have experienced.

If you are a victim of abuse commited by a priest, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system may be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible person and institutions accountable for their crimes and indifference can provide an amount of justice and recompense to assault survivors. Commonly, victims can assert their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a case can be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.

Abusive Behavior
All abusers, to varying degrees, use predatory tricks that are commonly referred to as grooming, tracking a potential assault victim. Below is a survey of grooming behaviors used by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s strategy. In a religious setting, the priest is held as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a victim is identified, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – might be systematically exploited in the following ways:

Trust
A predator will first work to gain the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to notice as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator can pretend genuine interest in the child’s wellness and development – both emotional and religious.

Reliance
As a predator creates a trusting relationship with the potential victim and oftentimes their family, the child will start to rely more and more on the predator for any need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim may devote increased time with the predator, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the potential target may receive presents from the priest, including valuable, intangible gifts such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator may try to isolate the possible victim. This might result in single counseling sessions, meals or various methods of one-on-one isolated encounters.
Sexualization
The predator will start to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and various actions 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. church abuseCalifornia until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
As the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to keep control over the child and the continued interaction. The predator will likely want to manipulate the child by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the target by whatever methods needed to maintain the immoral physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood assault on the victim can be overwhelming and life-altering. Several 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 problems creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can help victims overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse may gain financial compensation from the predator and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to protect the child from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process 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 talk with you.