Clerical sexual abuse, especially abuse within the Catholic Church, has been a matter of much concern for many families in recent decades. Unfortunately, while many sexual abuse victims have been able to pursue financial recovery and closure, clerical sexual abuse has not been eradicated. Today, while new safety standards and options are available for victims and families, many people are still concerned with the prevalence of clerical sexual abuse.
Understanding the frequency of clerical sexual abuse can give you a better sense of the severity of this issue, including the scope and severity of the issue. While statistics can only give you a snapshot of how this issue can affect your family, education and information can help you understand how this issue has changed today. Learn more about what current reports say and how you can identify sexual abuse below.
Reports of Clerical Abuse Still Impact the Church Today
While the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has faded from the news, many Americans still have concerns about it. In fact, one-quarter of Catholics interviewed by the Pew Research Center say they have scaled back their Mass attendance because of these scandals. This scaling back has impacted the church in significant ways over the past decade or more.
Unfortunately, these abuses are not unique to the Catholic Church. Authority figures are often given power over the people around them, and some use this power to commit abuses. While church leaders are often held accountable in these scandals, other authority figures such as teachers, esteemed members of the household, and others may have a level of power that facilitates this clergy sexual abuse.
How Prevalent Are Church Sexual Abuse Cases Today?
Today, we know about the thousands of cases of sexual abuse, but how prevalent are these cases of abuse now? While there are limited studies on this topic, some experts in Germany have estimated, based on current numbers, that 4.4 percent of clergy members engaged in sexual abuse. These numbers focus on the Catholic Church alone, not leaders of other religions.
While these scandals have led to impacts on church attendance, it has also inspired many victims of child exploitation and sexual abuse to come forward about their abuse. That has allowed many victims and their families to come forward about the suffering they have experienced. Getting closure for those suffering in these situations can help families recover.
Identifying Signs of Clerical Sexual Abuse
Clerical sexual abuse sadly often goes unreported, especially if the perpetrator is a high-ranking member of the church. However, there may be some signs to watch for, which can indicate that you need to take action.
How to Identify Sexual Abuse
Key signs of sexual abuse can vary from physical, visible signs like bruises to changes in behavior. Often, these changes can be somewhat difficult to spot if the child is afraid of retaliation or experiencing shame for the abuse they have suffered. If you have any concerns that a child in your care is suffering sexual abuse, you can always consult Indiana’s child abuse and neglect hotline to get help.
Who Is Required to Report Sexual Abuse?
In some situations, if you are aware of clerical sexual abuse, you may be required to report it. While some states only require people in professions where they may be aware of abuse, Indiana requires anyone aware of child abuse to report the sexual abuse, as per Ind. Code § 31-33-5-1. If you fail to report, you may face legal penalties.