Church Predator Abuse Information

Priest Sexual Abuse includes a wide-range of immoral and improper acts commonly perpetrated against kids and adolescents by predatory priests or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The abuse might be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it might involve several acts within an ongoing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” interaction with a young child spawned by the predatory intent of a clergy associate, cloaked by the trust and respect imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.

Within nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to entirely, adequately and immediately disclose the offense to law enforcement and other authorities, or the further failure to research, cope with and deal entirely with the situation increases the effects on the assault survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Church Sexual Abuse cases covered in the press highlight these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the abuser frequently a clergy in the Catholic Church, is quietly moved from one location to another only to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an unsuspecting parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse and Justice
Not a day passes without a media headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by pedophile priests, or the legacy of the assault on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor 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 thoughts harming your wellness. Encouraged by the social movement and other channels that encourage them to reveal the abuse they suffered, survivors of assault are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime harm and injury they have suffered.

If you are a victim of assault commited by a member of the clergy, the result of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system can be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible priest and institutions to blame for their crimes and failures might offer an amount of justice and recompense to abuse survivors. Frequently, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation thereby avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a case can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying amounts, employ predatory tricks that are generally known as grooming, tracking a possible assault victim. Following is a list of grooming behaviors used by predators who are in a job of authority relative to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a significant part of a predator’s ploy. In a religious setting, the priest is viewed as God’s representative. In this environment, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and circumstances. Once clergy lawsuitMassachusetts is located, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically exploited in the following ways:

Trust
An assaulter will first try to get the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as church communities are often tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can feign sincere interest in the child’s wellbeing and development – both emotional and religious.

Reliance
As a predator establishes a trusting relationship with the potential child-victim and oftentimes their family members, the child will start to rely more and more on the predator for whatever need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim may spend increased time with the priest, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible victim may receive gifts from the predator, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
As the grooming continues, the predator will work to isolate the potential target. This might mean solo counseling sessions, meals or various forms of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator might begin to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may start with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive 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
Once the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to maintain control of the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely want to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the target by whatever ways necessary to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The effect of childhood abuse on the survivor can be overwhelming and life-altering. Several 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 difficulty creating and maintaining vibrant relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist victims overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse can gain financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the religious organization 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 abuse. If you are a survivor 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.