SPOILER ALERT!
Clergy Abuse – Information
Clergy Sexual Abuse includes a range of illegal and improper actions commonly perpetrated on kids and tweens by pedophilic priests or other church members involving sexual assault of varying degrees. The assault might be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barevent or it can include numerous assaults inside a continuing interaction. For example, an ongoing “trusting” relationship with a young child created by the predatory behavior of a clergy member, cloaked by the trust and respect provided to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual attack acts of molestation.
Within nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Church member’s superior to completely, adequately and immediately report the offense to law enforcement and other authorities, or its further failure to investigate, address and resolve fully with the situation amplifies the harm on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Priest Sexual Assault cases reported in the press uncover these short-comings, that includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the abuser commonly a priest in the Catholic Church, is silently moved from one parish to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an innocent parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Justice
Not a week goes by without a news headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of children by pedophile clergy, or the aftermath of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a victim of sexual assault from a priest or other clergy member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome emotions harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage victims to disclose the abuse they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime damage and injury they have suffered.
If you are a survivor of abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the result of the abuse on your life and core belief system may be incalculable. Regardless, holding the responsible priest and institutions accountable for their crimes and indifference can offer an amount of justice and recompense to abuse survivors. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is required, a case might be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, use predatory tactics that are commonly referred to as grooming, targeting a potential abuse victim. Below is a survey of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s ploy. In a religious environment, the priest is revered as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and circumstances. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like tumultuous family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically leveraged in the following ways:
Trust
An assaulter will initially try to get the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can pretend sincere interest in the child’s wellbeing and groeth – both emotional and religious.
Reliance
As a predator creates 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 predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim will spend more time with the priest, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible victim may receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator may work to isolate the possible victim. This might mean individual counseling sessions, meals or other 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 actions that lead to sexual interaction. This could start with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to determine the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will continue until the relationship gets to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is created, the predator will work to maintain control over the child and the continued interaction. The predator may likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever ways 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-altering. Several clergy 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 difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can help survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a survivor of Priest Sexual Abuse may gain financial compensation from the abuser and, more commonly, from the religious organization for its failure to protect the victim from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If priest abuse New York 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 talk with you.
Within nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Church member’s superior to completely, adequately and immediately report the offense to law enforcement and other authorities, or its further failure to investigate, address and resolve fully with the situation amplifies the harm on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Priest Sexual Assault cases reported in the press uncover these short-comings, that includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the abuser commonly a priest in the Catholic Church, is silently moved from one parish to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an innocent parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Justice
Not a week goes by without a news headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of children by pedophile clergy, or the aftermath of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a victim of sexual assault from a priest or other clergy member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome emotions harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage victims to disclose the abuse they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime damage and injury they have suffered.
If you are a survivor of abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the result of the abuse on your life and core belief system may be incalculable. Regardless, holding the responsible priest and institutions accountable for their crimes and indifference can offer an amount of justice and recompense to abuse survivors. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is required, a case might be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, use predatory tactics that are commonly referred to as grooming, targeting a potential abuse victim. Below is a survey of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s ploy. In a religious environment, the priest is revered as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and circumstances. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like tumultuous family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically leveraged in the following ways:
Trust
An assaulter will initially try to get the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can pretend sincere interest in the child’s wellbeing and groeth – both emotional and religious.
Reliance
As a predator creates 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 predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim will spend more time with the priest, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible victim may receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator may work to isolate the possible victim. This might mean individual counseling sessions, meals or other 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 actions that lead to sexual interaction. This could start with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to determine the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will continue until the relationship gets to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is created, the predator will work to maintain control over the child and the continued interaction. The predator may likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever ways 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-altering. Several clergy 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 difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can help survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a survivor of Priest Sexual Abuse may gain financial compensation from the abuser and, more commonly, from the religious organization for its failure to protect the victim from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If priest abuse New York 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 talk with you.
