Module D – Situational and Organizational Factors Related to Sexual Abuse For Seminary Students and Faculty, Parishes and Dioceses D-1
Situational and Organizational Factors Related to Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests D-2
Main Sources of Data Reports presented to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by the John Jay College Research Team, The City University of New York* The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, , March, 2011 The Nature and Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States, , February 2004 D-3 * The two reports are based on data supplied by 97 percent of U.S. archdioceses and dioceses on all clergy accused of sexual abuse of minors
I. Situational Factors: Settings and Circumstances of Sexual Abuse D-4
Settings Where Victims First Met Priests Who Abused Them Location of First Meeting% Male Victims% Female Victims A.Church/Parish Related B.School/Teacher C.Home of Victim or Relative of Victim D.Other Institutions E.Other Total * % Based on Nature and Scope and victim survey of 7,142 boys and 1,762 girls. D-5
A. Church/Parish Related Location of First Meeting% Male Victims% Female Victims At Mass At an Altar Service/In the Rectory In the Parish Home of Cleric Choir Total D-6
B. Teacher/School Related Location of First Meeting% Male Victims% Female Victims Teacher (up to grade 6) Teacher (grades 7-8) Teacher (grades 9-12) Sunday/Parish School Other School Seminary Faculty/Administrator Total D-7
C. Home of Victim or Relative of Victim Location of First Meeting% Male Victims% Female Victims Home of Victim/Social Function with Victim’s Family Cleric is Relative Total D-8
D. Other Institutions Location of First Meeting% Male Victims% Female Victims Boys Club/Youth Recreation Work in Hospital In Jail/Prison/Youth Offender Residence Orphanage0.9 Total Location% Male Victims% Female Victims Other E. Other D-9
Physical Locations of Abuse Location of Abuse% Male Victims% Female Victims A.Church/Parish Related B.Residences C.Other Locations D-10 Note well: Clergy sexual abuse occurs in multiple settings Most frequently it is in church-related locations A wide range of residential contexts are used Other public and private venues also are exploited
A. Church/Parish Related Locations of Abuse% Male Victims% Female Victims Cleric’s Home/Parish Residence In Church In School Cleric’s Office Congregate Residence Total D-11
B. Residences Location of Abuse% Male Victims% Female Victims In Victim’s Home Vacation House In Other Residences (Friends, Family) (Following residences also included in A above.) Cleric’s Home/Parish Residence Congregate Residence Total D-12
C. Other Locations Location of Abuse% Male Victims% Female Victims In a Car In a Hotel On Outings – Camp, Park, Pool Retreat House In the Hospital 0.7 Other Total D-13
Circumstances/Timing of Abuse Circumstances/Timing% Male Victims% Female Victims A.Church/Parish Related B.Social Event/Other Recreation C.Other Total * Categories are not mutually exclusive, as victims may have experienced abuse in more than one location. D-14
A. Church/Parish Related Circumstances/Timing% Male Victims% Female Victims Visiting/Working at Cleric’s Home/Rectory Church Service (Before, During, After) School Hours During Reconciliation Church Service, Training Total D-15
B. Social Event/Other Recreation Circumstances/Timing% Male Victims% Female Victims During Social Event During Travel Cleric Visited Home of Victim During Sporting Event Outings D-16
C. Other Circumstances/Timing% Male Victims% Female Victims During Counseling Hospital Visit During a Retreat Other D-17
II. Organizational Factors Related to Abuse D-18
Priest’s Primary Duty or Role at Time of Abuse Duty or Role% Male Victims% Female Victims A.Pastoral/Parish Related B.Other Clerical Role C.School/Teaching Role D.Other Total100.0 * Based on Nature and Scope victim surveys of 7,864 boys and 1,863 girls. D-19
A. Pastoral/Parish Role Duty or Role% Male Victims% Female Victims Associate Pastor Pastor Resident Priest Saying Mass 1.2 Total D-20
B. Other Clerical Role Duty or Role% Male Victims% Female Victims Bishop, Vicar, Chancellor, Cardinal Seminarian/Seminary Administration/Faculty School/Institutional Administrator Chaplain Worked in Hospital Total D-21
C. School/Teaching Role Duty or Role% Male Victims% Female Victims Teacher (up to grade 6) Teacher (grades 7-8) Teacher (grades 9-12) Guidance Counselor Catechism Teacher Total D-22
D. Other Duty or Role% Male Victims% Female Victims Boys Club/Recreation Cleric is Relative Other Total D-23
Additional Observations Related to Situational and Organizational Circumstances, 1 a person who is motivated to commit the act of abuse a potential victim lack of a “capable guardian ” D-24 To prevent or identify abuse, education of potential victims, potential abusers, and potential “guardians” is essential since abuse can occur when these three factors exist: A capable guardian is one who has oversight and awareness of a child’s wellbeing, most often parents
Additional Observations Related to Situational and Organizational Circumstances, 2 Do not meet alone with a child in a closed room without windows Have two adults present when meeting a child whenever possible Have cameras installed in rooms where meetings take place D-25 Keep in mind: An abuser is likely to be considered “a very good person” Many priests who were accused of sexual abuse were in other ways excellent in carrying out their ministry Precautions to lessen conditions for sexual abuse to occur during meetings with children:
Summary of Situational and Organizational Factors Related to Sexual Abuse of Minors Situational Factors: Settings and Circumstances of Sexual Abuse -Settings Where Victims First Met Priests Who Abused Them -Physical Locations of Abuse -Circumstances and Timing of Abuse Organizational Factors Related to Abuse - Priests’ Primary Duty or Role at Time of Abuse Additional Observations Related to Situational and Organizational Circumstances D-26
Discussion Questions Considering the settings and locations where abuse took place, what precautions should priests and other church leaders take about where they meet young people? Taking into account the circumstances and timing that were most common when abuse was perpetrated, what instructions should be given to those who are or soon will be serving in ministry? What other safeguards should be considered in discussions relative to the places and situations where abuse has occurred ? Link to USCCB – and-youth-protection/charter.cfmhttp:// and-youth-protection/charter.cfm D-27
Prepared by: Sister Katarina Schuth, O.S.F., St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas Technical Associate: Catherine Slight Consultants: Dr. Karen Terry and Margaret Smith, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, authors of major studies on sexual abuse for the USCCB; Dr. Mary Gautier, Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate D-28