Mckee Welch
Clergy Abuse includes a wide-range of illegal and heinous behaviors commonly perpetrated against young children and tweens by predatory priests or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The abuse might be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barencounter or it may include several assaults within an ongoing interaction. For instance, an ongoing “trusting” relationship with a child created by the predatory behavior of a church member, cloaked with the trust and respect imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual abuse acts of molestation.
In all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly report the crime to police and other authorities, or the further failure to investigate, contend with and resolve entirely with the situation amplifies the effects on the assault survivor, the community and possibly others. Recent Priest Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media highlight these short-comings, which includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios when the predator oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is quietly re-assigned from one parish to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an innocent parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution
Not a day passes without a news headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator priests, or the effects of the assault on the victims and their families. If priest abuse lawsuit are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, reverberating the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome feelings hurting your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other channels that encourage survivors to disclose the abuse they experienced, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime harm and injury they have suffered.
If you are a survivor of assault commited by a priest, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system might be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible church and institutions to blame for their crimes and failures can provide a measure of justice and recompense to assault victims. Commonly, survivors can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a motion can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, use predatory tactics that are generally known as grooming, targeting a potential abuse victim. Below is a list of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s strategy. In a church environment, the priest is held as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator often works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, isolation, 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 strategy is most difficult to discern as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator 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 members, the child will begin to rely more and more on the predator for any need it is that the priest is exploiting and fulfilling. The child will spend increased time with the predator, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible 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 work to isolate the possible victim. This may result in solo 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 other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may begin with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with inappropriate messages to determine the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will continue until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is established, the predator will work to maintain control of the child and the continuing interaction. The predator will likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the target by whatever methods 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. Several clergy 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 survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse can recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to protect the child from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and responding to reports of abuse. If you are a survivor of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to speak with you.
In all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly report the crime to police and other authorities, or the further failure to investigate, contend with and resolve entirely with the situation amplifies the effects on the assault survivor, the community and possibly others. Recent Priest Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media highlight these short-comings, which includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios when the predator oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is quietly re-assigned from one parish to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an innocent parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution
Not a day passes without a news headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator priests, or the effects of the assault on the victims and their families. If priest abuse lawsuit are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these articles are likely to act as an echo chamber, reverberating the horror, shame, guilt and various unwelcome feelings hurting your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other channels that encourage survivors to disclose the abuse they experienced, survivors of abuse are more frequently turning to the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime harm and injury they have suffered.
If you are a survivor of assault commited by a priest, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system might be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible church and institutions to blame for their crimes and failures can provide a measure of justice and recompense to assault victims. Commonly, survivors can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a motion can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.
Abusive Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, use predatory tactics that are generally known as grooming, targeting a potential abuse victim. Below is a list of grooming behaviors exhibited by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s strategy. In a church environment, the priest is held as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator often works closely with small amounts of children, identifying each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a target is identified, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, isolation, 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 strategy is most difficult to discern as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator 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 members, the child will begin to rely more and more on the predator for any need it is that the priest is exploiting and fulfilling. The child will spend increased time with the predator, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible 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 work to isolate the possible victim. This may result in solo 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 other behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may begin with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with inappropriate messages to determine the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will continue until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
Once the sexual relationship is established, the predator will work to maintain control of the child and the continuing interaction. The predator will likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the target by whatever methods 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. Several clergy 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 survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse can recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to protect the child from the assault, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and responding to reports of abuse. If you are a survivor of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to speak with you.
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Mckee Welch
