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Clergy Sexual Abuse – Information

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Moreno Ramos
Priest Abuse comprises a range of illegal and improper actions commonly commited on kids and teens by predatory priests or other church employees involving sexual assault of varying amounts. The assault might be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barevent or it may include several acts within a continuing interaction. For instance, a continuing “trusting” relationship with a young child spawned by the predatory intent of a clergy member, blanketed with the trust and reverence provided to a member of the clergy, leading to non-consensual sexual assault acts of molestation.

Within all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the short-coming by the Clergy member’s employer to completely, adequately and promptly report the crime to police and other authorities, or its further failure to research, contend with and deal entirely with the situation increases the harm on the abuse survivor, the community and possibly others. Recent Priest Sexual Assault cases covered in the media highlight these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” situations when the predator commonly a clergy in the Catholic Church, is silently moved from one parish to another merely to continue his predatory, criminal action on an unsuspecting parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault and Retribution
Not a day passes without a media headline reporting about sexual abuse and molestation of young children by predator priests, 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 church member, these articles are likely to serve as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and other unwelcome emotions hurting your wellness. Encouraged by the societal movement and other pathways that encourage victims to reveal the assault they experienced, victims of assault are increasingly employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifelong harm and injury they have experienced.

If you are a survivor of assault perpetrated by a member of the church, the impact of the abuse on your life and core belief system might be incalculable. Nonetheless, holding the responsible person and institutions accountable for their crimes and failures might provide a measure of justice and recompense to assault survivors. Oftentimes, survivors can assert their legal rights in confidential mediation thereby avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is necessary, a motion can be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Abusive Behavior
All abusers, to varying amounts, employ predatory tricks which are commonly referred to as grooming, tracking a possible assault victim. Following is a list 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 strategy. In a religious environment, the priest is viewed as God’s representative. In this environment, the predator frequently works closely with small amounts of children, understanding each child’s needs, weaknesses and situations. Once a victim is identified, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, loneliness, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – may be systematically exploited in the following ways:

Trust
An assaulter will first try to gain the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to notice as church communities are often tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator can feign genuine concern in the child’s wellbeing and groeth – 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 any need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. priest abuse victim will devote increased time with the predator, feeling more comfortable with the relationship and counting on its stability and security. In addition to attention and affection, the possible target might receive gifts from the predator, including valuable, intangible gifts like blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator will try to isolate the possible target. This may result in individual counseling meetings, meals or various forms of one-on-one isolated encounters.
Sexualization
The predator might begin to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to touching, caressing and various behaviors that lead to sexual interaction. This may start with breaking the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to gauge the victim’s response 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 maintain control over the child and the continued interaction. The priest may likely seek to manipulate the victim by continuing to make the target feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the victim by whatever means needed to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The impact of childhood assault on the victim can be overwhelming and life-changing. Many priest abuse survivors suffer from long-term effects of the abuse including depression, disturbed sleeping, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and eating patterns, and difficulty creating and keeping vibrant relationships. Individualized treatment and support groups can assist survivors overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Priest Sexual Abuse can recover financial compensation from the predator and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to protect the victim from the abuse, as well as failures or deficiencies in its method of reviewing and responding to reports of assault. If you are a victim of Priest or Clergy Sexual Assault and would like to confidentially discuss your situation and your legal options, we are prepared to speak with you.
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