Church Abuse comprises a wide-range of illegal and improper actions commonly commited on children and tweens by predatory priests or other church members involving sexual abuse of varying amounts. The sexual assault can be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barevent or it can include many assaults inside an ongoing interaction. For example, a continuing “trusting” relationship with a young child spawned by the predatory intent 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.

In nearly all alleged priest abuse Connecticut – meneolawgroup.com, or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Church member’s superior to completely, adequately and promptly disclose the crime to police and other authorities, or the continuing failure to research, handle and resolve fully with the situation increases the effects on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Recent Clergy Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media show these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations where the predator frequently a clergy in the Catholic Church, is secretly moved from one parish to another only to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an unsuspecting parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution

Not a day goes by without a news headline reporting regarding sexual assault and molestation of children by predator clergy, or the legacy of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these stories are likely to act as an echo chamber, reverberating the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome emotions harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage them to disclose the assault they experienced, survivors of assault are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the life-long damage and injury they have suffered.

If you are a victim of assault commited by a member of the church, the result of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system can be incalculable. Regardless, holding the responsible clergy and institutions accountable for their crimes and failures may provide a measure of justice and recompense to assault victims. Frequently, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a motion can be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior

All abusers, to varying degrees, employ predatory methods which are commonly known as grooming, tracking a possible abuse victim. Below is a survey of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority relative to the subordinate child.

Grooming

Grooming is a significant part of a predator’s strategy. In a church environment, the clergy member is revered as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator often works closely with small numbers of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and circumstances. Once a target is located, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – may be systematically leveraged in the following ways:

Trust

A predator will initially try to gain the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to discern as church communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can pretend genuine concern 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 members, the child will begin to rely more and more on the predator for any need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The child will spend more 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 predator, including valuable, intangible presents such as blessings and special recognition.

Isolation

As the grooming progresses, the predator might work to isolate the possible target. This may result in single counseling meetings, meals or other methods of one-on-one isolated moments.

Sexualization

The predator may start to de-sensitize the child 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 reaction to the progression. This will escalate until the relationship gets to one of a physical, sexual nature.

Maintenance

As the sexual relationship is created, the predator will work to keep control of the child and the continued interaction. The predator will likely want to manipulate the child by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the victim by whatever methods needed to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood abuse on the survivor can be severe and life-changing. Several priest abuse survivors suffer from lifelong effects of the abuse 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 therapy and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Priest Sexual Assault can gain financial compensation from the abuser and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to shield the victim from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and responding to reports of abuse. If you are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your experience and your legal options, we are prepared to talk with you.