It is certainly possible for adult members of a religious community to experience clergy abuse. The victims in these cases are often women, but it is something that can happen to both men and women.
Many studies and news reports regarding clergy abuse focus on the impact on minors. In some cases, those coming forward with accounts of abuse are adults, but the abuse they suffered occurred when they were children. So it is important to remember that this can also happen to people who are adults at the time and to take their accounts seriously.
Power dynamics
One thing that researchers note is that people sometimes frame these issues as moral failures by both adults, or as consensual relationships. They assign equal blame to the clergy member and the adult parishioner.
But because of the power dynamics at play, there is often an element of coercion or exploitation. A clergy member can establish trust within the relationship and then use their spiritual authority to manipulate even an adult member of that congregation. In this sense, it is still a form of abuse, not necessarily a consensual relationship.
Psychologists have found that this type of abuse can have a major impact on an adult’s life moving forward, often leading to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Suicidal thoughts
- Substance abuse
It is not just the initial abuse that is detrimental to a person’s well-being, but the long-term impact it can have on their life, as they may need therapy and even medical treatment to address these issues.
Your legal options
Have you or a family member experienced clergy abuse? If so, regardless of your age when it happened, it is important to know exactly what legal options you have.