If you were sexually assaulted or abused by a leader or other member of the Mormon Church, you may wonder what to do now. It may help to confide in family and friends for support at this difficult time. You may also want to inform your Church leader or bishop and report the abuse. However, in many cases, it can feel easier for a victim of abuse to talk to someone outside of the Church community. If you would rather talk to someone confidentially, national agencies can put you in contact with sexual assault resources in your local area. This way, you can access the support, counseling, and practical help you may need to get your life back on track.
One such resource is the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The RAINN organization manages a national sexual assault hotline specifically for victims of abuse and sexual abuse survivors that can give you practical advice as well as refer you to local help, including resources for counseling and legal advice.
Additional sexual assault resources include the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP), the largest, oldest support group for those abused by religious and institutional authorities.
Whether your sex abuse case happened recently or decades ago, you have the right to access help and demand justice now.
The Effects of Sex Abuse on Victims
Sex abuse can have serious and long-lasting consequences on the life of a survivor. Having been the victim of abuse can affect psychological and physical health as well as relationships with family, friends, and the wider community.
Abuse can also have a detrimental effect on intimate relationships. The effects of sexual abuse are tied to depression, self-blame, shame, and guilt. Victims of abuse may suffer from eating disorders, anxiety, and sexual problems. The devastating effects of sexual abuse can also lead to suicide attempts, insomnia, and substance abuse. Victims of abuse may socially isolate themselves. In addition, the career and financial health of a survivor can also suffer from the adverse effects of sex abuse.
In short, sex abuse can negatively influence every aspect of a survivor’s life.
In addition to all the negative effects on physical and emotional health, victims of abuse may blame themselves for what happened, which can stop them from finding help. This can be especially true when the abuse took place by a respected Church official or a leader such as a bishop in the Mormon Church.
Should victims of abuse choose to report sexual abuse at the hands of clergy or church members, they may have the option to report using a pseudonym or request anonymity from the court. The rules for doing so vary from state to state, so it’s important to discuss options with a sexual abuse lawyer.
Seeking Justice if You Were Sexually Abused by Someone in the Mormon Church
Since the effects of sexual abuse can be detrimental to all aspects of your life, you can seek help, and you might have legal recourse. You could recover compensation for the sexual abuse you endured and the effects of sexual abuse on your life.
Compensation can help you with recovery as well as help you pay for psychological therapy, medical bills, and other supportive sexual assault resources that you could seek in order to move on with your life. You could also potentially receive other damages, such as loss of income or reduced earning capacity.
There are several ways for you to access compensation, including taking legal action and filing a court case against the perpetrator and/or the Church with the help of a sexual abuse lawyer. You could also access state programs that help with covering costs directly related to sexual abuse. Such programs vary from one state to another. You can find further information regarding your state at the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards (NACVCB).
Take Action Now
Sexual abuse victims may be hesitant to come forward and talk about what happened to them, which is understandable. You can, of course, confidentially report sexual abuse to your local law enforcement agency, which can help to remove a sexual predator from the Church and keep others safe.
However, if you want to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve, you will have to take action and hold the perpetrator legally responsible for their actions. You do not need to handle this alone. A sexual abuse lawyer can manage the process on your behalf.
Statute of Limitations on Sexual Assault
You may need to act quickly. In many states, civil lawsuits, such as those dealing with sex abuse, come with set deadlines called “statutes of limitations.” While some states have recently extended some timelines for sexual abuse cases, this is not true across the nation.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 794-0444
We Can Help You
If you were sexually abused by clergy or a member of the Mormon Church, you can hold the perpetrator and the Mormon Church to account for your damages. We can help. We understand that thinking about a court case and confronting your abuser can be daunting. However, there could be other options, such as out-of-court settlements, which can allow you to maintain confidentiality.
Call the sexual abuse lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm now at (800) 219-9622 for a free and confidential case review of your potential sex abuse claim. We can discuss your options to determine what might serve you best.
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