Priest Abuse includes a wide-range of immoral and unacceptable actions frequently perpetrated on children and tweens by pedophilic clergy or other church members involving sexual abuse of varying amounts. The assault may be a single, non-consensual scroll barevent or it might involve several assaults within a continuing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” relationship with a young child spawned by the predatory behavior of a clergy associate, blanketed by the trust and respect imputed to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.
In most alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Church member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly disclose the offense to police and other authorities, or the continuing failure to research, cope with and resolve fully with the occurrence amplifies the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Recent Church Sexual Abuse cases reported in the press show these short-comings, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the predator frequently a priest in the Catholic Church, is suddenly moved from one church to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an unaware parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution Not a day passes without a news headline coverage regarding sexual assault and molestation of children by pedophile clergy, or the aftermath of the assault on the victims and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other clergy member, these stories are most likely to serve as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and various unwanted thoughts staining your well-being. Encouraged by the social movement and other channels that encourage victims to disclose the assault they experienced, survivors of abuse are increasingly turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong damage and injury they have experienced.
If you are a victim of assault perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system can be incalculable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible clergy and institutions to blame for their crimes and indifference can offer an amount of justice and recompense to assault survivors. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is required, a case can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior All abusers, to varying degrees, employ predatory tricks that are generally known as grooming, aiming at a potential assault victim. Below is a survey of grooming actions exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority in relation to the subordinate child.
Grooming Grooming is a major piece of a predator’s ploy. In a religious setting, the priest is viewed as God’s representative. Within this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small numbers of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – might be systematically leveraged in the following ways:
Trust An assaulter will initially try to gain the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the priest can pretend genuine concern in the child’s wellness and groeth – both emotional and religious.
Reliance As a predator creates 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 priest is exploiting and fulfilling. The child will spend 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 potential target might receive presents from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition. Isolation As the grooming continues, the predator will work to isolate the possible target. This may mean solo counseling sessions, meals or various forms of one-on-one isolated moments. Sexualization The predator may begin to de-sensitize the child from reacting negatively to touching, 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 response to the progression. This will continue until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature. Maintenance As the sexual relationship is created, the predator will try to maintain control of the child and the continued interaction. The predator may likely seek to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever methods necessary to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.
Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors
The impact of childhood assault on the survivor can be overwhelming and life-changing. Several clergy 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 establishing and keeping vibrant relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a survivor of Clergy Sexual Abuse can recover financial compensation from the predator and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to protect the child from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its method of reviewing and responding to reports of abuse. If priest lawsuit Massachusetts 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 speak with you.
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