Even if clergy abuse cases don’t always make the news, they are still a reality and thousands of people suffer from some form of clergy abuse every year in the United States. The saddest thing about these cases is that they are often dismissed, or the victims are scared to report them because of the possible repercussions.
Clergy abuse should not be taken lightly and is one of the worst things any child or adult can experience. Let’s take a look at what differentiates clergy abuse from other types of abuse and what you should do if you suspect that you or someone you love are a victim.
It Could Destroy a Child’s Faith
One of the most damaging effects of clergy abuse is that it can lead some of the victims to question their faith or abandon it. From this point, they might feel spiritually lost and fall into things like substance abuse to cope with the trauma they’ve suffered.
This is why so many children who suffer from clergy abuse end up committing suicide when they get older. They no longer have a spiritual anchor and have to deal with all the memories of their abuse. This is why clergy abuse needs to be denounced, even if the events happened years ago.
If you are a victim of clergy assault and you’re afraid to come forward because you think it is too late, don’t be. You should get in touch with a clergy abuse lawyer who knows these cases inside and out. They’ll be able to gather evidence for you and help you find other possible victims and witnesses to corroborate your case. If you’d like to talk with a good clergy abuse lawyer, check out the following link: https://www.rblaw.net/practices-clergy-abuse.
They Pin Victims Against Powerful Organizations
Going against the Catholic church can be scary for anyone, and as we know, it will have no issues covering up cases if they feel they can hurt the image of one of their most important clergymen. This is only one of the reasons that make these cases so difficult for victims.
Clergymen themselves can hold great power over their victims and their families too. If the abuser in question was well-loved by their church and community, they may pressure the victims or the parents to not come forward. This can lead to incredible psychological trauma and a feeling of hopelessness. No victim should have to suffer this, but this is unfortunately the reality for so many victims of abuse at the hands of powerful religious leaders.
The Use of Manipulative Tactics
Clergy abusers won’t hesitate to resort to manipulation tactics to smear the reputation of the accuser either. They might do things like preemptively spreading rumors about the victim or their families. They might try to bring up previous incidents to discredit their claims too.
Dealing with sexual trauma is already difficult as it is, and the pain can be even worse when it’s someone you trusted like a member of the clergy. If you are a victim, we implore you to come forward and seek help at a legal, emotional, and psychological level.