| Sexual abuse of a child is the gravest | | | | While the Catholic Church's sexual abuse |
| betrayal of trust. It prematurely terminates | | | | scandals have made headlines, it's far from |
| a portion of childhood and its innocents. It | | | | the only religious organization that has been |
| scars its victims. It radically changes the | | | | accused of harboring sexual abusers. Abuse by |
| child's personal relationships. It destroys | | | | non-Catholic clergy may not get as much |
| trust. It devastates self image and self | | | | attention, but the shock waves from their |
| esteem. It predisposes its victims to failed | | | | actions run just as deep through the lives of |
| relationships, substance abuse, anti-social | | | | victims and their families. While |
| behavior and shame. Sexual abuse changes | | | | comprehensive statistics aren't available, |
| every part of victim's life and the lives | | | | experts suggest that abuse is likely common |
| around them. | | | | among other clergy. A 1992 survey of |
| | | | Protestant ministers across denominations |
| When the sexual abuse is at the hands of a | | | | said 37 percent of ministers admitted to |
| member of the clergy -- those who we bestow a | | | | "inappropriate sexual contact" with |
| high degree of trust and who stand as | | | | parishioners. In another survey, that number |
| intermediators between mortals and the higher | | | | for Southern Baptists in particular was 14 |
| power -- a victim's sense of betrayal is | | | | percent. The Conservative Rabbinical Assembly |
| usually devastating. And when the clergy | | | | reports that 30 percent of the rabbis who |
| member's superiors know or had reason to | | | | changed jobs in 2000 did so involuntarily, |
| believe, that one of their own is an abuser, | | | | with sexual abuse often a factor. |
| yet continue to place him or her in positions | | | | |
| of trust with children, victims have a right | | | | Clergy abuse doesn't just happen to children. |
| to hold them accountable as well. | | | | It also happens to adults coerced into sexual |
| | | | encounters by those who have temporal or |
| The world watched in shock in 2002 when news | | | | spiritual power over them. Often, what really |
| broke of official cover-ups in the Roman | | | | happened is not be clear to traumatized |
| Catholic Church of the sexual abuse of | | | | victims. They are lead to believe it was some |
| children. With the scandal continuing to | | | | how their fault. That's why it's important to |
| unfold, more and more victims are finding the | | | | consult a understanding and skilled clergy |
| courage to come forward and confront those | | | | abuse attorney with any questions or concerns |
| responsible for changing their lives forever. | | | | regarding holding these sick sexual predators |
| Yet officials from the Catholic Church have | | | | responsible for their breach of trust. An |
| not repaid their bravery with openness. The | | | | experienced clergy abuse attorney can help |
| Diocese of San Diego made news recently when | | | | put the situation in perspective, identify |
| it declared bankruptcy rather than face | | | | the breaches of duty and access the damages. |
| lawsuits over sexual abuse; the Archdiocese | | | | Then if you decide to go forward, they can |
| of Los Angeles spent years in secular courts | | | | discreetly take the actions necessary to |
| fighting the release of church records | | | | recover all the damages you are entitled to, |
| related to abuse. | | | | including the costs of past and future |
| | | | therapy, lost potential and lost childhood. |