Nationwide Protestant Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Protestant Sex Abuse Equals or Exceeds Catholic Clergy Abuse

What’s the problem?

Despite headlines focusing on the problem in the Roman Catholic Church, most American churches being hit with child sexual abuse allegations are Protestant, and most of the alleged abusers are not clergy or staff, but church volunteers.

These are findings from national surveys by Christian Ministry Resources (CMR), a tax and legal advice publisher serving more than 75,000 congregations and 1,000 denominational agencies nationwide. CMR’s annual surveys of about 1,000 churches nationwide have asked about sexual abuse since 1993.

They’re a remarkable window into a problem that lurked largely in the shadows of public awareness until the Catholic scandals arose.

There is no shortage of Protestant sex abuse scandals, yet somehow these stories rarely make national news the way Catholic abuse cases seem to. In 2007, the Associated Press reported that three insurance companies receive upward of 260 reports each year of young people under 18 being sexually abused by Protestant clergy, challenging the assumption that clergy sexual abuse is an exclusively Catholic problem that does not take place in other churches.

That is a higher number than the annual average of 228 “credible accusations” brought against Catholic clerics in records reported by the Catholic Church in response to media scrutiny.

How Common is Sexual Abuse in the Protestant Church?

A recent study by LifeWay Christian Resources found that nearly 10% of Protestants under the age of 35 have left the church previously because they felt that allegations of sexual abuse were not taken seriously by the church.

This figure represents double the 5% of churchgoers from any religion who have walked away due to the mishandling of sexual abuse. Among younger individuals, 9% stated that they were no longer attending their former church because they felt unprotected from sexual misconduct.

Churchgoers between the ages of 18 to 34 are more likely than older churchgoers to report sexual abuse or harassment at church, the study found. 23% of parishioners also know more people in their congregation who are victims.

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FAQs

How can an attorney help with a Protestant sexual abuse and pedophile lawsuit?

An attorney can help by evaluating your case, gathering evidence, filing the lawsuit, negotiating with defendants, and representing you in court. They ensure that your rights are protected and work to achieve the best possible outcome.

Can I seek compensation for psychological trauma resulting from sexual abuse within a Protestant church?

Yes, you can seek compensation for psychological trauma, including therapy costs, pain and suffering, and other related damages. Documentation from mental health professionals will support your claim.

Can I sue the church as an institution if the abuse was perpetrated by an individual within the church?

Yes, you can sue the church as an institution if it can be shown that the church was negligent in preventing the abuse or failed to take appropriate action to protect victims. This can include claims of inadequate supervision, failure to report abuse, or ignoring complaints.

See all related sexual abuse lawsuits our attorneys covered so far.

Do I have a Protestant Sexual Abuse Lawsuit?

The Sexual Abuse Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in religious clergy sex abuse & molestation lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.

Free Protestant Church Clergy Sexual Abuse Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been abused, molested, or in any way mistreated by a member of the Protestant church clergy, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.