People often turn to churches and church leaders for support and assistance throughout regular life occurrences and during challenging events. For many people, the leaders of their church are trusted without question.
Unfortunately, there are times when that trust isn’t warranted. It’s not the victim’s fault, but victims sometimes won’t speak up about what’s going on because they’re ashamed and trying to cope with the aftermath. There are a few signs of clergy abuse that everyone should know.
1: Lack of personal boundaries
One of the hallmark signs that a clergyman or woman is being abusive toward members of the congregation is that they don’t have personal boundaries. Members of the clergy should have clear lines when it comes to personal and professional relationships. If they’re overly touchy-feely or intensely interested in a congregation member’s personal life, it may be a red flag.
2: Gifts that aren’t appropriate
While it’s not unheard of for clergy to celebrate with their congregation, it’s a red flag if they’re giving out frivolous gifts for no reason. In some cases, these gifts are given as a way to keep the victims quiet or to exercise control over them.
3: Secret or closed meetings
One-on-one meetings with clergy are common, but typically don’t happen repeatedly or under secret circumstances. If meetings are overly frequent, or not made through the normal channels it could be a sign that something is not right.
Clergy abuse is never acceptable and must be met with immediate action to make it stop. These cases are serious, so they must be handled with the assistance of someone who’s familiar with the laws surrounding them. While some victims find it difficult to speak out, it’s critical to do so as quickly as possible.