Boundary Violations Without Borders

Clergy Accused of Rape, Assault, Adultery

Clergy serving in many denominations around the world have been accused or have admitted to sexual assault, rape, adultery, and other sexual violations.

Priests With Girlfriends

According to Richard Sipe's article, "Clerical Sex, Blackmail and Sexual Abuse," published online in Catholica (November 2008):

Thirty percent of German priests are reported to have women companions. The number in the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland is arguably fifty percent. Estimates for the African and South American clergy run much higher.

What some celibate Catholic priests think about sexual relations with women is discussed in an article by Aidan Lewis, "Looking behind the Catholic sex abuse scandal." BBC News (May 4, 2010).

Christian Pfieffer, the director of the independent Criminality Research Institute of Lower Saxony and a former regional justice minister … says that in Germany, young priests have told him it would be possible to have sexual relationships with women if they really wanted to, lessening the risk of sexual frustration leading to abuse.

Women companions of celibate priests have found it useful to form support groups in many countries to help each other in their difficult situation. Websites for these support groups indicate that women suffer as a result of clandestine relationships with priests which keep them in isolation from their families and friends; keep them in hiding; keep them alone in raising the children begotten in these relationships; keep them fearful of the future.

The silent mistresses of celibate priests recently posted an open letter to Pope Benedict condemning the hypocrisy and secrecy imposed on priests by the Catholic Church. See "Living in Deceit" section below for further information.

Celibate Priests with Children

For list of news stories on priests and bishops with children, click here.

Abortion, Birth Control, Child Support and Fatherless Children of Fathers

According to Patrick Wall, co-author with Richard Sipe and Thomas Doyle of Sex, Priests, and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2,000 Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse (2006), abortions are frequently sought for teenaged girls impregnated by priests.

Mary Ormsby. "Church scandal's next wave: Abused girls." The Star Canada (April 25, 2010).
"That is so prevalent, it happens all the time," [Patrick Wall] said of the abortion runs, which in part accounts for his belief that teenaged girls are the silent majority of priest-related sexual abuse.

In a news article published in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Sarah Stricker reports on how the Munich diocese under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, handled the situation of one priest who fathered a child. Stricker calls the case "A Bavarian Version of The Thorn Birds". Here is an English translation of what the child's mother was told, according to Stricker:

When the priest's child, Veronika, was born in 1978, the mother was called into the Munich diocese. Then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the mother recalls, let her know via the vicar that she, Veronika's mother, was the guilty party. He further told the mother it would be the best for everyone involved that all contact with the child's father be ended.

Cardinal William J. Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Vatican, formerly served as Archbishop in the Diocese of Portland, Oregon. One case that occurred in the Portland diocese while Levada was archbishop involved a woman who became pregnant by a seminarian.

William Lobdell. "Faithful furious over tactic: Catholics express shock over lawyer's arguments that a woman who sued Portland archdiocese for child support should have used birth control." Los Angeles Times (August 03, 2005).
In 1994, then-Archbishop of Portland William Levada offered a simple answer for why the archdiocese shouldn't have been ordered to pay the costs of raising a child fathered by … Arturo Uribe, then a seminarian and now a Whittier priest … [because] the child's mother had engaged "in unprotected intercourse ... when [she] should have known that could result in pregnancy," the church maintained in its answer to the lawsuit.

William Lobdell. "Priest and his son are bound by poverty: A Whittier pastor fends off a woman's legal bid for more money to raise their sick child." Los Angeles Times (July 24, 2005).
Uribe requested a DNA test to establish paternity. When the results proved that he was the father, the court ordered Uribe to pay $215 a month in child support. … Soon after the agreement was signed, Uribe was ordained as a Redemptorist priest.

Children of Priests: The Next Scandal?

Owen Bowcott. "Should the Catholic church scrap its celibacy rule? It is estimated that 1,000 people in Britain and Ireland are the children of Catholic priests." The Guardian (UK) (August 17, 2010).

