Clergy Abuse

In many claims involving clergy abuse, victims may keep the events secret for months, years or even decades. In some cases, one person coming forward inspires other victims to speak up, as they feel encouraged by hearing similar stories from someone else. But why does...

When clergy abuse comes to light, the alleged perpetrator may say that they were in a consensual relationship with the victim. This doesn’t apply in all cases, of course. Many clergy abuse cases involve minors, and there is no way for them to consent to a sexual...

It’s not often that state supreme courts reverse their own rulings. However, that’s what happened this summer. The Louisiana Supreme Court voted 5 to 2 to vacate a decision it handed down just months earlier involving adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In...

A former youth leader from the Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, has been accused of grooming and sexually abusing a then 13-year-old member of the youth group he supervised back in 2016. The man she accuses of sexually assaulting her has been imprisoned in Dayton,...

Sexual abuse leaves emotional scars on its victims that will never fully heal. Discovering the abuser has never been held accountable can make the victim feel insignificant and marginal. The Catholic Church has been instrumental in covering up the abuse of children by...

Members of religious groups are sometimes accused of sexual assault. Often, this involves a member of the clergy who is in a position of power within the religious organization. The victim is a member of their congregation, someone who works for the organization or a...

Very few members of the clergy are likely reported for sexually abusing church members. Some people will not report clergy abuse until years after the event. By then, there may not be enough evidence to hold abusers liable for their actions and seek justice for...

Survivors of clergy sexual abuse often grapple with feelings of shame and guilt, which can make it difficult to come forward and report their experiences. As a result, most victims endure lasting emotional, physiological and physical trauma. If you or a loved one has...

When there are cases of sexual abuse in churches, often involving pastors or clergy members and parishioners, people are sometimes surprised that something like this could happen. These cases often involve children. But when people imagine a Sunday service or another...

Members of the clergy are expected to uphold high moral standards and provide spiritual guidance and support to their communities. When instances of sexual abuse occur within religious institutions, they violate the trust and expectations placed on clergy members....