Unsafe In Any Denomination

Experts are aware of the extent of sexual violation of adults by clergy. On the other hand, news accounts and online reader comments show confusion among the general public about the nature of sexual exploitation of adults by clergy.

What the Experts Say

• According to the Rev. Dr. Marie Fortune, Executive Director of the Faith Trust Institute in Seattle, adult victims of sexual exploitation by clergy "will be the next wave of the tsunami to hit the church" relative to the child victims of clergy sexual abuse.

• Rev. Pamela Cooper-White, former director of the Center for Women and Religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and currently Professor of Pastoral Theology at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia estimates that the vast majority of victims of sexual exploitation by clergy, more than 95 percent, are women.

• In her 1995 book The Cry of Tamar, the Rev. Pamela Cooper-White suggests that "somewhere from one out of eight to one out of three clergy have crossed sexual boundaries with their parishioners."

• Angela Bonavoglia in her 2005 book Good Catholic Girls: How Women are Leading the Fight to Change the Church states:

  "While the current crisis has spotlighted the abuse of minors by Catholic priests, the reality is that the abuse of children is just the tip of the iceberg -- not only in the United States but worldwide. There is no question but that the abuse of children is the most reprehensible of clerical sexual crimes. But children are not, nor have they ever been, Catholic clergy's only victims. In fact, the sexual involvement of Catholic priests with adults far exceeds their involvement with minors, and women caught in those relationships are arguably in the greater danger of exploitation." (Bonavoglia, Chapter 5, "Women, Priests, and the Myth of Celibacy," p. 85)

• A 1993 study published in the Journal of Pastoral Care found that 14% of Southern Baptist pastors responding to a survey admitted to inappropriate sexual contact with a congregant; in the same survey 70% of respondents said they had knowledge of another minister who had sexual contact with a congregant.

• Stephanie Hixon, member of the United Methodist General Secretariat of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women, remarked at a 2001 UM-sponsored workshop that "the largest population of victim/survivors of clergy sexual misconduct [in the Methodist church] is women."

• Julie Sevig, section editor of The Lutheran, stated in a 2002 special issue of this denominational newsmagazine that "the typical pattern of clergy sexual abuse in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America involves a male pastor and adult female."

• Alexa Smith, in a 2000 cover article for Presbyterians Today, reported that the Office of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA estimates there are about 50 clergy sexual misconduct cases every year. Cases in the PCUSA, according to Smith, "tend to involve adult women and male pastors."

• Dr. Gary Schoener, Executive Director of the Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis which serves both offenders and victims of clergy sexual abuse, has consulted on over 2,000 cases of clergy sexual abuse and is one of the most outspoken experts on this issue. In a 2006 interview aired on the PBS newsweekly Religion and Ethics he stated that "far more clergy have sexual contact with adult women or late adolescent girls than they do with kids of either gender" adding that "it's a widespread problem."

• Schoener told the St. Petersburg Times in a 2002 article that "17 states see even adult relationships with priests as a type of statutory rape. The victim can't possibly consent because the power relationship so clouds the issue."

• Similar estimates are put forth by A. W. Richard Sipe, therapist and former Benedictine monk, in his 1995 book Sex, Priests, and Power. Based on his research, Sipe concludes that "at any one time 20% of priests are involved in a sexual relationship with a woman."

• Sipe told the St. Petersburg Times in a 2002 article that "about four times as many priests get involved with adult women as with minors."

• Several reports cited by Kathryn Flynn in her comprehensive study of The Sexual Abuse of Women by Members of the Clergy published in 2003 substantiate the claim that "clergy are exploiting their parishioners at twice the rate of secular therapists."

• A United Church of Canada sexual abuse panel reported that "women are more likely to experience sexual harassment in the church than in the workplace."

• Dr. Rene Drumm, chair of the Department of Social Work and Family Studies at Southern Adventist University, in Collegedale, Tennessee states in her article "Why "Pastoral Affair" Is An Oxymoron: Thoughts On Clergy Sexual Misconduct" published in Adventist Today (May 1, 2005):

  Because of their moral and spiritual authority, pastors are not allowed the luxury of having "affairs." Affairs can happen only between equally powerful, consenting adults. When a pastor becomes romantically involved with a parishioner, it is not properly considered an affair. Instead it is a blatant breach of ethical standards. This violation of ethical standards then becomes a legal liability.

• Anglican Church in Australia Sex Offender Registry and Church of England Archbishop's List.

  Bernard Lagan. "Names of cheating clergy will be put on register of sex offenders." Times Online (October 24, 2007).

  Andrew Norfolk. "Church of England lists sinner priests." Times Online (October 24, 2007).

