Clergy Predator Abuse – Overview

Clergy Sexual Abuse comprises a wide-range of immoral and improper acts frequently perpetrated against kids and adolescents by predatory priests or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The assault might be a single, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it may include several acts inside a continuing interaction. For instance, an ongoing “trusting” relationship with a child spawned by the predatory intent of a clergy member, cloaked with the trust and respect provided to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual attack acts of molestation.

Within nearly all alleged Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the short-coming by the Clergy member’s employer to entirely, adequately and immediately disclose the crime to police and other authorities, or its continuing failure to investigate, contend with and deal fully with the occurrence amplifies the effects on the assault survivor, the community and potentially others. Recent Church Sexual Abuse cases reported in the media show these short-comings, which includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios where the abuser frequently a clergy in the Catholic Church, is silently re-assigned from one location to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an innocent parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse & Retribution
Not a day goes by without a news announcement reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator priests, or the aftermath of the abuse on the victims and their families. If you are a victim of sexual assault from a priest or other clergy member, these reports are most likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and various unwelcome thoughts staining your well-being. Encouraged by the social movement and other pathways that encourage them to reveal the assault they experienced, victims of assault are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the life-long damage and injury they have experienced.

If you are a victim of abuse commited by a member of the clergy, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system might be incalculable. Regardless, holding the responsible priest and institutions accountable for their crimes and indifference might offer a measure of justice and recompense to abuse victims. Oftentimes, survivors can leverage their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. However, if litigation is necessary, a motion can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying amounts, use predatory tactics that are commonly known as grooming, aiming at a potential abuse victim. Following is clergy lawsuit New York of grooming actions exhibited by predators who are in a position of authority relative to the subordinate young child.

Grooming
Grooming is a major part of a predator’s ploy. 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 circumstances. Once a victim is located, these vulnerabilities – such as violent 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 gain the child’s trust. This step is most difficult to notice as church communities are frequently tight-knit and personal interaction with clergy is commonplace. Here, the priest can pretend sincere interest in the child’s wellbeing 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 begin to rely more and more on the predator for whatever need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The child will devote increased time with the priest, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the potential victim might receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible gifts such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
As the grooming continues, the predator might try to isolate the potential target. This may result in individual counseling sessions, meals or other forms of one-on-one isolated encounters.
Sexualization
The predator may start to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to touching, caressing and other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This could begin 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 established, the predator will try to maintain control over the child and the continued interaction. The predator will likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the victim by whatever means necessary to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood abuse on the victim can be severe and life-changing. Several priest assault 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 creating and maintaining healthy relationships. Individualized therapy and support groups can assist victims overcome these effects.

Legally, a survivor of Clergy Sexual Assault can recover financial compensation from the predator 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 method of reviewing and resolving to reports of assault. If you are a survivor of Priest or Clergy Sexual Assault and would like to confidentially discuss your experience and your legal options, we are ready to talk with you.