Sexual Abuse by Religious Officials
Legal support for survivors of institutional abuse in faith-based settings in Ohio
Scandals involving the abuse of children by religious officials have been well-publicized over the years. However, the widespread outrage over the abuse of children by officials at institutions like the Catholic Church has not effectively ended this type of abuse. As a result, many vulnerable young people are still facing abuse at places that are meant to be sanctuaries by people whom they should be able to trust and rely on.
At Soroka & Associates, our compassionate attorneys are ready to stand up for the victims of abuse at religious institutions. If you or your loved one experienced abuse by a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, minister, or other religious official, you are not alone—and you may have legal options.
How can we help?
- Why choose Soroka & Associates?
- Understanding sexual abuse in religious institutions
- Clergy and religious leaders are in a position of power
- Denial, coverups, and institutional failures
- How grooming happens in religious settings
- Who can be held liable for religious abuse?
- Filing a civil lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse in Ohio
- Common effects of religious institutional abuse
- What to do if you suspect or have experienced abuse
- Contact us for a confidential consultation
Why choose Soroka & Associates?
At Soroka & Associates, our attorneys know how sensitive sexual abuse cases are for our clients. We also understand how complicated they are to litigate. Our team is prepared to fight these battles in court, even against powerful adversaries with extensive resources at their disposal. We’re ready for high-stakes, institutional abuse cases, and fully committed to seeking accountability for our clients. Our experiences have prepared us to handle these cases with compassion, but without ever backing down.
In one illustrative case, we obtained $800,000 for our client who was sexually abused by a priest.
Understanding sexual abuse in religious institutions
The victims of sexual abuse by religious leaders may involve parishioners or congregants. Often, the victims are minors or vulnerable adults. Abuse comes in many different forms, including grooming, exploitation, inappropriate communication, and sexual contact.
In some situations, it can be challenging to recognize the signs of abuse as it could appear as mentorship, guidance, or spiritual leadership. The use of grooming and manipulation in religious settings is part of the reason that clergy sexual abuse may not be reported or might involve delayed disclosure from survivors.
Clergy and religious leaders are in a position of power
The role of a member of the clergy and of other religious leaders is to serve as a moral leader in their community. Those who participate in religious activities often place their trust in these leaders, seeking their guidance. Children and their families may form lifelong bonds with the leaders of the church or other institutions, which can reinforce feelings of trust.
The close relationship between these leaders and their victims can cause complicated feelings for survivors. Abusers in these settings may also rely on faith-based language when grooming victims as a way to encourage obedience and prevent disclosure. A victim might feel intense guilt, shame, or confusion, causing them to delay reporting or fail to report at all.
How grooming happens in religious settings
Grooming involves an abuser taking steps that allow them to develop a relationship with the victim that will eventually lead to their ability to commit more overt forms of abuse. An abuser may groom a potential victim for months or even years. In a religious setting, they can disguise their intentions under the guise of religious mentorship.
Common tactics include:
- Using spiritual authority to gain access and credibility
- Offering special spiritual roles to the target, such as an altar server or a youth leader
- Isolating the victim from family or peers
- Using scripture or religious teachings to justify inappropriate contact
- Engaging in secret communication or private meetings framed as "counseling" or "guidance"
- Creating a sense of divine approval or confidentiality to silence the victim
- Gaining the trust of the victim’s family to achieve more access to the target
One study indicated that in cases of abuse by Catholic priests, the leading tactic was “abuse of respect and reverence,” which occurred in 83% of cases. Those findings suggest that a priest’s religious authority was largely responsible for allowing them to carry out their abuse.
Denial, coverups, and institutional failures
When a religious leader abuses victims, there are often people who could have stepped in to prevent or stop them. The widespread abuse by members of these institutions is indicative of a history of concealment–there are tens of thousands of cases documented globally, and likely many more that went unreported. These organizations often attempted to conceal abuse allegations in an effort to avoid negative publicity and scandals, while preserving their authority.
Institutions may have allowed abuse to occur because they:
- Failed to act or investigate after receiving complaints or suspicions
- Transferred clergy to new locations instead of removing them
- Discouraged families or victims from reporting to law enforcement
- Prioritized their institutional reputations over the safety of victims
Who can be held liable for religious abuse?
When a religious leader commits sexual abuse, the organization can often be liable in addition to the individual abuser. This means that a lawsuit could be filed against a church, diocese, mosque, temple, or other institution that failed to prevent abuse or stop it when they had an opportunity.
Regional or national religious authorities and anyone who witnessed or knew about the abuse and failed to report it could also face legal liability.
Filing a civil lawsuit for clergy sexual abuse in Ohio
A civil lawsuit offers survivors an opportunity to hold their abusers accountable. In a successful claim, they may recover compensation for their medical bills, therapy, emotional trauma, and lost quality of life. Taking action can also help to prevent future instances of abuse. Victims of sexual abuse may also be entitled to punitive damages.
Abuse survivors in Ohio do have to be mindful of the state’s statute of limitations. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse can file until they are 30 or within 12 years of their 18th birthday.
Common effects of religious institutional abuse
It’s especially important for survivors to take action because the consequences of sexual abuse by religious leaders are often severe. Many people suffer from profound emotional, spiritual, and psychological impacts, including:
- A loss of faith or spiritual crisis
- Depression and anxiety
- PTSD or panic disorders
- Shame, guilt, or self-blame
- Difficulty with trust and relationships
- Suicidal ideation
- Difficulty re-entering religious or community settings
What to do if you suspect or have experienced abuse
If you believe that you or a loved one is the victim of sexual abuse by a religious leader, you should take immediate action. Some of the steps that a survivor or their family may take include:
- Documenting suspicious behaviors, messages, or past interactions
- Reporting the abuse to law enforcement as soon as possible
- Contacting a medical professional if the contact left physical injuries
- Seeking counseling from a trauma-informed therapist or a survivor support group
- Avoiding confrontation with the religious official directly—it is better to let the authorities investigate
Remember to be compassionate with the survivor. Believe them and don’t try to minimize their experiences. You can also reach out to therapists and advocacy groups for additional resources to support their recovery.
Contact us for a confidential consultation
Suffering from sexual abuse can have a profound negative impact on anyone. When the abuser is a person the victim looked up to and trusted, the psychological harm can run deep. If you or a loved one experienced sexual abuse in a religious setting, you might have legal options available to hold the abuser and the institution accountable.
Contact Soroka & Associates today to schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our dedicated sexual abuse lawyers. We are here to listen and support you throughout your fight for justice.