During a 2018-2019 audit of its clergyman, a Roman Catholic church found signs of more than 4, 434 sexual abuse claims from the abuse survivors. If you or a loved one has experienced abuse at the hands of a clergy member, it’s time that you seek a clergy abuse lawyer.
But, when you’re not aware of the abuse, what signs are you supposed to be on the lookout for? Below you’re going to find a brief guide that can provide you with some telltale signs of clergy abuse.
Withdrawing From Typical Interests
It’s normal for children to be involved in several activities where they interact with other children of the same age. The first sign that you should be on the lookout is if your child begins to stop participating in these activities.
A sudden change in normal childlike behavior should cause red flags to go off in any parent’s mind.
Increase in Suicidal Thoughts
According to a recent study, 8% of children find themselves having thoughts of suicide. These thoughts can stem from being bullied by other children at school. Or it can begin following a traumatic event such as clergy abuse. If your child begins to show signs of depression, anxiety and begins making suicidal statements, it’s time to start taking notice and speaking to them about what’s going on.
Assaulting Other Children
When something like sexual assaulted has occurred to a young child, it’s not uncommon for them to turn around and abuse another child. They may not always understand what their doing is wrong because they’ve been in a situation where they were told it’s okay.
Attempting to sexually assault another child is another sign that your child may have been abused. When you sit down and speak to your child, they must understand that they’ve done nothing wrong, and you’re here to help them.
What Next?
If your child confides in you that they’ve been the victim of sexual assault at the hands of a clergyman, it’s time you take steps to find a lawyer to represent your clergy abuse case. The lawyer will help you when it comes to understanding your options, and you can then make the choice that is going to work the best for your child while getting the justice they deserve.
Signs You Need a Clergy Abuse Lawyer
The signs provided above are just a few that signal you need to begin searching for a clergy abuse lawyer. More and more cases are popping up across the country with victims speaking out about the abuse that they once endured.
As parents, we’ve got to be on the lookout for these signs and ensure our children know they aren’t alone. We understand how heavy this post maybe, and that’s why we encourage you to check out some of the other posts we’ve published. There are tons of useful articles that cover various topics.