Clergy Misconduct And Your Legal Rights
Members of the clergy are esteemed members of our communities. Clergy hold positions of trust and reverence. You turn to a pastor, minister, priest or other member of the clergy for guidance and direction. You share confidences. Unfortunately, some members of the clergy abuse their positions of trust and authority. Even among the ranks of the clergy are sexual predators who prey on those who come to them for counsel, including children.
If you or a loved one has been sexually abused by a clergy member, you may be entitled to file a civil lawsuit against the abuser or any agency that failed to protect you from the predator’s abuse. The personal injury lawyers at Terry, Terry & Stapleton have experience assisting victims of clergy abuse in Tennessee. We represent personal injury clients throughout Tennessee, including Rogersville, Newport, Morristown, Knoxville, Kingsport, Johnson City, Jefferson City and Greeneville.
Call us today at 877-481-6918 to discuss your legal rights if you or a loved one is a victim of clergy abuse. We’ll review your legal options free of charge.
The Facts About Clergy Abuse
If you or a loved one has been abused by a clergy member, you may be one of several members of your church who has been harmed. Clergy who are sexual predators frequently have multiple victims over a period of time. Recent news reports of priests who abused boys for decades highlight the serious mistake of trying to conceal sexual abuse.
A study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of sexual abuse of minors by priests in the United States from 1950 to 2002 identified allegations of sexual abuse against a total of 4,392 priests from 1950-2002. More than 10,000 people made complaints of clergy abuse. Even those numbers are likely to be an underestimate, because many dioceses did not have records of complaints going back decades. It does show that the problem of clergy abuse is widespread.
Reports of clergy abuse in the Catholic church are deeply disturbing. But clergy abuse is not confined to any one faith or denomination. The study concluded that opportunity to abuse played a significant role in the onset and continuation of sexual abuse. Any church that tries to hide clergy abuse gives a sexual predator the opportunity to harm more victims and may be liable.
Victims of clergy sexual abuse often experience social withdrawal and depression, have disrupted sleep patterns, have trust issues and may develop chemical dependency issues. Children who are victims of sexual abuse can have difficulty forming positive relationships. They may blame themselves for the actions of a clergy member who is a child molester. Child sexual abuse can damage a child psychologically and lead to a lifetime of problems. Abused children may relive the ordeal in flashbacks and nightmares.
Many people know that they can contact the police about clergy abuse. It’s also important to weigh the option of a civil lawsuit against any agency that permitted clergy abuse.
Contact a Tennessee Clergy Abuse Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been sexually abused or molested by a clergy member, it’s important to understand your legal options. Contact a team of compassionate Tennessee personal injury attorneys with experience helping victims of clergy abuse. A civil lawsuit against an abuser will send a clear message that a clergy member’s violation of trust is outrageous and won’t be tolerated. We can help you obtain compensation to provide financial security and some peace of mind during the lengthy recovery process from clergy abuse.
Our goal at Terry, Terry & Stapleton is to obtain justice for you and your family by holding accountable clergy members who engage in sexual abuse and any agency that failed to protect you from the sexual abuse. We recognize that confronting a sexual predator is an extremely difficult decision, but we will stand up for you. Take the first step by contacting a knowledgeable and compassionate Tennessee clergy abuse injury attorney.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call us 877-482-2056
