Clergy Abuse comprises a wide-range of illegal and improper acts often commited on children and adolescents by pedophilic priests or other church employees involving sexual abuse of varying degrees. The sexual assault may be a single, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it can include many assaults within an ongoing interaction. For instance, an ongoing “trusting” interaction with a young child created by the predatory intent of a church member, blanketed with the trust and respect provided to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual attack acts of molestation.
In most alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Church member’s employer to entirely, adequately and promptly report the offense to police and other authorities, or the continuing failure to research, contend with and resolve entirely with the occurrence increases the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and possibly others. Current Church Sexual Abuse cases reported in the media uncover these failures, including “pass-the-trash” scenarios when the predator oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is suddenly re-assigned from one location to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal action on an innocent parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution Not a day passes without a media headline reporting regarding sexual assault and molestation of children by pedophile clergy, or the effects of the assault on the survivors and their families. If you are a victim of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these stories are most likely to serve as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome feelings staining your well-being. Encouraged by the social movement and other channels that encourage victims to reveal the abuse they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently employing the legal system to compensate them for the life-long damage and injury they have suffered.
If you are a victim of abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the result of the abuse on your life and core belief system might be immeasurable. Regardless, holding the responsible person and institutions to blame for their crimes and failures might provide a measure of justice and recompense to assault survivors. Commonly, survivors can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is necessary, a motion can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
church abuse San Diego California , to varying degrees, employ predatory tactics that are commonly referred to as grooming, focusing on a possible assault victim. Below is a survey of grooming actions used 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 strategy. In a religious setting, the priest is held as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator often works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, vulnerabilities and situations. Once a victim is identified, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – may be systematically exploited in the following ways:
Trust An assaulter will initially try to get the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to notice as religious communities are often tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the priest can feign sincere 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 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 increased time with the predator, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible target might receive presents from the predator, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition. Isolation As the grooming escalates, the predator may try to isolate the potential target. This could result in single counseling meetings, 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 may begin with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to gauge the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will escalate until the relationship gets to one of a physical, sexual nature. Maintenance Once the sexual relationship is created, the predator will work to keep control of the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely seek to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the target by whatever methods needed to maintain the immoral physical relationship.
Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors
The impact of childhood abuse on the survivor can be severe and life-changing. Several clergy abuse 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 creating and keeping vibrant relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse can gain financial compensation from the predator and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to shield the victim from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its method of reviewing and responding to reports of assault. 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 talk with you.
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