Grooming is an issue that often leads to sexual abuse. The victim is often young, and the person who is doing the grooming will try to build a relationship with them. The goal is to gain the young person’s trust so that the abuser has easier access to the victim, making them less likely to report the abuse and more likely to blame themselves for what has occurred.
This is certainly an issue that has been found in clergy abuse cases. Even when abuse is reported, that does not necessarily mean it happened as soon as the two parties met. There may have been a relationship for months or even years prior to any wrongdoing. This is when grooming may take place, opening the door to eventual abuse.
A religious setting
There are several reasons why grooming tends to show up in religious settings. One is that adults and children often have close contact with one another, such as a youth pastor and members of a middle school youth group. This is naturally a relationship where the adult is seen as a leader or mentor, and some may choose to abuse this position of power.
Additionally, the religious setting can create specific ways for grooming to occur. For instance, scriptures are sometimes misused to justify illegal behavior, or victims may be made to fear for their own spiritual well-being. A clergy member may convince a young victim not to speak up, claiming that doing so would lead to spiritual punishment or anger their god. This is a form of manipulation that works because of the preexisting trust and authority the clergy member holds.
Those who have suffered from clergy abuse must understand all of the legal options they have and the steps they can take moving forward.