Victims of sexual abuse often feel like there is no place for them to turn. It can be even worse if the abuser is someone that people look up to, someone who is supposed to be a pillar of the community. Allegations of abuse turn into a battle of credibility, and unfortunately the victim's story is often viewed with skepticism. Having to relive the incident time and time again is too traumatic, and the victim decides to live with the secret.
All too frequently, this type of scenario has been present in Catholic Churches throughout the world. The church has faced several high-profile lawsuits where its priests have been accused of sexually abusing children.
Many of the lawsuits against the church concern the fact that the priests were not removed from contact with children after credible allegations of abuse were submitted. Often, the priest was moved out of a particular region to a different congregation, thereby allowing the abusive behavior to continue in other locations.
As the problem became more widespread, more and more victims have come forward with their stories of survival. The church has widely publicized its efforts at addressing the issue, and created policies that require comprehensive investigations whenever an allegation has been made.
Critics contend that the church is not doing enough to identify priests who have been accused of sexual abuse. The Diocese of Phoenix has recently announced that it intends to list the names of clergymen or church officials who have been the subject of credible sexual abuse allegations on its newly designed website. This is similar to the approach taken by the Diocese of Tucson, which has already posted its list.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) called on the Phoenix Diocese to add the information to the website in a more rapid fashion, believing that the delay could potentially put others at risk of abuse. The organization hopes that releasing this information will help hold priests accountable for their actions.
If you or someone you love has been sexually abused by a member of the clergy, contact an experienced attorney in your area to understand the options that may be available to you.
