Priest Abuse Overview

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Priest Abuse comprises a wide-range of immoral and unacceptable actions often commited against kids and tweens by pedophilic clergy or other church members involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The abuse may be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it might include many assaults within a continuing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” interaction with a child spawned by the predatory behavior of a clergy member, cloaked by the trust and reverence imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual abuse acts of molestation.

In nearly all alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to completely, adequately and promptly disclose the offense to law enforcement and other authorities, or its continuing failure to investigate, handle and resolve fully with the occurrence amplifies the effects on the assault survivor, the community and potentially others. Recent Church Sexual Assault cases covered in the media highlight these failures, that includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the abuser oftentimes a priest in the Catholic Church, is silently re-assigned from one location to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an innocent parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse and Justice
Not a day passes without a news headline reporting about sexual assault and molestation of young children by predator priests, or the aftermath of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, reverberating the horror, shame, guilt and other unwelcome emotions harming your wellness. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage them to reveal the abuse they suffered, victims of assault are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong damage and injury they have suffered.

If you are a victim of assault perpetrated by a member of the church, the impact of the abuse on your life and core belief system can be incalculable. Regardless, holding the responsible church and institutions to blame for their crimes and indifference may provide a measure of justice and recompense to abuse victims. Frequently, victims can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation thereby avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a case might be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All abusers, to varying degrees, employ predatory tactics that are commonly known as grooming, targeting a possible assault victim. Following is a list of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority relative to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s ploy. In a religious setting, the priest is held as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small numbers of children, understanding each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a victim is located, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – may 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 discern as church communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can feign sincere concern in the child’s wellbeing and groeth – both emotional and religious.

Reliance
As a predator establishes a trusting relationship with the potential 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 devote more 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 target may receive presents from the priest, including valuable, intangible gifts like blessings and special recognition.
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While grooming progresses, the predator might work to isolate the possible victim. This may mean solo counseling meetings, meals or other methods of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator will begin to de-sensitize the child from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and other actions that lead to sexual interaction. This may begin with crossing the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive 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
As the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to keep control over the child and the continuing interaction. The predator may likely want to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the victim by whatever methods needed to maintain the immoral physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The effect of childhood assault on the survivor can be overwhelming and life-changing. 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 difficulty creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist victims overcome these effects.

Legally, a survivor of Priest Sexual Assault can gain financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to shield the victim from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and responding to reports of assault. 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.