Clergy Abuse Allegations Not Limited to Children
The world is watching to see what the Catholic church will do next after Pope Francis announced that clergy abuse is not limited to children. Recently, he admitted that priests and bishops were guilty of abusing women, specifically nuns. The Pope’s acknowledgement of this problem opens a new door on the pervasiveness of clergy abuse. Now, it is clear that clergy abuse is not limited to those who are young. Ultimately, the Vatican’s admission sets the stage for more individuals, including sisters, to come forward with their own stories of clergy abuse at the hands of trusted religious leaders.
What We Know About Nun Abuse
Because the facts regarding nun abuse at the hands of bishops and priests is only starting to come to light, we do not know the full details. However, we can piece together some thought-provoking items based on the Pope’s remarks, as well as the investigations of trusted, well-regarded journalists from around the world:
- Nuns in North America have not spoken up. Currently, only nuns from Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa have told their stories of rape and sexual slavery. Thus far, no sisters from Canada, the United States, or Mexico have come forward to report abuse.
- This is not a past scandal. One of the arguments often made about the Catholic sex abuse scandal is that it happened many decades ago, implying that it is not a modern phenomenon. Not only is it a current problem, but so is the abuse against women who choose the sisterhood. Despite everyone knowing about the practice, it will not stop immediately, according to the Pope.
- The church has known for a while about nun abuse. Sadly, before he became Pope, Pope Benedict XVI attempted to investigate allegations of clergy abuse that may have included the abuse of sisters. However, he was stopped from pursuing cases against alleged perpetrators. To his credit, he did seem to revive cases against possible clergy abuse offenders when he reached the papacy.
- Some nuns became pregnant. Although it is only logical that sisters forced into sexual relationships would sometimes become pregnant, it bears noting. According to reports, many nuns were forced to abort the children produced from their forced sexual abuse encounters. Abortions serve to violate a dearly held Catholic principle, adding yet another layer of trauma to the sisters’ traumatic experiences.
- The veil of secrecy is being lifted. As shocking as these accounts are to read and hear about, they reveal that our society is ready to put aside legacy protections of the Catholic church. Truly, the more voices we can give to victims of clergy abuse crimes, the easier it will be for them to heal and move forward.
New Brunswick Clergy Abuse Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Advocate for Clergy Abuse Survivors
If you have or someone you know has experienced this clergy abuse, contact a New Brunswick clergy abuse lawyer immediately at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr. We work diligently for survivors of clergy abuse and will fight to obtain the justice you deserve. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 732-537-8570 or contact us online. Located in Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients from the surrounding areas, including New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia.