John Follain and Bojan Pancevski. "Errant priests' secret children to sue church: The Vatican faces fresh scandals over the children of priests." The Sunday Times (April 18, 2010).
Thousands of priests in German-speaking countries are believed to have fathered children. Paul Zuhlener, an Austrian theologian, has estimated that up to 22% of Austrian priests have sexual relationships. Sabine Bauer of the Austrian branch of We Are Church, a reform group, predicted a spate of lawsuits.

"The children of priests, and their mothers, are the next ones who will take legal action against the church. Their numbers are large …" Bauer said.

The Vatican's Stance on the Children of Priests

"Vatican denies it would accept priests' children." Momento24 (August 3, 2009).

John Allen. "Vatican denies studying new rules for priests who father kids." NCR Online (August 3, 2009).

Clergy sexual abuse of children and adolescents

Clergy sexual abuse of children and adolescents is also reported around the world. See news articles on the "sexual abuse crisis" in other countries on the Young Adults and Adolescents At Risk page.

Vatican Concern over Berlusconi

Vatican urges ‘a more robust morality’ for those in public life

Elisabetta Povoledo. "Quiet for years, Italian Church blasts behavior of the nation's political elite." New York Times (September 28, 2011).
ROME. Over the last several years, the Roman Catholic Church in Italy has largely looked the other way as reports emerged of sex and corruption scandals among the country's political elite, many of them centered on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But a recent published account of a party at Mr. Berlusconi's home, where one female guest was said to have performed a striptease dressed as a nun, might have been more than the church could stand.

"Church pressure on Berlusconi rises over scandal." NPR (January 21, 2011).
Premier Silvio Berlusconi came under mounting criticism Friday from the Catholic Church over his dalliances with young women, with Pope Benedict XVI saying public officials must set good moral examples … Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said there must be a ‘more robust morality, a sense of justice and legality’ among everyone, particularly those in public office.

Rachel Donadio. "The Vatican: ‘Concern’ on Italy scandal." New York Times (January 20, 2011).
The Vatican is watching the sex scandal engulfing the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, ‘with concern,’ its secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Thursday … Cardinal Bertone said the Roman Catholic Church urged greater ‘morality’ and ‘legality’ in public life …

Living in Deceit

"Secret Mistresses" Speak Out

Sylvia Poggioli interviewed women involved in sexual relationships with celibate priests in Italy for a news segment aired on National Public Radio (June 8, 2010). According to Poggioli's report, "Letter from priests' lovers reignites celibacy debate":

In most cases, the priests' companions continue to live in the shadows … Stefania Salomone, an Italian woman who had a five-year relationship with a priest [stated]: … "I think I represented a stain on his church dress. … I wasn't seen as a woman, I was seen as a danger, as a sin."

In an open letter to the pope published in March 2010, women in secret relationships with Catholic celibate priests explained their situation. The letter was reported by Fox News and several other news organizations. "Catholic Church faces fresh scandal as ‘wives’ of priests speak out." Fox News (June 2, 2010).

"Only three women agreed to sign the letter by name, because of the fear that if a woman goes public with her story, her companion priest would break up with her," Salomone said.

Luisa, 38, said she had a relationship and a child with a priest who is now 35. … "He told his family that he was living in his parish, and his parish that he was living with his family." The people in Luisa's village looked the other way. … the priest decided to leave Luisa, even before the birth of the child, now aged 20 months. "His family … accused me of being a witch," [Luisa said] … Salomone's experience was no less painful.

John Hooper. "Italian priests' secret mistresses ask pope to scrap celibacy rule: Forty women send unprecedented letter to pontiff saying priests need to 'experience feelings, love and be loved'." The Guardian UK (May 27, 2010).

[The letter] pleads for understanding of those who "live out in secrecy those few moments the priest manages to grant [us] …"

Antonella Carisio, one of the other signatories, said she had an affair with a Brazilian priest who frequently slept at her house. When their relationship was discovered by another priest, he was transferred to Rome. … But he subsequently returned to Brazil and this week told the globalPost news agency: " … I was never in love with her."

