Church Sexual Abuse includes a wide-range of illegal and improper acts often commited against young children and adolescents by pedophilic clergy or other church employees involving sexual abuse of varying degrees. The abuse can be a single, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it can involve many assaults within an ongoing interaction. For instance, a continuing “trusting” relationship with a young child spawned by the predatory intent of a church member, blanketed by the trust and reverence provided to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.
In most claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Clergy member’s employer to completely, adequately and promptly report the crime to police and other authorities, or the continuing failure to research, address and resolve entirely with the situation amplifies the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Priest Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media highlight these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the predator commonly a clergy in the Catholic Church, is suddenly re-assigned from one church 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 media announcement reporting about sexual assault and molestation of children by pedophile clergy, or the effects of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other clergy member, these articles are most likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and various unwanted emotions harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage victims to reveal the abuse they experienced, survivors of abuse are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong harm and injury they have suffered.
If you are a victim of assault perpetrated by a member of the church, the result of the abuse on your life and core belief system might be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible church and institutions accountable for their crimes and failures may provide an amount of justice and recompense to abuse survivors. Frequently, priest lawsuit Connecticut can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a motion can be filed where the survivor can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior All abusers, to varying amounts, use predatory methods which are generally referred to as grooming, focusing on a potential assault victim. Following is a survey of grooming actions used by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming Grooming is a major part of a predator’s strategy. In a church setting, the priest is viewed as God’s representative. Within this setting, the predator often works closely with small numbers of children, understanding each child’s needs, vulnerabilities and situations. Once a victim is located, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, isolation, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – may be systematically exploited in the following ways:
Trust An assaulter will initially try to gain the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to discern as religious communities are often tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter 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 child-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 child may spend increased time with the predator, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible victim may receive presents from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents like blessings and special recognition. Isolation While grooming continues, the predator may work to isolate the potential victim. This might mean single counseling meetings, meals or other forms of one-on-one isolated encounters. Sexualization The predator might start to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and various behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This might begin with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with inappropriate messages to gauge the victim’s response to the progression. This will escalate 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 continuing interaction. The predator may likely seek to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the target by whatever means necessary to maintain the immoral physical relationship.
Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors
The impact of childhood assault on the survivor can be overwhelming and life-altering. Many priest assault survivors suffer from lifelong effects of the assault including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and problems establishing and keeping healthy relationships. Individualized treatment and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse may gain 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 process of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If you are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are ready to speak with you.
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