Sexual Abuse and the Church: Complicated Recovery

Last updated on: March 15, 2013 at 6:26 am by Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

Sexual Abuse and the Church: Complicated Recovery 2013-03-15T06:26:38-05:00 Rachael Popcak and Dr. Gregory Popcak

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The last decade has uncovered the seriousness of abuse in the Church. The Church has done a great deal to make certain that young men and women are safe but the road for the victims of institutional abuse can be long and hard.

New research shows that institutional abuse (abuse that occurs in the context of a school, church, universities, scouts, etc) can lead to an even more complicated recovery than other forms of sexual trauma.

Researchers are now learning that recovery from sexual trauma is more challenging when an individual has been betrayed by a perpetrator within a conceptually secure setting.

In a study of 345 female university students, University of Oregon researchers found that 233 of them had experienced at least one unwanted sexual experience in their lifetime, and 46 percent of those victims also experienced betrayal by the institution where incidents occurred.

In the final analysis, researchers found, those who experienced institutional betrayal suffered the most in four post-trauma measurement categories, including anxiety and dissociation. READ MORE

Please join me in praying for the victims of ecclesial sexual abuse. That they may find healing and wholeness in Him who is the source of the peace beyond all understanding.

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