Clergy Sex Abuse Attorneys in Colorado

What Is Grooming?

In many clergy sexual abuse cases, grooming tends to unfold as follows:

• Identifying the victim and then building a close relationship with them, often using their status as a “man of God” to do so;
• Isolating the victim, such as by offering spiritual counseling to the child to get them away from their parents or guardians; then
• Abusing the victim and controlling and concealing the abusive relationship, such as by leveraging their status as an elder and church official to scare the child into not telling their parents.

What Are the Effects of Clergy Sexual Abuse?

Sexual abuse can have long-term consequences for the survivor, including both physical and mental health problems. Common examples include an increased risk of depression, self-blame, shame, guilt, anxiety, eating disorders, and dissociation. The younger the child is at the time of the abuse, the worse the effects of the abuse may be.

Sadly, these effects of abuse tend to get in the way of justice. It is very common for survivors to miss the filing deadline for a civil claim. If you are a survivor of clergy sex abuse who was previously barred by the statute of limitations, you may now be eligible to file a claim under SB 88: Any survivor abused as a child after January 1, 1960 has a three-year window to file a claim against the abuser and the organization they belonged to. The window opens January 1, 2022.

What Are The Signs of Clergy Sexual Abuse?

Recognizing signs of clergy sexual abuse can be crucial in preventing further harm and providing support to survivors. Here are some common signs:

• Inappropriate Relationships: Clergy may engage in inappropriate relationships with congregants, particularly those in vulnerable positions such as minors, individuals seeking counseling, or those in emotional distress. These relationships may involve sexual advances, exploitation, or manipulation.
• Manipulation and Grooming: Clergy may use their position of authority, trust, and respect within the community to manipulate and groom individuals for sexual abuse. This can involve tactics such as flattery, gifts, or isolating the individual from their support network.
• Secretive Behavior: Perpetrators of clergy sexual abuse often exhibit secretive behavior regarding their interactions with victims. They may attempt to keep their relationships hidden from others or insist on secrecy from the victim, using religious authority or guilt to maintain control.
• Boundary Violations: Clergy sexual abuse often involves the violation of professional and ethical boundaries. This can include inappropriate physical contact, sexual comments or advances, and breaches of confidentiality.
• Emotional and Psychological Symptoms: Survivors of clergy sexual abuse may exhibit a range of emotional and psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-blame, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These symptoms may manifest in changes in behavior, mood swings, or withdrawal from social activities.
• Physical Signs of Abuse: In cases of physical sexual abuse, there may be physical signs such as unexplained injuries, bruises, or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, it's important to note that not all instances of clergy sexual abuse involve physical harm.
• Spiritual Manipulation: Perpetrators may use religious beliefs and teachings to manipulate and control victims. They may invoke religious authority to justify their actions or coerce victims into silence by instilling fear of divine punishment or condemnation.
• Pattern of Abuse: In some cases, clergy sexual abuse may involve a pattern of behavior, with multiple victims coming forward with similar allegations against the same perpetrator. Patterns of abuse may also involve multiple instances of misconduct over an extended period.

Who is Liable for Clergy Sexual Abuse?

In Colorado, liability for clergy sexual abuse can extend to various parties depending on the circumstances of the case. Here are some potential entities or individuals that may be held liable:

• Individual Clergy Members: The clergy member who perpetrated the abuse can be held personally liable for their actions. This liability can include civil lawsuits filed by survivors seeking compensation for damages resulting from the abuse.
• Religious Institutions: Religious institutions, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, or religious organizations, may be held liable for clergy sexual abuse under certain legal theories. This liability can arise from the institution's failure to adequately supervise clergy members, failure to respond appropriately to reports of abuse, or negligent hiring and retention of clergy members with known histories of misconduct.
• Supervisory Personnel: Individuals within religious institutions who had supervisory authority over the clergy member and were aware of or should have been aware of the abuse may also be held liable. This can include bishops, elders, deacons, or other church leaders who had the responsibility to oversee the conduct of clergy members.
• Third Parties: In some cases, third parties such as counseling centers, schools, or other organizations where the abuse occurred may be held liable if they were negligent in their duty to protect individuals from harm or failed to report suspicions of abuse.