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Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA - Priest Sexual Abuse Bakersfield California


Were you sexually abused as a child by a priest, deacon or any other member of the Church?  You are not aloneWe are here to help abuse survivors.  Stand up against your abuser and help prevent this from happening to someone else.  Contact Vanderhyde Law today for a free case review.  Please fill out our confidential online contact form or call Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 and a Bakersfield Priest Abuse Lawyer will get back to you within 24 hours to answer any of your questions.   This is a free consultation.  Making the call is sometimes the hardest step, but it is often a necessary step on the road to healing.  Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA

Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA


History of Sex Abuse in Religion
Sex abuse of young children within a religious setting is not a new situation, even if claims towards members of religious establishments have been brought into the light over the last several years. At the center of the disputes is the Roman Catholic Church, which has been under-fire for covering-up claims of child sex abuse for decades within the organization. Nevertheless, while the bulk of sex abuse claims relating to kids have revolved around the Catholic religion, additional religious doctrines are not immune to these assertions.


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There is limited statistics to show the extent that sexual abuse happens within religion, nonetheless claims regarding abuse stretching back years continue to surface as consciousness grows and laws and regulations are evolving. The fact is, a study from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice mentioned that 4% of all United States Catholic priests between 1950 and 2002 had claims against them for child sex abuse.


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In the past, the Catholic Church has actually been embroiled in scandal concerning cover-up involving clergy members who committed sexual abuse of children. As opposed to reporting these types of crimes to the authorities, the Church has handled them internally, normally resulting in the offenders being relocated to other sorts of parishes or “sentenced” to a religious penance. These kinds of steps have left countless survivors without a tool for legal justice, and countless accused clergy members around the world still keep having direct contact with little ones by means of religious instruction.


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The Culture of Religion and its Part in Sex Abuse
There are various theories which were noted when describing the epidemic of sex abuse inside of religious organizations. While chapels in general really should be held to an outstanding ethical standard, the fact is that the hierarchy of the Church may also be adding to the ongoing sexual abuse of its kids. Factors that may explain the prevalence of religious child sex abuse include:
 
• Unequal Power Distribution: Child sexual abuse is most likely to occur in circumstances where there is an abuse of power, and the authority of the clergy as retaining a superior moral standard plays into the manipulation of sexual abuse sufferers.


• Opportunity: Often, clergy members have been in close, isolated contact with girls and boys, producing an opportunistic setting. Religious training and tutoring, youth groups, and overnight gatherings all can generate a place that allows for sexual abuse.


• Immunity to Prosecution: As a private organization, a church is better capable of cover-up allegations of abuse inside the organization. This kind of institutional setting creates an atmosphere in which criminals can be concealed and accusations can be taken care of outside of the justice system.


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• Sexual Repression: Inside the Catholic religion, priests take a vow involving celibacy, which plays a two-fold role in sexual abuse. This will make priesthood a desirable path for pedophiles who would like to avoid their urges, while it also brings about sexual tension and repression within clergy members that can lead to the acting out of their deviant impulses.
Although the historical legacy of child sex abuse within religion is tragic, a number of states have begun taking legal action to develop legislation that can bring justice to these sex abuse survivors. Bills, like the Child Victims Act, could remove the protections that the Church has against criminal prosecution and provide survivors a voice against their abusers.


Priest Abuse Lawyer Bakersfield CA