When you are the victim of, or aware of, sexual abuse in a church, you must expose the abuse. When deciding, “Should I report sexual abuse to my church?” there are a few factors to consider. Reporting the abuse to your church leaders first may not be in your best interests. First, go to law enforcement.
Sexual abuse is a crime whether it happens anywhere. You should also partner with a Lansing sexual abuse lawyer who can lead your fight for personal justice. Our team has delivered $1.37 billion in sexual abuse settlements, and we are ready to get to work on your case.
Why Your First Report Should Not Be to Your Church
Information collected by White Law PLLC demonstrates the scale of child sex abuse at religious institutions. Research shows that in 326 cases of abuse in protestant churches, “80% of the offenders were employed in an official capacity within their respective church.” Male pastors accounted for 35% of that number, and additional information shows that 75% of pastors “underestimate the level of violence within their congregations.”
These statistics indicate that going to church leaders with allegations of abuse is likely not the best course of action. Victims may not be believed, or leadership may try to handle the situation “in-house” to avoid bad publicity or internal conflict. While some churches may act appropriately and report the abuse to law enforcement, those that do not put victims at risk for continued consequences and the lack of appropriate action could afford the abuser time to find more victims.
The list of priests accused of sexual abuse in Michigan shows the problem of church sexual abuse is not isolated to one denomination. In fact, sexual abuse occurs across denominations and across religions.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
The Power Dynamics of Abuse
In examining the pervasiveness of clergy abuse across religions, reasons for the prevalence of the problem emerge. Abusers thrive on power and secrecy, often do not face much in the way of accountability, and know how to use shame as a weapon. All of these elements converge in religious settings.
Church leaders, even those acting in volunteer capacities, hold power. They are seen as authority figures and people with a close connection to the divine. They use this perception to force victims to submit to abuse, often through threats and fear of punishment, demand secrecy, or use the power of shame to convince victims they are responsible for their own abuse–perhaps saying they “seduced” or caused the abuser to sin.
The power and authority afforded leaders often allow them to act without accountability. They are the ones who oversee others’ behavior or morality rather than have others questioning theirs. For all of these reasons, victims should report sexual abuse to a church only after reporting to law enforcement and/or seeking help from a sexual abuse lawyer in Michigan.
Report Abuse for Prevention and Justice
Along with physical injury and sexually transmitted conditions, sexual abuse victims often struggle with poor emotional and psychological health, potentially misusing alcohol or drugs to numb their pain or lack the ability to trust others or form meaningful relationships.
With proper counseling and treatment, victims can move toward recovery and the quality of life they deserve. Generally speaking, church leaders are not qualified to treat victims on their own, and in telling victims not to seek help and justice from qualified outsiders, they deny this opportunity for healing.
Reporting Abuse to Proper Authorities
Further, state law includes clergy as mandated reporters in Michigan. Any church leaders who fail to report abuse are breaking the law. And if church leaders instruct victims not to report the abuse, they are revealing themselves as untrustworthy lawbreakers who do not have victims’ best interests at heart.
Reporting sexual abuse allows victims the chance for justice and healing. It is also a critical weapon in the fight to hold perpetrators accountable and stop them from visiting this disgraceful, devastating trauma on more innocents.
Victims can reach out to local law enforcement, call the national sexual assault hotline, or connect with the Michigan Attorney General’s office through its Catholic Church Clergy Abuse online system to start a criminal investigation and reach out to White Law PLLC to fight for justice in the civil court system.
What the Criminal Justice System Will Do
Once law enforcement knows of the abuse, they will start an investigation into your claim. If there are grounds to file criminal charges against your abuser under Michigan law, they will. Then, your abuser will have the opportunity to mount a defense against those charges in court and either be found innocent or guilty or may be offered a plea deal, through which they admit to lesser charges for a reduced punishment.
Seeking Justice With a Civil Case
White Law PLLC is here to help victims fight for justice and compensation through the civil court system. Yes–your abuser owes a debt to society and should pay that debt through criminal penalties. But they also owe you a debt–they need to be held accountable for the suffering you experienced only because of their action.
While criminal courts can only determine guilt if the perpetrator is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, a preponderance of the evidence is the standard of proof in civil cases. This means you may get justice through the civil court system even if the criminal system cannot definitively prove its case. You can count on our team to find the evidence needed to present a convincing case in an effort to hold your abuser accountable for paying substantial damages.
We understand that you may be going through a difficult situation and we are ready to help however we can.
Report Abuse and Fight for Justice
If you are afraid to report sexual abuse, we are here to help. White Law PLLC can guide you through the reporting process and help you seek justice through a sexual abuse claim. Throughout your case, your Michigan sexual abuse attorney will serve as a powerful legal advocate and provide constant, loyal support.
We understand the emotional toll of pursuing justice and the immense benefits. Survivors often regain a sense of self-worth and renewed hope for their futures and find great satisfaction in exposing the truth. You deserve those benefits.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
