Sexual Abuse in Churches Statistics

Cases of sexual abuse in, or facilitated by, churches or their clergy have become all too prevalent in the last 15 or so years. Many of the more recent reports are survivors of abuse who have decided to step forward after decades of suffering in silence. As some have come forward, others have been given the courage to share their stories. 

If you feel like you are ready to share your story and seek justice against your church abuser, you may benefit from the legal support and guidance of our sexual assault lawyers. 

At Levin Simes, we understand the complexities of sexual abuse cases and the strength it takes to come forward. If you need help, you can contact us online or at (415) 426-3000.

Understanding Sexual Abuse

To truly understand the statistics surrounding cases of sexual abuse in churches, it is imperative to have a general understanding of the culture around sexual abuse and the silence of those it preys on. 

The foundation of understanding sexual abuse is that it is rarely about sex but almost always about taking advantage of a power imbalance. Additionally, the California Child Victim’s Act defines sexual abuse as many types of behavior, including:

• Engaging in sexual activity in front of a child
• Showing a child sexually explicit videos, images, or media
• Communication or interactions of a sexually explicit nature. This can include text messages, emails, or social media exchanges
• Soliciting sexual images
• Sexual touching, groping, or fondling
• Sexual contact of any kind 

The key to what constitutes sexual abuse is consent. 

The California penal code states the age at which someone can provide informed consent to sexual activity is 18 years old. While many of the cases that have come to light in the media involve members of clergy abusing children, sexual misconduct can include unwanted advances on adults as well. 

Sexual Misconduct Vs. Sexual Abuse

When we discuss data and sexual abuse in churches statistics regarding sexual misconduct or abuse, it is vital to understand how they may and may not overlap. The concept of clergy sexual misconduct refers to misconduct in the context of that institution. 

This type of behavior may include sexual abuse but more broadly refers to any kind of behavior the community may find deviant but not necessarily illegal, such as premarital sex or infidelity. 

While a pattern of sexual misconduct may overlap with someone who sexually abuses children, they are not the same behaviors. However, it is important to note that over half of all perpetrators have at least one prior felony conviction. 

This also tells us that nearly half of all individuals who go on to perpetrate child sexual abuse will not have a criminal history, further emphasizing the importance of identifying risk factors and grooming behavior.

You might be feeling a lot of different emotions if you’ve experienced sexual abuse in a church. It can be really tough to deal with feelings of betrayal from a place you once trusted and loved. 

Levin Simes understands that you may struggle with your faith and how it’s been affected, or feel let down by a community that was supposed to support you. If you need someone to work through these complicated feelings and discuss what legal action you can take, reach out to us online or call (415) 426-3000.

Child Predators In Churches Statistics

Sexual abuse in churches may not be much more common than in other places that children frequent. Unfortunately, accurate data is difficult to collect due to low reporting rates. 

The consensus of people who have worked with those who have experienced sexual violence is that only about 30% of all sexual assaults are reported, and some numbers come back with as low as 5% reporting rates. 

Certain factors increase the vulnerability of the church population more than others because they may be more attractive to child predators. Individual communities will have their own strengths and weaknesses, but in general, the church-based community has a few things that, if left unchecked, create the perfect environment for child predators. 

Male-Dominated Field 

Most Christian churches are male-dominated. Some churches that consider themselves more progressive may have some women on staff, but many still prefer to keep church leadership to men. According to RAINN, 88% of child sexual abuse reports that CPS substantiates have male perpetrators.

This higher presence of males combined with less supervised contact with children increases the risk of someone taking advantage of that to abuse children. 

This is not to say that women are not also capable of perpetrating. However, the same RAINN data shows that only about 3% of substantiated cases were due to female perpetrators.

Authority

Many times, children are taught to respect and obey their elders. This is especially true of church leadership and clergy members. In environments like the Catholic Church, leadership can be seen to have even more authority gifted by God, providing more pressure for children to obey and comply. 

This authority can be used to gain compliance and validate threats. Often, abusers who are members of the clergy or otherwise involved in the church may use their reputation to point out that people are more likely to believe them if the child were ever to disclose. Some offenders also use God and threats of judgment from others for the sin of sexual contact to scare them into silence.

Shame 

Shame is a powerful tool used by abusers of all kinds. Survivors commonly report shame and disgust as primary feelings after an assault. The cultural expectations of organized religion, specifically Catholicism and Christianity, can fuel those feelings.

Shame fuels silence, and predators involved in the church know that. A 2021 study on sexual shame exposes profound feelings of shame in many adults who seek information on topics as innocuous as birth control.

In communities that place a significant value on a person based on their level of sexual purity, it can deter people from speaking up about abuse out of fear of dismissal or retaliation. 

Secrecy

Though sexual abuse occurs across all denominations of Christianity and in other forms of organized religion, the Catholic Church has become a primary source of concern in the media over recent years. 

After thorough investigations, the list of credibly accused Catholic clergy members across the United States and its territories is reaching 7,000 and still waiting for more than 20 dioceses to report their findings. The California diocese alone has reported over 700 names of credibly accused members. 

