How Widespread is Child Sexual Abuse in Religious Organizations and Other Institutions?
Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is common. In institutions, the prevalence of abuse and cover-up depends on the structure, history, and culture of the institution. Click below for more information on stats, what to look for, and prevention strategies.
Why Is There Such a Problem of Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church? Is it All About Celibacy?
This is a question that has been under much debate.
While we do not have a definitive answer, we can tell you this: the reason that sexual abuse is a problem is because generations of church officials have covered up abuse and protected predators.
The reason we are succeeding in helping survivors and keeping children safe is because more and more survivors are speaking out and using the civil justice system for accountability.
Contact us for a free confidential conversation about how we can hold perpetrators and institutions accountable, and create a safer world for children now and in the future.
I’ve Heard that Nuns Can Abuse, too. Is This True?
While women account for less than 10% of perpetrators, they can sexually abuse both boys and girls, causing horrible damage to the victims.
We often hear questions like “I was sexually abused as a boy by a nun” was I sexually abused?” or “I was sexually abused as a girl by a nun” was I sexually abused?”
Fortunately, our culture is beginning to understand the pain and long-term negative effects caused by female sexual predators. Despite damaging stereotypes like the “hot teacher” and the “sexy nun,” it is sexual abuse when an adult woman sexually exploits a child.
We know how hard it is to carry the pain of child sexual abuse while others around us try and dismiss it, or minimize it.
Why is the Catholic Church a Target for So Many Lawsuits?
The Catholic Church has been a target of sexual abuse lawsuits for two major reasons:
- The pervasiveness and longevity of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, in which children have been abused by clergy members for decades with little to no accountability.
- The meticulous means by which the church has kept records of sexual abuse and cover-up.
We have decades of experience, exposing clergy child sexual abuse crimes and crimes in many other institutions such as in schools (public and private), camps, sports facilities, and Boy Scouts of America. Contact us for a free confidential conversation about how we can hold perpetrators and institutions accountable, and create a safer world for children now and in the future.