Experts Speak Out

Dr. Leslie Lothstein, psychologist at the Institute for Living which treats clergy for a range of psychological problems, was recently interviewed by Mark Oppenheimer for an article in the New York Times (April 9, 2010), "A psychologist steeped in treatment of sexually active priests."

Leslie Lothstein has seen them all: priests sexually active with adult men, others with adult women, others with adolescents, others with children. … "I treated half a dozen priests who fathered children," Dr. Lothstein said. "I treated priests who had two children. I treated priests who got women pregnant and got them abortions. I said to one of them, ‘Why didn't you just use a condom?’ And he said, ‘Because birth control is against the law of the church.’"

Angela Bonavoglia puts the matter squarely in her book, Good Catholic Girls (2005):

[T]he crisis in the Church is … fundamentally, about hypocrisy … That heterosexual and homosexual behavior may thrive in the Catholic priesthood … is an indictment of the hypocrisy … that condones, indeed, demands, lying about the reality of one's sexual life at all costs. (p 107, emphasis added)

Rabbi Steven Fisdel discusses the consequences of such hypocrisy in his article "Spiritual Leaders Must Reaffirm Integrity after Gafni," published in The Jewish News Weekly of Northern California (June 8, 2006):

It should be clear that anyone in a spiritual leadership position bears an enormous responsibility to adhere to the truth and must be held to the highest moral and ethical standards. … Immoral behavior by clergy, be it physical or verbal in form, disturbs and disrupts the faith of the victims as well as bringing their belief in the truth of the Torah's teachings into question … If you cannot trust the messenger, how can you trust the message?

Eileen McNamara posed the question: "What about girl victims?" in a Boston Globe commentary (December 4, 2005). Article available on the Bishop Accountability archive.

"In order to be successful in blaming gays, the hierarchy knows that the sexual abuse of girls must be swept into invisibility and be internalized in the culture as a rare exception," said Dwyer, herself victimized by a priest.

Rachel Zoll. "Fault line exposed in vow of celibacy: Roman Catholic Church files disclosed because of sex abuse scandal rekindle debate on merits of abstinence." Los Angeles Times (July 20, 2003).

Molestation victims believe that priests and bishops who are sexually active with adults create a web of dishonesty in the church. These men are reluctant to reveal wrongdoing by fellow clergy, including child molesters, for fear of being exposed themselves, victims say.

In a 2003 article by Jenifer Johnston, "Helpline for priests' secret lovers," in The Sunday Herald (January 19, 2003), Peter Kearney, director of the media office of the Catholic Church in Scotland, states:

"If there are all these women and priests out there having affairs, then they are doing very well to keep it a secret."

Frances Kennedy. "Vatican confirms report of sexual abuse and rape of nuns by priests in 23 countries." The Independent (March 21, 2001).

The Catholic Church in Rome made the extraordinary admission yesterday that it is aware priests from at least 23 countries have been sexually abusing nuns. Most of the abuse has occurred in Africa, where priests vowed to celibacy, who previously sought out prostitutes, have preyed on nuns to avoid contracting the Aids virus.

Questioning Celibacy

"Hooghe: Relevante enqu�te." Het Nieuwsblad (Ferbuary 19, 2011).
De resultaten van de enqu�te liggen in de lijn van buitenlands onderzoek, zegt de politicoloog Marc Hooghe (KU Leuven), die veel studiewerk over de Kerk doet. … 73 procent van de respondenten vindt dat het celibaat zou moeten worden afgeschaft. … in Polen … is ook daar een meerderheid van de priesters voor de opheffing van de celibaatsverplichting.