Many people think abuse is so prevalent in Catholicism compared to other religions and institutions in part because the long history of secrecy protected abusers and silenced victims, continuing the cycle. 

The rule of pontifical secrecy has been an integral part of the Catholic Church since the 12^th century and facilitated coverups of child sexual abuse in the church. Pope Francis repealed it at the end of 2019 to increase transparency and reporting of child abuse in the Catholic church.

Church Sexual Abuse Statistics

Discussing exact numbers when it comes to church sexual abuse statistics is nearly impossible due to the rates of underreporting. This is, at least partially, due to society’s habit of blaming or shaming survivors. This dismissal comes from police as well as friends and family. 

The fear associated with not being believed, social, physical, or sexual retaliation, judgment for the “sinful behavior,” or the clergy simply encouraging forgiveness of the perpetrator with no further action are some of the primary reasons official reports are so low. 

Research in recent years shares that most churches don’t speak about domestic or sexual violence in their sermons. This silence can speak volumes about the community’s reluctance to actively support survivors and denounce perpetrators. 

Clergy Sexual Abuse Statistics

While the statistics on actual occurrences are unreliable at best, the perception of these numbers can help us understand the context of the community facilitating or allowing the abuse. This condonation of clergy sexual abuse may be through actively encouraging silence from survivors, ignoring allegations, or blaming the survivors for their abuse. 

Most of the reports making it to the media in recent years are not about current abuse cases but reports from survivors who have come forward after decades of silence. This can inflate the perception of the current situation. 

A study from the last few years suggests that the general population sees it as an ongoing problem, though many see it to be precisely in the Catholic church. 

The above page cites polls stating that 3% of women who attended a congregation of any kind in the previous month reported unwanted advances from a religious leader. 92% of these advances were made secretly, demonstrating the offender’s understanding of the violation. Additionally, over half of the offenders were known to be married. 

It should be noted that continued unwanted sexual advances are inappropriate and can result in feelings of distress. This is particularly true if the victim fears repercussions for denying these advances. 

At Levin Simes, we understand that everyone’s path to recovery is different. Some will choose to speak out immediately, and others may wait until they feel free of their attacker. Regardless of when you come forward, help and support are available.

The experienced team of sexual assault attorneys at Levin Simes wants to make sure you feel safe and heard. We’re here to stand by you at your own pace. Reach out to us online or call (415) 426-3000.

What Sexual Abuse Church Statistics Tell Us About the Emotional and Physical Consequences

Sexual abuse has lasting consequences for those who experience it. This is compounded in individuals who experience it as children who are developing their sense of self and understanding of the world. 

Early traumas can make them more vulnerable to certain challenges compared to peers who have not experienced sexual assault:

• About four times more likely to experience PTSD as an adult
• About four times as likely to experience drug abuse or substance abuse behaviors
• Nearly three times more likely to experience major depressive episodes

These are some of the many repercussions of sexual abuse. 

The National Eating Disorder Association reports that nearly 30% of people with an eating disorder have a history of sexual abuse. Disordered eating also increases rates of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or cholesterol and blood pressure issues. 

Sexual Abuse Church Statistics on Recovery 

Recovering from sexual abuse can be a harrowing experience. It takes strength and courage to process what happened and reclaim your story and body. 

A recent study shows that six months following an assault, as many as 50% of survivors still showed symptoms of PTSD, and recovery rates slowed dramatically at three months post-assault. 

The national efforts to hold clergy members accountable are well documented. Many states, including California, have provided additional windows to file lawsuits against the church if their clergy facilitated, covered up, or perpetrated sexual abuse. An article about the onslaught of lawsuits and claims against the Catholic Church highlights the importance of non-adversarial options for survivors. 

Compensation From Your Sexual Abuse in Church

Survivors may feel intimidated or uninterested in pursuing a lawsuit and reliving their experience in such a public way. However, the California Independent Compensation Program set up a confidential way for survivors to recover compensation for the pain they had to endure and carry around for years at the hands of the Catholic Church and its clergy. 

This program ran through early 2020 and resulted in several hundred survivors recovering compensation of over $20,000,000. 

Recovery is an incredibly individualized process. When you receive compensation, you have the freedom to focus on your recovery in the way that is most functional for you. You may not be ready to jump straight back into life, and your settlement can give you the space to manage that time as you see fit.  

Working with a financial advisor may help in effectively managing your money, but some survivors can find it retraumatizing by having to share some details about their situation to ensure the money is appropriately taxed. 

When you set up a sexual abuse settlement trust, ensure you have the appropriate information for the tax-free designation already set up. Using a trust like this can help you maximize the longevity of your settlement. 

Compassionate Institutional Sexual Assault Lawyers 

At Levin Simes, our attorneys have a long history of handling sexual assault and abuse cases. We understand the importance of letting the client take the lead and maintain as much control of their case as they are able. Our female-led firm is focused on helping survivors find their voice. 

We take pride in aggressively advocating for our clients while also understanding the sensitive nature of the situation. If you have survived abuse at the hands of an offender at church, you deserve to have your voice heard. 

The statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases may offer flexibility in your case, so contact us today online or call (415) 426-3000 to explore your options.

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