Child Sexual Abuse in Protestant Christian Congregations: A Descriptive Analysis of Offense and Offender Characteristics
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Background on Sexual Abuse by Clergy
1.2.1. Clergy Offender Characteristics
1.2.2. Victim Characteristics
1.2.3. Offense Locations
1.2. Clergy Sexual Misconduct
2. The Present Study
3. Research Methodology
3.1. Data
3.2. Data Analysis Strategies
4. Results
4.1. Offense Type
4.1.1. Contact Offenses
4.1.2. Non-Contact Offenses
4.1.3. Property Offenses
4.2. Offense Locations
4.2.1. General Offense Locations
4.2.2. Specific Offense Locations
4.3. Offender Characteristics
4.3.1. Offender Gender
4.3.2. Offender Race/Ethnicity
4.3.3. Offender Age
4.3.4. Offender Role
Male Offender Roles
Female Offender Roles
5. Conclusions and Discussion
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Ackerman, Alissa R., Andrew J. Harris, Jill S. Levenson, and Kristen Zgoba. 2011. Who are the People in Your Neighborhood? A Descriptive Analysis of Individuals on Public Sex Offender Registries. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry 34: 149–59. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- American Psychiatric Association. 2013. Paraphilic Disorders. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Available online: http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Paraphilic%20Disorders%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf (accessed on 27 December 2017).
- Babchishin, Kelly M., R. Karl Hanson, and Heather VanZuylen. 2015. Online Child Pornography Offenders are Different: A Meta-Analysis of the Characteristics of Online and Offline Sex Offenders against Children. Archives of Sexual Behavior 44: 45–66. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Bailey, Sarah P. 2013. Evangelical Sex Abuse Record ‘Worse’ Than Catholic, Says Billy Graham’s Grandson Boz Tchividijian. Huffington Post. Available online: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/protestant-sex-abuse-boz-tchividijian_n_4019347.html (accessed on 14 December 2017).
- Beitchman, Joseph H., Kenneth J. Zucker, Jane E. Hood, Granville A. DaCosta, Donna Akman, and Erika Cassavia. 1992. A Review of the Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect 16: 101–18. [Google Scholar]
- Bishop Accountability. 2011. Data on the Crisis: The Human Toll. Available online: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/data.htm (accessed on 14 December 2017).
- Blanchard, Gerald T. 1991. Sexually Abusive Clergymen: A Conceptual Framework for Intervention and Recovery. Pastoral Psychology 38: 237–46. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bohm, Bettina, Hans Zollner, Jorg M. Fegert, and Hubert Liebhart. 2014. Child Sexual Abuse in the Context of the Roman Catholic Church: A Review of Literature from 1981–2013. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 23: 635–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Boston Globe. 2004. The Boston Globe Spotlight Investigation: Abuse in the Catholic Church. The Boston Globe. Available online: http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/movies/spotlight-movie (accessed on 14 December 2017).
- Brackenridge, Celia H. 1997. “He Owned Me Basically.” Women’s Experiences of Sexual Abuse in Sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport 32: 115–30. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bringer, Joy D., Celia H. Brackenridge, and Lynne H. Johnston. 2001. The Name of the Game: A Review of Sexual Exploitation of Females in Sports. Current Women’s Health Reports 1: 225–31. [Google Scholar] [PubMed]
- Brock, Raymond T., and Horace C. Lukens Jr. 1989. Affair Prevention in the Ministry. Journal of Psychology and Christianity 8: 44–55. [Google Scholar]
- Brownmiller, Susan. 1975. Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape. New York: Bantam. [Google Scholar]
- Calkins-Mercado, Cynthia, Jennifer A. Tallon, and Karen J. Terry. 2008. Persistent Sexual Abusers in the Catholic Church: An Examination of Characteristics and Offense Patterns. Criminal Justice and Behavior 35: 619–42. [Google Scholar]
- Capps, Donald. 1993. Sex in the Parish: Social-Scientific Explanations for why it occurs. Journal of Pastoral Care 47: 350–61. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Charmaz, Kathy. 2006. Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis. Thousand Oaks: Sage. [Google Scholar]
- Chaves, Mark, and Diana Garland. 2009. The Prevalence of Clergy Sexual Advances toward Adults in Their Congregations. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 48: 817–24. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Clayton, Mark. 2002. Sex Abuse Spans Spectrum of Churches. The Christian Science Monitor. April 5. Available online: https://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0405/p01s01-ussc.html (accessed on 14 December 2017).
