When a child suffers at the hands of a sexual abuser, it is devastating both for the child and for his or her parents. Such events often leave physical and psychological injuries that can accompany the child for the rest of their life and have lasting consequences...
There are no words to describe how traumatic and unfair childhood sexual abuse is. If you experienced sexual abuse as a child, you must know that you may still be able to hold your abuser responsible in criminal and civil court. By filing a lawsuit in civil court, you...
The betrayal of innocence, the lost childhood and a lifetime of mental anguish are too much for any child to bear. You may never think about sexual abuse unless it happens to you or someone you know, but it may become an issue you do not want to ignore when it happens...
Learning that your child is the victim of sexual abuse is a parent's worst nightmare. And when your child discloses abuse to you, the flood of emotion can make it seem impossible to know how to respond. In this painful moment, the things a parent does or says will be...
Sexual abuse of children is shockingly widespread in the very institutions that are supposed to protect the most vulnerable. In the Catholic Church alone, thousands of allegations of sex abuse have surfaced in recent years. And it's far from the only religious...
The last few decades have been an awakening for our nation: An awakening to the devastatingly pervasive reality of childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong impact on survivors. The Catholic Church has been among the worst institutional offenders. For decades – if not...
For survivors of childhood sexual abuse, the road to recovery is long and difficult. It can take years – even decades – to process the horrifying aftermath and its lasting effects on your life. Many victims don't even fully remember the abuse until years later, when...
Whether your child tells you he or she has experienced sexual abuse or you recognize the signs of abuse, you are facing one of the most difficult challenges you will ever encounter as a parent. Taking the right steps at this emotional time can help your child heal and...
Many adults have vague memories of sexual abuse by a trusted adult, such as a clergy member, teacher or coach. Others know they experienced this type of trauma but were unable to confide in a parent or trusted adult at the time of abuse. If these circumstances have...
Children have a right to feel safe and secure in places of worship. Sometimes, though, religious mentors abuse their power and take advantage of the most vulnerable members of society. When clergy members sexually abuse kids, though, New Jersey law offers a ready way...
