Posted on 09/12/2009 6:44:04 AM PDT by NYer
Findings from a nationwide study reveal that clergy sexual misconduct is more prevalent than many people believe.
According to research by Baylor University, 3.1 percent of adult women who attend religious services at least once a month have been victims of clergy sexual misconduct since turning 18. In other words, seven women in every congregation of 400 adults have been victimized.
Ninety-two percent of the sexual advances were made in secret and 67 percent of the offenders were married to someone else at the time of the advance.
"Because many people are familiar with some of the high-profile cases of sexual misconduct, most people assume that it is just a matter of a few charismatic leaders preying on vulnerable followers," said Dr. Diana Garland, dean of the School of Social Work at Baylor University and lead researcher in the study, in a statement Wednesday. "What this research tells us, however, is that Clergy Sexual Misconduct with adults is a widespread problem in congregations of all sizes and occurs across denominations. Now that we have a better understanding of the problem, we can start looking at prevention strategies."
The study, which was conducted on more than 3,500 American adults, is the largest scientific study into clergy sexual misconduct and is being published later this year in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.
It is part of an effort by Baylor to identify and prevent clergy sexual misconduct. With virtually no research or information available to inform prevention strategies, Baylor University's School of Social Work sought to provide data for that purpose. Along with spreading awareness and educating the public, the team at Baylor hopes the findings will be used to draft model legislation to make it illegal for clergy to make sexual advances just as it is with patients and doctors.
Sexual misconduct by clergy is only illegal in Texas and Minnesota.
Garland hopes the study will prompt congregations to consider adopting policies and procedures designed to protect their members from leaders who abuse their power.
"Many people – including the victims themselves – often label incidences of Clergy Sexual Misconduct with adults as 'affairs,'" said Garland. "In reality, they are an abuse of spiritual power by the religious leader."
The research study also includes a paper co-authored by Garland on first-hand accounts from men and women who are victims of clergy sexual misconduct, family members or spouses of victims, religious leaders who have committed CSM, and helping professionals who have provided care for offenders and survivors.
Data from the 2008 General Social Survey – an in-person survey conducted by National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago – was used to estimate the prevalence of clergy sexual misconduct. Questions developed specifically for this project were administered by the Baylor team.
Clergy sexual misconduct was defined as minister, priests, rabbis, or other clergypersons or religious leaders who make sexual advances or propositions to persons in the congregations they serve who are not their spouses or significant others.
Ping!
How do these figures compare to the population at large?
I wouldn’t know but we can presume they are fairly close. Keep in mind that sex abuse is prevalent in public schools, camps, youth organizations, etc. Then there is the abuse that goes on in families where children are threatened if they speak out.
“3.1 percent of adult women who attend religious services at least once a month have been victims of clergy sexual misconduct”
Wow - as opposed to 100% of women who go to college or work?
It looks like its time for Christians to get back on the cross.
In my home town we had a pastor of a prominent Presbyterian church who was a serial adulterer, usually with married women who were in his congregation. He wasn’t dismissed until his second transgression was discovered. Several others came to light after that. It was very traumatic for the members.
read later
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Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”
I see the usual suspect Catholic-bashers are ignoring this thread!
“”What this research tells us, however, is that Clergy Sexual Misconduct with adults is a widespread problem in congregations of all sizes and occurs across denominations.”
Seems to say “across denominations”.
When you insert “Protestant” into the headline,
it is disingenuous. Even our own RC church has
had terrible problems with sexually immoral priests -
and the extended cover-up of the same. I’m not
sure what would motivate you to post “protestants”...
best,
ampu
LifeWay: 1 in 7 Church Background Checks Uncover Criminal History
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not surprised, when you consider the church is a place where the spiritually sick come to get healed.
Next thing you know, they’ll come out will a study showing the majority of patients in hospitals are sick.
People that feel they can condemn Christians if they don’t live a perfect life are living in la-la land (and doing the work of the Devil.) One of the purposes of any church is to help people that have strayed to get the life back on track.
It’s not the “Usual Suspects” that concern me at this point.
They know the truth and have hundreds of excuses to bash the Catholic Church.
It’s the average Joe, fed by the MSM that think that ONLY the Catholic Church has a problem. You see it on FR all the time. Priests are fair game.
>>I’m not
sure what would motivate you to post “protestants”...<<
Because “sexual misconduct” is cliche to Catholic Priests, haven’t you noticed?
The MSM like the Priest on Altar Boy scenario. So they push it. Yet, non-Catholic clergy have problems too. As do Public School teachers. But it’s the Catholics that have the problem in many people’s minds.