- Colton, Matthew, Susan Roberts, and Maurice Vanstone. 2010. Sexual Abuse by Men Who Work with Children. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 19: 345–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Cooper, D. 2002. Desiree Cooper: Encounter with Her Minister Broke Trust, Not Faith. March 28. Available online: http://www.freep.com/news/metro/des28_29920328.html (accessed on 12 December 2014).
- Cooperative Congregations Studies Partnership. 2010. Faith Communities Today: 2010 National Survey of Congregants. Hartford, CT, USA. Available online: http://faithcommunitiestoday.org/sites/faithcommunitiestoday.org/files/2010FrequenciesV1.pdf (accessed on 15 April 2015).
- Culbertson, Kayleen A., Peter W. Vik, and Beverly J. Kooiman. 2014. The Impact of Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault Perpetrator Type, and Location of Sexual Assault on Ratings of Perceived Safety. Violence against Women 7: 858–75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Denton, Erin. 2010. International News Coverage of Human Trafficking Arrests and Prosecutions: A Content Analysis. Women & Criminal Justice 20: 10–26. [Google Scholar]
- Dube, Shanta R., Robert F. Anda, Charles L. Whitfield, David W. Brown, Vincent J. Felitti, Maxia Dong, and Wayne H. Giles. 2005. Long-Term Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Gender of Victim. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 28: 430–38. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Fegert, Jorg M., M. Rassenhofer, T. Schneider, A. Seitz, L. König, and N. Spröber. 2011. Endbericht der Wissenschaftlichen Begleitforschung zur Anlaufstelle der Unabhängigen Beauftragten zur Aufarbeitung des Sexuellen Kindesmissbrauchs Dr. Christine Bergmann, Bundesministerin a. D. Available online: http://beauftragter-missbrauch.de/course/view.php?id=28 (accessed on 13 April 2015).
- Finkelhor, David, and Linda Williams. 1988. Nursery Crimes: A Study of Sexual Abuse in Daycare. Newbury Park: Sage. [Google Scholar]
- Flynn, Kathryn A. 2003. The Sexual Abuse of Women by Members of the Clergy. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. [Google Scholar]
- Francis, Perry C., and Tracy D. Baldo. 1998. Narcissistic Measures of Lutheran Clergy Who Self-Reported Committing Sexual Misconduct. Pastoral Psychology 47: 81–96. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Francis, Perry C., and James Stacks. 2003. The Association between Spiritual Well-Being and Clergy Sexual Misconduct. Journal of Religion and Abuse: Advocacy, Pastoral Care and Prevention 5: 79–100. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Friberg, Nils C., and Mark R. Laaser. 1998. Before the Fall: Preventing Pastoral Sexual Abuse. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press. [Google Scholar]
- Garland, Diana R, and Christen Argueta. 2010. How Clergy Sexual Misconduct Happens: A Qualitative Study of First-Hand Accounts. Social Work & Christianity 37: 1–27. [Google Scholar]
- Grammich, C., K. Hadaway, R. Houseal, D. E. Jones, A. Krindatch, R. Stanley, and R. H. Taylor. 2012. 2010 US Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Lenexa: Association of Lenexa, Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. [Google Scholar]
- Hands, D. R. 1992. Clergy sexual abuse. Saint Barnabus Community Chronicle, 1–3. [Google Scholar]
- Horst, Elizabeth A. 2000. Questions and Answers about Clergy Sexual Misconduct. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press. [Google Scholar]
- John Jay College. 2004. The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States, 1950–2002. Washington: USCCB. [Google Scholar]
