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Clergy Assault – Information

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Moreno Ramos
Priest Abuse includes a range of illegal and heinous behaviors often perpetrated on children and tweens by pedophilic priests or other church members involving sexual abuse of varying degrees. The abuse might be a one-time, non-consensual scroll barevent or it may involve many acts inside a continuing interaction. For instance, an ongoing “trusting” interaction with a child spawned by the predatory intent of a clergy member, cloaked by the trust and respect imputed to a priest, leading to non-consensual sexual attack acts of molestation.

Within nearly all claimed Priest or Clergy Sexual Abuse scenarios, the failure by the Church member’s employer to entirely, adequately and immediately report the crime to police and other authorities, or the continuing failure to investigate, address and resolve entirely with the occurrence increases the harm on the abuse survivor, the community and potentially others. Current Priest Sexual Abuse cases covered in the media uncover these failures, which includes “pass-the-trash” scenarios where the perpetrator commonly a clergy in the Catholic Church, is secretly re-assigned from one church to another only to continue his predatory, criminal behavior on an unaware parish community.

Priest and Clergy Sexual Assault & Retribution
Not a week passes without a media announcement reporting regarding sexual abuse and molestation of children by predator priests, or the aftermath of the abuse on the victims and their families. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse from a priest or other church member, these stories are most likely to act as an echo chamber, replaying the horror, embarrassment, guilt and other unwelcome emotions staining your wellness. Encouraged by the social movement and other channels that encourage survivors to reveal the assault they suffered, survivors of abuse are more frequently employing the legal system to compensate them for the lifetime harm and injury they have experienced.

If you are a victim of abuse perpetrated by a priest, the result of the abuse on your life and core belief system can be immeasurable. Regardless, holding the responsible person and institutions to blame for their crimes and failures might offer a measure of justice and recompense to abuse victims. Oftentimes, victims can assert their legal rights through confidential mediation therein avoiding the need for litigation. But, if litigation is necessary, a motion might be filed where the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

Predatory Behavior
All abusers, to varying amounts, use predatory methods that are generally referred to as grooming, focusing on a possible assault victim. Following is a list of grooming behaviors used by predators who are in a position of authority in relation to the subordinate child.

Grooming
Grooming is a significant piece of a predator’s ploy. In a religious setting, the priest is revered as God’s representative. In this setting, the predator often works closely with small numbers of children, identifying each child’s needs, vulnerabilities and circumstances. Once a target is located, these vulnerabilities – such as violent family setting, isolation, low self-esteem, emotional neediness, attention-seeking – might be systematically leveraged in the following ways:

Trust
A predator will first try to get the child’s trust. This strategy is most difficult to discern as church communities are frequently tight-knit and personal relation with clergy is commonplace. Here, the predator can pretend sincere concern in the child’s wellness 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 whatever need it is that the predator is exploiting and fulfilling. The victim may spend increased time with the predator, feeling more and more comfortable with the relationship and relying on its stability and security. In new york clergy abuse to attention and affection, the possible victim might receive gifts from the priest, including valuable, intangible gifts such as blessings and special recognition.
Isolation
While grooming escalates, the predator might work to isolate the possible target. This may mean single counseling meetings, meals or various forms of one-on-one isolated encounters.
Sexualization
The predator will begin to de-sensitize the target from reacting negatively to contact, caressing and various actions that lead to sexual interaction. This might start with crossing the physical-touch barrier, or verbally, with suggestive messages to gauge the victim’s reaction to the progression. This will escalate until the relationship advances to one of a physical, sexual nature.
Maintenance
As the sexual relationship is established, the predator will try to maintain control of the child and the continued interaction. The predator will likely seek to manipulate the child by continuing to make the victim feel special and worthy. The predator will keep exploiting the target by whatever means needed to maintain the inappropriate physical relationship.

Impact on Clergy Abuse Survivors

The effect of childhood assault on the survivor can be overwhelming and life-altering. Many 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 establishing and keeping vibrant relationships. Individualized treatment and support groups can help victims overcome these effects.

Legally, a victim of Clergy Sexual Abuse can recover financial compensation from the abuser and, more commonly, from the church for its failure to shield the child 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 Abuse and would like to confidentially discuss your experience and your legal options, we are ready to talk with you.
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