Some people are appauled at Catholics yet have no problem sending a kid to their own church for Youth Group campouts, summer camp or Public School. This is showing there is a problem everywhere, not just with us.
Main Entry: dis·in·gen·u·ous
Pronunciation: \ˌdis-in-ˈjen-yə-wəs, -yü-əs-\
Function: adjective
Date: 1655
: lacking in candor; also : giving a false appearance of simple frankness : calculating
— dis·in·gen·u·ous·ly adverb
— dis·in·gen·u·ous·ness noun
Ummmm, no, you are incorrect.
The title of the original article, (which one is required to use when posting, by the way) was "Survey Reveals Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Misconduct."
Like the title, the content of of the article makes no distinction between Protestant or Roman denominations...and even seems to include Jewish and other faiths.
In light of the notorious homosexual pederasty scandals involving Roman Catholic priests--which cost Roman Catholic dioceses HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of dollars (still being paid out)--I can certainly see why the title was skewed however.
I'm not. Are there any data about Baptist preachers using little boys for playthings, then being moved from church to church, and having the whole thing covered up by the SBC?
No? You can get back to me later, then. Go say a prayer to a dead woman.
Would these be the same Baptists that rejected collecting the data in the first place?
(http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1A1-D917G9K00.html)
No? You can get back to me later, then. Go say a prayer to a dead woman.
Looks like you will have to get back to us instead, since your church is afraid to gather the data in the first place. Cowards.
The actual title is.
"Survey Reveals Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Misconduct "
"Clergy sexual misconduct was defined as minister, priests, rabbis, or other clergypersons or religious leaders who make sexual advances or propositions to persons in the congregations they serve who are not their spouses or significant others."
Neither the article nor the headline make any reference to protestants. What made you think they are talking about non-catholics, the fact that they said “women”?
Uh, just kidding.
Actually, this kind of thing is a problem, and its a two-way street. Ministers find themselves being regularly hit on. Smart ones make sure they are never alone with anyone while they are counseling someone, that the office door is open and someone in the next room. Or if they go to call, they don’t go alone.
Most of the time the guy might be immune to such advances but you only have to let your hair down once to ruin your ministry and do real damage to the cause you’ve devoted your life to.
Thats anyone including serious people, ministers or priests.
Now, if you’ve been around the church world at all you know there is another level of problem, and that is that there are some real freakazoids out there who go into the ministry. And they are capable of all kinds of abuses. Most people will never fall for that kind of guy but there are always enough who do to keep these guys in business. And there are people who go into the ministry who are trying to work out personal problems perhaps like some others go into psychology in the same way, trying to work out their own demons. They are a train wreck waiting to happen.
There is nothing new under the sun and no group of men is less sinful than another. Some groups like to think they are less sinful, however.
The percentages are probably the same across all denominations. What is different is the way the denominations treat transgressors. The Catholic Church was slow to understand the problem of sexual abuse of minors within the priesthood and they are now paying the price. A great deal of their moral authority was eroded and a wary spirit of distrust has developed between priests and parishioners. It is very painful. It is obvious that there is a percentage of priests ordained in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, that does not really have a vocation. That doesn’t change the Truth taught by the Catholic Church.
The only silver lining is that being a priest is now a lowly, servant’s life in most people’s eyes— and that means only the young men with REAL vocations will want to commit to it. May God bless them. It will be a very lonely, difficult road until the trust can be rebuilt. But our Church will be better for this cleansing, and we will need the strength and courage of those truly holy priests in the godless age that is coming. The Holy Spirit is still guiding the Church.
While abuse by those in positions of authority occurs in many organizations it is especially reprehensible when the offender claims to represent God. And, as the scandal in the Catholic Church made clear, the abuse was perpetuated by not following a few basic steps that the Bible gives for dealing with serious wrongdoing.
That scandal should have been a lesson to Protestant churches about how they handle their own problems of clergy misconduct.
Amazing isn't it...And these people belong to the 'one, true Church'...What a public testimony...
“Because “sexual misconduct” is cliche to Catholic Priests, haven’t you noticed?”
So, if I understand you correctly, you posted so that
people would not associate sexual misconduct strictly with
Catholics, but also with all denominations?
Wouldn’t that make your argument, “Catholics, we’re no
worse than anyone else!”
Can’t we do better than that - like holding to the highest
standards?
ampu
We always knew this when they were coming after the priests. Good that the truth is finally getting out there.
Sexual abuse is committed by the following (In dexcending order):
Fathers of children
Teachers
Coaches
Ministers
Catholic Priests is way down on the list. (From a study I have done.)