- Johnson, Todd M., Gina A. Zurlo, Albert W. Hickman, and Peter F. Crossing. 2016. Christianity 2017: Five Hundred Years of Protestant Christianity. International Bulletin of Mission Research 41: 41–52. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Knoll, James. 2010. Teacher Sexual Misconduct: Grooming Patterns and Female Offenders. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse 19: 371–86. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- MacPherson, Gary J. D. 2010. Predicting Escalation in Sexually Violent Recidivism: Use of the SVR-20 and PCL: SV to Predict Outcome with Non-Contact Recidivists and Contact Recidivist. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology 14: 615–27. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mair, Katherine J., and Rebecca H. Stevens. 1994. Offending Histories and Offending Behavior: A Ten Year Follow-Up of Sex Offenders Tried by Sheriff and District Courts in Grampian, Scotland. Psychology, Crime and Law 1: 83–92. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Meek, Katherine R., Mark R. McMinn, Todd Burnett, Chris Mazarella, and Vitaliy Voytenko. 2004. Sexual Ethics Training in Seminary: Preparing Students to Manage Feelings of Sexual Attractions. Pastoral Psychology 53: 63–79. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Miller, Laurence. 2013. Sexual Offenses against Children: Patterns and Motives. Aggression and Violent Behavior 18: 506–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Muse, J. Steven. 1992. Faith, Hope, and the “Urge to Merge” in Pastoral Ministry: Some Countertransference-Related Distortions of Relationships between Male Pastors and Female Parishioners. Journal of Pastoral Care 46: 299–308. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Muse, J. Steven, and Edwin Chase. 1993. Healing the Wounded Healers: “Soul” Food for Clergy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity 12: 141–50. [Google Scholar]
- Najdowski, Cynthia J., and Sarah E. Ullman. 2009. Prospective Effects of Sexual Victimization on PTSD and Problem Drinking. Addictive Behaviors 34: 965–68. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- New York Times. 2015. Roman Catholic Church Sex Abuse Cases. Available online: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/roman_catholic_church_sex_abuse_cases/index.html (accessed on 9 September 2014).
- Pew Research Center. 2007. Religion and Public Life Project: Religious Landscape Survey. Available online: http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/ (accessed on 16 January 2018).
- Pew Research Center: Religion and Public Life. 2015. America’s Changing Religious Landscape. May 12. Available online: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/ (accessed on 16 January 2018).
- Pew Research Religion and Public Life Project. 2010. The Pope Meets the Press: Media Coverage of the Clergy Abuse Scandal. Available online: http://www.pewforum.org/2010/06/11/the-pope-meets-the-press-media-coverage-of-the-clergy-abuse-scandal/ (accessed on 16 January 2018).
- Plante, Thomas G., and Arianna Aldridge. 2005. Psychological Patterns among Roman Catholic Clergy Accused of Sexual Misconduct. Pastoral Psychology 54: 73–80. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Poling, Nancy Werking. 1999. Victim to Survivor: Women Recovering from Clergy Sexual Abuse. Cleveland: United Church Press. [Google Scholar]
- Raskin, Robert N., and Calvin S. Hall. 1979. A Narcissistic Personality Inventory. Psychological Reports 45: 590. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Rennison, Callie M. 2001. Criminal victimization 2000. In Changes, 2000, 1993–2000. National Crime Victimization Survey; Washington: Bureau of Justice Statistics. [Google Scholar]
- Rennison, Callie M., and Michael R. Rand. 2003. Criminal Victimization, 2002; Washington: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
- Rossow, Ingeborg, and Grethe Lauritzen. 2001. Shattered Childhood: A Key in Suicidal Behavior Among Drug Addicts? Addiction 96: 227–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Seat, Jeff T., James T. Trent, and Jwa K. Kim. 1993. The Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Sexual Misconduct among Southern Baptist Pastors in Six Southern States. Journal of Pastoral Care 47: 363–70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2007. A Look at Abuse Data in Protestant Churches. June. Available online: http://seattlepi_nwsource.com/national/1110AP_Protestants_Sex_Abuse_Glance.html (accessed on 19 October 2014).
