Clergy Abuse

It is very common for those who have experienced clergy abuse to decide to sue the church. This can happen within many different religious traditions and denominations. People sometimes experience abuse when they are very young, and they start lawsuits as they grow up...

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...

Unfortunately, clergy abuse remains a problem across the nation. In Louisiana, the authorities continue to aggressively investigate such abuse. Taking the courageous step to call out clergy abuse can be empowering and daunting at the same time. The journey requires...

When clergy abuse takes place, gaslighting may quickly follow. This is a type of manipulation typically used to make the victim question their own beliefs or perceptions. For example, gaslighting may be as simple as denying the behavior. Someone may claim they were...

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...