So if you are a father, teach in a public school, are also a coach, and on weekends are the assistant pastor at your Protestant church — watch out!
Sexual Abuse of Children by Protestant Ministers (including Baptists).
The article is from a Protestant journal with the focus on protestant clergy.
Lol!!
No, all clergy are human.
NO one should be held to a higher standard than any other.
Jesus Christ is not on Earth right now.
Actually, the SBC resisted setting up a SBC database. Unlike the Catholic Church, each Baptist Congregation is fully independent.
From the SBC website:
“5. I believe our pastor (or my church) has acted inappropriately. What will the SBC do about it?
Actually, the Southern Baptist Convention is not in a position to take any disciplinary action regarding pastors or churches. Again, because of the autonomy of the local church, each SBC church is responsible before God to set its own policies regarding pastors or problems in the church. Such policies are entirely up to the individual congregation.
According to our constitution, if a church no longer makes a bona fide contribution to the Convention’s work, or if it acts to “affirm, approve, or endorse homosexual behavior,” it no longer complies with the Constitution of the Southern Baptist Convention and is not permitted to send messengers to the annual meeting. These, however, are the only explicitly stated instances in which the SBC has the prerogative to take action. Failure to remain in “friendly cooperation” would also disqualify a church from sending messengers, and is obviously more of a subjective test.
Most SBC churches would look to their own constitutions and bylaws for the answer to this question, often these documents address this very issue.
6. Why is the SBC so committed to the autonomy of the local church?
We recognize that in the New Testament there was no centralized ecclesiastical authority over the churches that forced the churches into any form of compliance. There was encouragement, exhortation, and admonition, but there was never enforcement. We strongly adhere to that principle. Jesus Christ is the head of the local church - we are not. Each church is responsible before God for the policies it sets and decisions it makes.”
Is it not accurate?
I’ve been a member before of a Baptist Church that donated to the SBC missions program, but refused to officially take part in the SBC - because to do so was viewed as losing too much local autonomy. This in spite of the SBC being VERY loosely bound together.
The article never mentions "Protestant", the title doesn't mention "Protestant" and the description of the study clearly states that it is all faiths.
You actually changed the title of the article to turn this into a religion war thread, that is despicable, you even posted the related links to further reinforce the impression that this was a story about Protestants. The actual title is.
"Survey Reveals Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Misconduct "
"Clergy sexual misconduct was defined as minister, priests, rabbis, or other clergypersons or religious leaders who make sexual advances or propositions to persons in the congregations they serve who are not their spouses or significant others."
Parenthetical amplifications of titles are permissible and hardly constitute "changing" the title of the article, which remains intact.
“The article is from a Protestant journal with the focus on protestant clergy.”
“Clergy sexual misconduct was defined as minister, priests, rabbis, or other clergypersons or religious leaders who make sexual advances or propositions to persons in the congregations they serve who are not their spouses or significant others.”
The study does not appear to exclude Catholic clergy, or include anyone but women. The thread title should probably be changed to accurately reflect the article title.
Gay sexual misconduct does not appear to be addressed, not sure to what extent that would change things, statistically, for this study,
You are not covering yourself in glory today.
The article is from a Protestant journal with the focus on protestant clergy.
And we (SBC) will stay independent.
And when the refrain is so often "Catholics are worse than anyone else," what would be wrong with such an argument in reply?
“Parenthetical amplifications of titles are permissible and hardly constitute “changing” the title of the article, which remains intact.”
What if the title were set as “Survey Reveals Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Misconduct (Catholic Priest Altar-boy buggers excluded)?
This parenthetical addition appears to be actually true, but it is equally offensive.
No, somebody wanted to start a Catholic vs. Protestant flame war. That’s wrong.
Deliberately making a deceiving title for a thread purely in an effort to create a religious war thread out of thin air is despicable.
It would speak volumes about the anti-Catholic bigot, Klanner or otherwise sick mind who posted it.
Your comparison is ridiculous.
If that ever happens, I’ll assess the situation and let you know if I agree.
Amazing the amount of mindreading that goes on on the Religion Forum, where mindreading is prohibited.
The article does not have focus on Protestant clergy and the article never mentions Protestant, the title never mentions Protestant and the study itself is for all clergy with no emphasis on Protestant.
The question is, will freepers fall for this and give the thread poster what he wants.
Well, you’re here, aren’t you...
Cool, the moderators moved this from News to the religion page, that is entirely different.
Thanks moderators and have fun you guys.
I’m surprised the Mod let it stand.
“Amazing the amount of mindreading that goes on on the Religion Forum, where mindreading is prohibited.”
One does not need to read minds to see the obvious.
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