The Underreported Epidemic of Sexual Abuse
. . .The point is that sexual abuse is a large, society-wide problem. In every segment of society, there are predators taking advantage of others’ trust in order to prey on the weak, young, or dependent. Many organizations are ill-equipped to handle it, because it goes underreported, people don’t want to believe it, and few organizations have structures in place to deal with it. Due to the spotlight on the Catholic Church, they have put in place structural ways to better deal with the problem, although much work remains to be done (the peak years for abuse were the 1970s, although that’s no comfort to the abused).
Given that there are abusers in every organization, how can we best prevent it, protect the victims, and punish the perpetrators?
First, we need to acknowledge that evil exists and that there are people who will prey on the vulnerable, particularly children, those they perceive as weak (physically or socially), and those with developmental disabilities (a further alarming statistic is that 90% of people in this category will be abused in their lifetime).
Second, and related to the first, we need to realize that this can happen to us or our loved ones. Given the percentages, it is very likely that we are friends with someone who has been abused, pressured, or harassed; or, it may even be us who have been abused. Most times, this abuse is unreported. If you have been abused, know that you did nothing to deserve it and that it is not your fault; evil people take advantage of others to force or coerce them into things. If you are struggling with past abuse, please consider counseling; if you are currently being abused, please report it to an authority who can help you get out of the situation.
Third, we need to expect more from those in authority. Leaders – whether they are clergy, teachers, or anyone else in a position of trust – need to be held accountable for their abuses of this trust. There is no excuse for abuse and no justifiable reason to shield the abusers, shuffle them around, or otherwise protect them; concern for the abused must come first. (Read more from “The Underreported Epidemic of Sexual Abuse” HERE)
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