Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims
Childhood sexual abuse is tragic, no matter what the circumstances are. However, being sexually abused by a Catholic priest or another member of the clergy is particularly detrimental for many children. Unfortunately, these terrible crimes happen far more often than most people realize. More recently, victims have begun to come forward and open up about the abuse they experienced.
If you have suffered childhood sexual abuse from a Priest or another member of the clergy, it is ok for you to come forward and talk to someone who is able to help you. Our Massachusetts sexual abuse lawyer Carmen L Durso is committed to helping victims of overcoming their pain and suffering and gain some sense of justice after being harmed by people they trusted the most. Contact our law firm today to speak with Attorney Durso at your earliest convenience.
The Prevalence of Sexual Abuse by Clergy Members
In 2021 alone, more than 4,228 child sexual abuse allegations were reported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. These allegations were filed by more than 3,900 survivors between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020. These claims were filed against more than 2,700 individual clergy members across the United States, including several priests. Several cases that were filed in this period involved incidents that took place right here in Massachusetts.
How are Children Sexually Abused by Priests?
Abuse by priests often begins with the process referred to as “grooming.” This process involves establishing trust between the victims prior to engaging in any acts of abuse. As spiritual leaders, they are often entrusted by the congregation without question. This proves beneficial to those who are predatory. This is particularly true during the grooming process. Some of the ways priests groom children include:
- Identifying potential victims: Priests will build strong relationships with their parishioners. Predators will use these relationships to identify members who are more vulnerable and target them.
- Isolating the victims: Given the fact that parents and guardians trust priests, they will entrust them to spend time with their children.
- Control and conceal: Priests are considered to be ‘men of God.’ Perpetrators will leverage this authority against their victims in order to coerce victims into keeping the abuse a secret.
Victims of childhood sexual abuse are able to pursue legal action against perpetrators until they reach the age of 53. If you are ready to come forward about your experience, feel free to contact our law firm today to speak with Attorney Durso about your case.
We Can Help You
Have you or someone you know been sexually abused by a member of a Clergy? The Law Office of Carmen L. Durso can help you protect your legal rights and get the justice you deserve
Attorney Durso has over three decades of experience helping more than one thousand victims of sexual abuse get the justice they deserve. Our law firm is truly committed to helping victims get justice after being forced to endure such traumatic experiences. Our sexual abuse lawyer in Massachusetts is truly compassionate to the needs of each client and will fight diligently to ensure they are able to hold their perpetrators and other liable parties to account.
Contact our Massachusetts sexual abuse law firm at 617-728-9123 to schedule a free case review with our team to get justice now.