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