Understanding Sexual Abuse Within Religious Institutions
Sexual assault within religious institutions is not just prevalent in the Catholic Church. In fact, within the past several years, the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church have also come under major scrutiny for covering up and mishandling sexual abuse cases. That being said, sexual assault claims have been made within almost every religion on almost every continent, making no place of worship immune.
Almost 500,000 people annually report being victims of sexual assault many of which are at the hands of clergymen. If you or someone you love has been sexually abused or assaulted by someone within your religious institution, know that the law will protect you and get you the justice you deserve. Anyone who harms another person should be held accountable, especially people in positions of faith and power.
It’s important that you contact a compassionate and knowledgeable sexual assault lawyer who is specialized in cases regarding religious institutions. You can trust that they will listen to and believe your case, hold the perpetrators responsible, and help to prevent others from suffering the same traumas. They can also get you the compensation you need for your healing process so you can move forward with your life.
Don’t be afraid to speak up, an experienced institutional sexual assault attorney will help you with your case.
Defining Institutional Sexual Abuse
Institutions such as schools, sports, religions, nursing homes, youth programs and others are legally responsible for keeping people safe from harm and for preventing sexual misconduct. In Pennsylvania, sexual abuse within these institutions is a crime and disregards consent even if the victim is over 18. For example, within a school setting, it would be considered criminal for any member of staff to have sexual relations with a student even if it was consenual and the student was over 18.
Sexual abuse doesn’t only include rape. It can also be any of the following:
Groping or any unwanted touching
Oral sex
Forcing someone to witness sexual acts
Sexual harassment or other inappropriate comments
Indecent exposure
Forcing someone to watch pornography especially child pornography
Pennsylvania Laws Regarding Institutional Sexual Assault
One of the most important reasons for victims to speak up in regards to these kinds of sexual assault cases is the impact it has the laws that govern them. Since the #MeToo movement and the sexual assault cases against the Catholic Church, most states have changed their laws surrounding institutional sexual assault. For example, a victim of institutional sexual child abuse now has until their 30th birthday to file criminal charges against the liable parties. More and more, states are expanding and redefining their laws to help and protect victims of institutional sexual assault.
You are not Alone
If you’re the victim of institutional sexual assault, know that you are not alone. It can be daunting to speak up for yourself and hold people in positions of power responsible for the harm they caused you. Many times victims are threatened and intimidated into silence. A compassionate and experienced institutional sexual assault lawyer knows how to protect you and defend you, and punish those who have caused you pain and suffering.
When you’re ready, contact a trusted Philadelphia institutional sexual assault attorney.