Church Assault Information

Clergy Abuse encompasses a range of immoral and improper behaviors often commited against children and adolescents by pedophilic clergy or other church employees involving sexual abuse of varying amounts. The assault can be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barevent or it can include many assaults within an ongoing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” relationship with a young child created by the predatory intent of a church member, cloaked by the trust and respect provided to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual abuse acts of molestation.

In most claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Clergy member’s employer to fully, adequately and immediately report the offense to police and other authorities, or its further failure to investigate, cope with and deal entirely with the occurrence amplifies the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and possibly others. Current Priest Sexual Abuse cases covered in the press show these short-comings, that includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios where the perpetrator oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is secretly 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 Retribution
Not a week passes without a news headline coverage about sexual abuse and molestation of children by pedophile priests, or the effects of the abuse on the victims and their families. If you are a victim of sexual assault from a priest or other clergy member, these reports are likely to serve as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and other unwelcome feelings harming your wellness. Encouraged by the social movement and other pathways that encourage victims to reveal the abuse they suffered, survivors of assault are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime damage and injury they have experienced.

If you are a survivor of abuse perpetrated by a member of the church, the impact of the abuse on your life and core belief system might be incalculable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible church and institutions accountable for their crimes and indifference might provide an amount of justice and recompense to assault victims. Frequently, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation thereby avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a case might be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Abusive Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, use predatory tactics which are commonly known as grooming, aiming at a possible assault victim. Following is a survey of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority relative to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a major piece of a predator’s ploy. In a church setting, the clergy member is revered as God’s representative. Within this setting, the predator often works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, isolation, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically leveraged in the following ways:

Trust
A predator will initially work to gain the child’s trust. church abuse New York is most difficult to discern as church communities are often tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the priest can pretend genuine interest 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 predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim may devote increased time with the predator, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the potential victim may receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents like blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
As the grooming progresses, the predator will work to isolate the possible target. This may mean individual counseling sessions, meals or other methods of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator will start to de-sensitize the child from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and various behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This might begin with crossing the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with inappropriate messages to determine the victim’s response to the progression. This will continue until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
As the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to maintain control of the child and the continuing interaction. The predator will likely want to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the target by whatever means necessary to maintain the immoral physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood abuse on the victim can be severe and life-changing. Many priest assault 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 creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Priest Sexual Assault can recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to protect the child from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its method of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If you are a survivor of Priest or Clergy Sexual Assault and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to talk with you.