- Simon, Robert. 1995. The Natural History of Therapist Sexual Misconduct: Identification and Prevention. Psychiatric Annals 25: 90–94. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Simpson, Tracy L., and William R. Miller. 2002. Concomitance Between Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse and Substance use Problems: A Review. Clinical Psychology Review 22: 27–77. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sipe, A. W. Richard. 1990. A Secret World: Sexuality and the Search for Celibacy. New York: Brunner/Mazel. [Google Scholar]
- Sipe, A. W. Richard. 1995. Sex, Priests and Power: Anatomy of a Crisis. New York: Brunner/Mazel. [Google Scholar]
- Stermac, Lane E., and Zindel V. Segal. 1989. Adult Sexual Contact with Children: An Examination of Cognitive Factors. Behavior Therapy 20: 573–84. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stinson, Philip M., John Liederbach, Steven L. Brewer, Hans D. Schmalzried, Brooke E. Mathna, and Krista L. Long. 2013. A Study of Drug-Related Police Corruption Arrests. Policing 36: 491–511. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stirling, Ashley E., and Gretchen A. Kerr. 2009. Abused Athletes’ Perceptions of the Coach-Athlete Relationship. Sports in Society 12: 227–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sullivan, Joe, and Anthony Beech. 2004. A Comparative Study of Demographic Data Relating to Intra- and Extra-Familial Child Sexual Abusers and Professional Perpetrators. Journal of Sexual Aggression 10: 39–50. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Terry, Karen J., and Jennifer Tallon. 2004. Child Sexual Abuse: A Review of the Literature. In The Nature and Scope of the Problem of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests and Deacons, 1950–2002. Washington: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. [Google Scholar]
- Thoburn, John, and D. Mitchell Whitman. 2004. Clergy Affairs: Emotional Investment, Longevity of Relationship and Affair Partners. Pastoral Psychology 52: 491–506. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2007. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse within Youth-Serving Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures; Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/preventingchildsexualabuse-a.pdf (accessed on 11 January 2018).
- Wortley, Richard, and Stephen Smallbone. 2006. Applying Situational Principles to Sexual Offenses against Children. In Situational Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. Crime Prevention Studies. Edited by Richard Wortley and Stephen Smallbone. Monsey: Criminal Justice Press, vol. 19. [Google Scholar]
Location | Percentage |
---|---|
at the church | 38.9% (n = 121) |
offender’s home | 31.2% (n = 97) |
off-site | 12.9% (n = 40) |
off-site church-sponsored activity | 10.6% (n = 33) |
victim’s home | 6.4% (n = 20) |
Offender Role | Percentage |
---|---|
Male Offender Roles | |
Pastor | 34.9% (n = 110) |
Youth Minister | 31.4% (n = 99) |
Youth Volunteer | 8.3% (n = 26) |
Associate Pastor | 5.4% (n = 17) |
Music Minister | 4.8% (n = 15) |
Volunteer | 3.2% (n = 10) |
Sunday School Teacher | 2.9% (n = 9) |
Deacon | 2.2% (n = 7) |
Church Member | 2.2% (n = 7) |
Church Camp Worker | 0.6% (n = 2) |
n = 315 | |
Female Offender Roles | |
Youth Volunteer | 50% (n = 2) |
Youth Minister | 25% (n = 1) |
Pastor’s Wife | 25% (n = 1) |
n = 4 |
© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Denney, A.S.; Kerley, K.R.; Gross, N.G. Child Sexual Abuse in Protestant Christian Congregations: A Descriptive Analysis of Offense and Offender Characteristics. Religions 2018, 9, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9010027
Denney AS, Kerley KR, Gross NG. Child Sexual Abuse in Protestant Christian Congregations: A Descriptive Analysis of Offense and Offender Characteristics. Religions. 2018; 9(1):27. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9010027
Chicago/Turabian StyleDenney, Andrew S., Kent R. Kerley, and Nickolas G. Gross. 2018. "Child Sexual Abuse in Protestant Christian Congregations: A Descriptive Analysis of Offense and Offender Characteristics" Religions 9, no. 1: 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9010027