SPOILER ALERT!
Priest Abuse – Information
Clergy Abuse includes a range of illegal and unacceptable acts commonly perpetrated on young children and adolescents by predatory priests or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The assault can be a one-off, non-consensual scroll barevent or it can involve numerous acts inside an ongoing interaction. For example, an ongoing “trusting” interaction with a child spawned by the predatory behavior of a clergy member, blanketed with the trust and respect provided to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual attack acts of molestation.
In nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly disclose the crime to police and other authorities, or its continuing failure to research, cope with and resolve entirely with the occurrence amplifies the harm on the assault survivor, the community and possibly others. Current Church Sexual Assault cases reported in the media show these short-comings, including “pass-the-trash” situations when the abuser oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is silently moved from one location to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an unsuspecting parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse and Retribution
Not a day goes by without a media headline coverage about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator clergy, or the aftermath of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual assault from a priest or other church member, these reports are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and other unwanted feelings harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other channels that encourage them to reveal the assault they experienced, victims of abuse are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong harm and injury they have suffered.
If you are a victim of abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system may be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible priest and institutions to blame for their crimes and indifference might offer a measure of justice and recompense to assault victims. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a case may be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.
Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, employ predatory methods that are generally referred to as grooming, aiming at a possible abuse victim. Following is a survey of grooming actions exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a major part of a predator’s ploy. In a church setting, the priest is revered as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, understanding each child’s needs, vulnerabilities and situations. Once a target is located, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, isolation, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically exploited in the following ways:
Trust
A predator will initially work to get the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to notice as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can feign genuine concern in the child’s wellbeing and development – both emotional and religious.
Reliance
As a predator creates a trusting relationship with the potential victim and oftentimes their family members, 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 may spend more 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 target may receive gifts from the predator, including valuable, intangible gifts like blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming progresses, the predator may work to isolate the potential victim. This could mean individual counseling meetings, meals or other forms of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator might start to de-sensitize the target 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 established, the predator will work to keep control over the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely want to manipulate the child by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever ways needed to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.
Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors
The impact of childhood assault on the victim can be severe and life-altering. Several clergy assault survivors suffer from long-term effects of the assault including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and problems establishing and maintaining vibrant relationships. Individualized treatment and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a survivor of Priest Sexual Abuse may recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to shield the child from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If clergy abuse connecticut are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to talk with you.
In nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse situations, the failure by the Clergy member’s superior to entirely, adequately and promptly disclose the crime to police and other authorities, or its continuing failure to research, cope with and resolve entirely with the occurrence amplifies the harm on the assault survivor, the community and possibly others. Current Church Sexual Assault cases reported in the media show these short-comings, including “pass-the-trash” situations when the abuser oftentimes a clergy in the Catholic Church, is silently moved from one location to another only to continue his predatory, criminal action on an unsuspecting parish community.
Priest and Clergy Sexual Abuse and Retribution
Not a day goes by without a media headline coverage about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator clergy, or the aftermath of the abuse on the survivors and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual assault from a priest or other church member, these reports are likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, shame, guilt and other unwanted feelings harming your well-being. Encouraged by the societal movement and other channels that encourage them to reveal the assault they experienced, victims of abuse are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong harm and injury they have suffered.
If you are a victim of abuse perpetrated by a member of the clergy, the impact of the abuse on your life and foundational belief system may be immeasurable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible priest and institutions to blame for their crimes and indifference might offer a measure of justice and recompense to assault victims. Oftentimes, victims can leverage their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is required, a case may be filed where the victim can remain anonymous.
Predatory Behavior
All predators, to varying degrees, employ predatory methods that are generally referred to as grooming, aiming at a possible abuse victim. Following is a survey of grooming actions exhibited by predators who are in a job of authority in relation to the subordinate young child.
Grooming
Grooming is a major part of a predator’s ploy. In a church setting, the priest is revered as God’s representative. Within this environment, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, understanding each child’s needs, vulnerabilities and situations. Once a target is located, these vulnerabilities – like violent family setting, isolation, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – can be systematically exploited in the following ways:
Trust
A predator will initially work to get the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to notice as religious communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the assaulter can feign genuine concern in the child’s wellbeing and development – both emotional and religious.
Reliance
As a predator creates a trusting relationship with the potential victim and oftentimes their family members, 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 may spend more 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 target may receive gifts from the predator, including valuable, intangible gifts like blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming progresses, the predator may work to isolate the potential victim. This could mean individual counseling meetings, meals or other forms of one-on-one isolated moments.
Sexualization
The predator might start to de-sensitize the target 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 established, the predator will work to keep control over the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely want to manipulate the child by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will continue to exploit the victim by whatever ways needed to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.
Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors
The impact of childhood assault on the victim can be severe and life-altering. Several clergy assault survivors suffer from long-term effects of the assault including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and problems establishing and maintaining vibrant relationships. Individualized treatment and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.
Legally, a survivor of Priest Sexual Abuse may recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more frequently, from the church for its failure to shield the child from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its process of reviewing and resolving to reports of abuse. If clergy abuse connecticut are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to talk with you.
