Pastoral Sexual Abuse: An Activist Speaks Out
"...ministers are not licensed counselors. Faith leaders who serve as counselors have no governing board to be reported to or held accountable to. So, for example, if a female congregant goes to her minister for counseling during a spiritual crisis, if that particular minister is a perpetrator, he can violate her during her most vulnerable emotional state. If you are in need of counseling, please seek out a state licensed counselor instead.
More information and resources are available through The Hope Of Survivors Web site. For victims, please know that you need not suffer alone." ~ Suzanne Cyr
As an advocate for clergy sexual abuse survivors, Suzanne Cyr has been working tirelessly to shine light on the complex issues surrounding CSA during our Clergy Sexual Abuse Awareness month-long campaign.
The Portsmouth Herald's online publication, Seacoast Online, recently published Suzanne's thought provoking editorial, Law Doesn't Protect Parishioners. The comments that follow her post bring up some interesting points, and are among some of the most sensitive responses on the subject of CSA that I've ever read in a public forum.
For more information on our Enough is Enough campaign, please visit: www.clergysexualabuseawarenessday.com
If you, or someone you know is involved this type of abuse, please contact us. We can help.
Posted by AnnetteA at 8/14/2011 5:03 PM 
Categories: Guest Blog, Enough is Enough
Tags: clergy sexual abuse pastor affair counseling
Categories: Guest Blog, Enough is Enough
Tags: clergy sexual abuse pastor affair counseling
This is very sound advice to seek a state licensed counselor, especially with long term counseling needs. Though it is within the role of a pastor to pray, support, encourage, give godly scriptural advice and spiritual insight to parishioners who are experiencing some kind of crisis, it is never right for them to take advantage of the parishioner they are counseling to sexually abuse them.
We also need to remember that a victim doesn't have to be in a counseling relationship with their pastor to experience clergy sexual abuse. This can occur at church, events and gatherings outside of church, and elsewhere that one may encounter or cross paths with a predatory pastor or religious leader.
It is disheartening that only several states have made laws so far to regulate clergy sexual abuse, and shows how much work needs to be done to educate not only politicians, but also the general public to this issue so that the public can also influence the decisions of our lawmakers. When I contacted our local newspaper in my area, they never even returned my call when I left a message/note of community/social interest to place a notice or do a story about the Clergy Sexual Awareness & Prevention Day.
Thank you Hope of Survivors and may God continue to bless this organization for their support of CSA victims and efforts to educate others about this devastating problem occuring in many denominations around our country and the world.
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