• Emma Humphreys Prize 2004 awarded to Margaret Kennedy "primarily for the way she has taken on Christian, and especially the Catholic, church in the UK, not just in relation to the sexual abuse of children but sexual exploitation of adult women by Christian clergy." In a December 2004 article in the Journal of Adult Protection Kennedy discusses her work:

  The 250 women I have supported over the last eight years who were sexually molested, coerced, exploited and manipulated into having sex with the clergymen from whom they sought help and refuge were vulnerable and looking for help. They were not looking for their pastor to engage them in sex. This must be seen within the continuum of sexual violation against women. When women report, bishops ignore their plea. Women are seen as Eve, therefore no bishop will protect them. Women's experience of violation is secondary to the priests' vocation to serve God. These men are supported and moved to a new parish while the victims languish in pain and suffering, seen only as women who have caused scandal for the priest. Clergy exploitation of women who seek support and help is a major problem within all Christian churches.

What The News Articles Report

Some of these articles have online reader comments illustrating the often vicious retaliation alleged victims suffer in their own community.

• Matt Thacker. "New Albany pastor (William D. Hodge Jr) accused of lying to police, harassment." The News and Tribune (December 19, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Tristan Kirk. "Woman tried to kill herself after rape by priest (Hindu priest Shashikant Vyas)." Harrow Times (December 17, 2008).

• Michael Hewlett. "Mocksville pastor (Thompson Gregory Little) charged with soliciting sex acts." Winston Salem Journal (December 16, 2008). See online reader comments.

• "Mamaroneck priest charged with sexually abusing a woman: There may be other allegations against Father Richard Ordonez." Larchmont Gazette (December 10, 2008).

• "Marriage advice vicar (Andrew Gair) had affair." BBC News (November 19, 2008).

• Mike McPhee. "Minister (Willie D. Simmons) accused of sex assault." The Denver Post (November 19, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Brian Maass. "Denver Reverend (Willie Simmons) admits to "consensual" church sex." CBS 4 Denver (November 17, 2008).

• "Publication of taped conversations breached privacy right (Heber McMahon)." Irish Times (November 3, 2008).

• Jessica Layton. "Priest (Gary Mercure), diocese want lawsuit dismissed." WNYT.com (October 31, 2008).

• "Queens priest used confessional to pick up woman: Father Elvis Elano suspended after being named in lawsuit." WCBSTV.com (October 31, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Christy Gutowski. "Man sues priest (Christopher Floss), claiming affair with wife." The Daily Herald (September 27, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Cary McMullen. "Evangelist Todd Bentley had inappropriate relationship, his organization says." The Ledger (August 18, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Charles Lavery. "Shamed priest Joseph Creegan is to marry after being sacked over affair." Sunday Mail (UK) (August 17, 1008).

• Charles Lavery. "Sex shame priest (Joseph Creegan) drops legal action to sue Catholic Church." Sunday Mail (UK) (August 10, 2008).

• Sarah Elmquist. "Pastor (Donald Dean Budd) charged with felonies." Winona Post (August 6, 2008).

• Elizabeth Stull. "Fourth Department says priest could owe fiduciary duty; diocese might be liable too." Daily Record (May 7, 2008).

• Alan Riquelmy. "Pastor accused of battery: James Harold Carter, 74, accused of holding woman down at church." Ledger-Enquirer (May 7, 2008).

• "Former pastor (Scott Martin Weisser) pleads no contest to charges."Deseret News (May 7, 2008).

• "Pastor (Haskelle Mulraine) denies sexual involvement with members." Sun St. Kitts News (April 10, 2008).

• Sanford Schmidt. "Priest (Thomas R. Szydlik) denies couple's claims." The Telegraph (April 4, 2008).

• Steve Gonzales. "Suit claims Catholic priest (Thomas Szydlik) impregnated parishioner then coerced her into abortion." St. Clair Record (April 3, 2008).

• Sanford Schmidt. "Priest (Thomas R. Szydlik) accused of having sex with married woman." The Telegraph (April 2, 2008).

• "Former Biloxi Bishop (Joseph Lawson Howze) accused of inappropriate behavior with an adult man." WLOX ABC3 (March 7, 2008).

• "Appeal date for vicar (David King)." Whitby Gazette (February 29, 2008).

• "Bussmann (John Bussmann) found guilty of sexual misconduct" Star News (February 26, 2008).

• Kevin Behr. "The Rev. Budd (Donald Dean Budd) to challenge constitutionality of sex charges." Winona Daily News (January 24, 2008). See online reader comments.

• Josh Mitchell. "Navy chaplain (John Thomas Matthew Lee) sentenced to two years in prison." Baltimore Sun (December 6, 2007).

