Why have so many people been sexually abused by religious leaders?

Question

I think it is due to blind trust. In recent decades more than 10,000 children were reportedly sexually abused by Catholic Priests in the United States. These are just the ones we know about.

Answer 1

Now go see how many Children have been sexually abused by public school teachers ... the number is sadly MUCH higher.

Answer 2

I was raped by the first Priest I got to know on a friendly level. Priests are in a position of power, and power easily corrupts. Powerful men (and women too) are prone to inflation of their egos. They may feel they are above the average person. The resulting effects could be that they think they own other people as their "followers" when those "followers" are following God, not the Priest. This crime is unforgivable not only because it's a crime, but a Priest is in a position of trust. It's true that many people will trust their Priest more than they trust their own parents. And this trust is a weapon for a corrupt Priest.

Blessed Be.

Answer 3

I think what we see is the result of media sensationalism combined with the regrettable scandal of the Catholic Church hiding the pasts of priests who engaged in these heinous practices. Sadly, most children who are sexually abused by family and close family friends.

The media does a great job of getting our attention. It does not do a good job of focusing our righteous indignation in appropriate scope where it belongs.

Any adult in a position of authority is in position to violate a child's trust and take advantage of them. Parents, friends, family members, teachers, the clergy, etc.

Does this make it right or in anyway mitigate the fact that what these men did was horrible and should be punished? No. But statistically a child is much more likely to be sexually abused by his own family than a priest.

What a f***ed up world eh?

Answer 4

Priests and other clergy are human like the rest of us and easily tempted like the rest of us, not that it makes their crimes any less forgivable. Children especially are vulnerable and yes they should be able to trust their parish priests and teachers and other figures that they would normally put their trust in.

From what I've read in the past it seems to be people in these "trustworthy" positions that are some of the worst offenders when it comes to child abuse.

Answer 5

While sexual abuse of any kind to any one at any age is a terrible terrible thing, why just focus on the religious leaders.... other people of authority do the same... police officers... social workers.... judges ... teachers....
Fact is anyone can be perverted and make inhuman choices, I know many will say but clergy set themselves apart.... yes i understand that.... but so do these people of other positions of authority...

One child molested or raped is ten too many.... lets not cloud the issue pointing fingers... lets pass laws that are so strengent and strict that those that commit these crimes are put away never to do it again.

Answer 6

Well the religious leaders cant have sex with people that will tell everyone. But little children easily forget and you can scare them in to believing god will be angry if they tell and don't do what the predator wants. This is why putting religion into the mind of a child is dangerous. They have no critical thinking skills developed and will believe anything an elder tells them.

Answer 7

If we can't trust religious leaders who else can we put our faith in? It's not so much the type of profession a molester is in but the type of person doing it to our children. Look around you molesters are everywhere. Some you may suspect and others don't give you a hint. Be vigilant.

Answer 8

It it a shame that children have been abused - it is a horrible crime - But a priest is still the most least likely vocation to commit that crime. That is why it is such a big deal when it happens. We are to remember that the Church has its sinners, but the Church itself and the teachings of the Church are without flaw and bring us closer to Jesus Christ - especially in the Eucharist.

Answer 9

OK this is deep but her you go, most of the established religion are not real Godly men but are satans children trying to take the power from the real Christians, so they infiltrate the Christan's institutions and they secretly worship satan, so you will see the evidence in the molestations and other aberrant behavior! They are wolves in sheep clothing!

Answer 10

I think it has to do with the focus that the church places on sex. By stating that the priests must focus on ignoring their sexual feelings only heats it up to a secretive boiling point. If they aren't taught to learn what these urges are and that they are good, then you end up with sexual deviance and a poor soul that doesn't know what they are feeling.