• "Recent review of sexual misconduct reports: Michael Pappas." Orthodox Reform: Advocating reform to combat sexual misconduct in the Orthodox Church. (November 19, 2007).

• Associated Press. "Megachurch leader (Earl Paulk) in mega-sized sex scandal: 80-year-old Georgia man slept with brother's wife, fathered her child."msnbc (November 19, 2007).

• "Synagogue settles sex suit (Tobias Gabriel)." East York-Riverdale (Toronto, Canada) The Mirror (October 18, 2007).

• Todd Ruger. "Suit charges sex abuse by priest (Priamo Tejada Rosario): Man says cleric working in Venice diocese implied he would be deported." Herald Tribune (September 23, 2007).

• Leila Walsh. "Priest (Michael O'Brien) accused of sexual abuse." WOAI (September 17, 2007).

• Sandro Contenta. "Rabbi (Tobias Gabriel), synagogue sued over seduction scandal." Thestar.com (August 29, 2007).

• David Yonke. "Bishop Blair knew of priest's (David Nuss) sexual sin." Toledo Blade (July 25, 2007).

• Robin Erb. "Diocese: Local priest (David Nuss) had inappropriate contact with woman." Toledo Blade (July 23, 2007).

• Ron Cassie. "Woman alleging priest (Timothy Fell) affair sues archdiocese." The Examiner (June 25, 2007).

• Kevin Behr. "Lawyer challenges charges against Winona pastor (Donald Dean Budd)." Winona Daily News. (June 22, 2007). See reader comments online.

• John Allen, Jr. "Pope's pastor (Paolo Curtaz) is father of three-year-old child." National Catholic Reporter (June 1, 2007).

• Yonat Shimron. "Pastor's removal stuns flock: An evaluation of the Rev. Stephen M. Garrity will see whether he misused his influence in sexual relationships 25 years ago." News and Observer (April 30, 2007).

• John Murawski. "Priest (Stephen M. Garrity) relieved from duty." The News and Observer (April 29, 2007).

• H.G. Reza. "Priest (Praveen Bunyan) quits rector post in O.C." Los Angeles Times (April 26, 2007).

• Associated Press. "Priest (James Jacobson) admits in deposition to father[ing] children." Seattle Times (March 3, 2007).

• Ron Cassie. "Community rallies for accused priest (Timothy Fell)." The Examiner (February 12, 2007).

• Ron Cassie. "Priest (Timothy Fell) accused of affair with married woman." The Examiner (February 7, 2007).

• "Woman fights for bill to prevent clergy abuse." KSN.com (February 8, 2007).

• Associated Press. "Winona pastor (Donald Dean Budd) charged with criminal sexual conduct." WCF Courier. (January 31, 2007).

• "Priest (Carlos Bedoya) accused of pinning man during sex attack; coverup alleged." Local6.com (January 30, 2007).

• "Deltona priest (Carlos Bedoya and David Estrada) complaint."News 13 (January 16, 2007).

• "Woman claims priest (Nicholas Voelker) assaulted her." KSN.com (September 5, 2006).

• "Marquette priest (Roy Joseph) removed." WLUCTV6 (May 30, 2006).

• Tom Mitchell. "Grace Covenant Pastor resigns: Clark (Robert Clark) admitted adulterous affair." Daily News Record (March 9, 2006).

• Suzanne Le Mignot. "Woman claims Father fathered her child: Says priest (Jason Martin) left her during engagement." CBS Chicago (January 11, 2006).

• Laurence Hammack. "Woman says church warned: A Covington woman says if the Catholic Church had heeded her warnings, a second woman would not have been victimized (Edward C. Moran)." The Roanoke Times (August 21, 2005).

• Andy Newman. "Accusation of an affair leads priest (Msgr. Eugene V. Clark) to resign." New York Times (August 12, 2005).

• Ruth Jones. "Priest (Jim Gallagher) leaving school, church after suspension." Staunton News Leader (December 14, 2004).

• "Va. priest (Jim Gallagher) admits to misconduct." Richmond Times Dispatch (December 13, 2004).

• David Eck. "Priest (Raymond Larger) resigns after verdict: Found guilty of soliciting sex." The Enquirer (August 6, 2003).

• Alberta Lindsey. "Minister (Richard J. Geoghegan) suspended." Richmond Times Dispatch (August 24, 2002).

• Ray Rivera. "Woman sues priest, alleges abuse during 6-year affair." The Seattle Times (May 2, 2002).

• Douglas LeBlanc. "Episcopal Church: Bishop to be punished 19 years after affair: Episcopal Church court may decide fate of Montana's Charles Jones next week." Christianity Today Magazine (February 5, 2001).