"Papst wollte als Theologe Z�libat �berpr�fen: Papst Benedikt XVI. hat sich als Theologe Anfang der siebziger Jahre daf�r eingesetzt, das Z�libat zu �berdenken. Es sei schuld am Priestermangel.." Die Zeit (January 28, 2011).
In einem Memorandum im Februar 1970 hatten neun Theologen, darunter Joseph Ratzinger, Walter Kasper, Karl Lehmann und Karl Rahner eine Forderung an die deutschen Bisch�fe gestellt: Sie wollten die Pflicht der Priester zur Ehelosigkeit auf den Pr�fstand stellen.

Rudolf Neumaier. "Katholischen Kirche: Ratzinger zweifelte an Z�libat." Sueddeutsche Zeitung (January 28, 2011).
Eine �berpr�fung des Zwangsz�libates hielten sie f�r statthaft, weil es "theologisch einfach nicht richtig" sei … An mehreren Stellen beziehen sie sich auf die Bibel. … die lehrenden Theologen h�tten "sehr oft den Eindruck, die jetzige Regelung bei uns in einem nicht unerheblichen Ausma� nicht blo� zu einer Schrumpfung der Zahl der Priestertamtskandidaten, sondern auch zu einer Senkung der Begabung der noch zur Verf�gung stehenden Priester f�hre."

Laura Lucchini. "El Papa firm� en 1970 un documento que cuestionaba el celibato: El texto fue avalado por otros ocho te�logos y enviado a los obispos alemanes." El Pais (January 28, 2011).
Joseph Ratzinger, el actual Papa Benedicto XVI, firm� un documento con fecha de 9 de febrero de 1970 en el que se cuestionaba la obligaci�n del celibato al mismo tiempo que se advert�a de "la desobediencia masiva de grupos de curas".

"Aufruf an Bisch�fe: Christdemokraten gegen das Z�libat." Der Tagesspiegel (January 22, 2011).
Prominente CDU-Politiker fordern von der katholischen Kirche eine Abkehr vom Zwangsz�libat f�r Priester. Auch ein fr�here Abt unterst�tzt die Initiative.

Inappropriate Sexual Behavior by Clergy

News Articles from Around the World

"Un pr�tre en couple interdit d'exercer." L'express (September 9, 2011).
Le p�re Remi Bouriaud, 70 ans, vit depuis 11 ans avec sa compagne.

Franklin Caliguid. "Priest accused of rape relieved of duties." Inquirer Mindanao (August 28, 2011).
BUTUAN CITY. The parish priest of Tubay, Agusan del Norte, who was accused by a 17-year-old girl of rape and other sexual abuses has been relieved of his duties and placed under the custody of his superior, a women's group said.

"Women to be paid five million each in compensation." Iceland Review (July 25, 2011).
The three women who accused former bishop �lafur Sk�lason of sexual offenses will receive compensation of five million each from the National Church of Iceland; the current bishop of Iceland, Karl Sveinbj�rnsson, signed the agreement on behalf of the church.

"Man sues priest for wife grabbing." New Vision (Uganda) (June 1, 2011).
Martin Okumu Masiga alleges that Fr. J.B Kalanzi Sseppuuya, the assistant parish Priest of St. Kizito Catholic Church in Bwaise, Kampala Archdiocese, fathered a child with his wife.

"Il prete in cella: ‘Sono sieropositivo’: Ha Chiesto una bibbia e ha ricominciato a pregare." Corriere (Italy) (May 21, 2011).
Genova. "Sono sieropositivo" ha detto don Riccardo Seppia entrando venerd� scorso nel carcere di Marassi.

"Parroco arrestato, altri tre indagati Sms ‘sconci e irripetibili’." La Repubblica (Italy) (May 15, 2011).
Il giorno dopo l'arresto del parroco don Riccardo Seppia, nella chiesa di Santo Spirito a Sestri si celebra la messa della domenica. Nell'omelia nessun riferimento allo scandalo pedofilia-cocaina.

Jodie Minus. "Bishop's (Christopher Henry Toohey) apology to women he ‘hurt’." The Australian (April 29, 2011).
Retired bishop from the largest diocese in New South Wales has become the most senior Catholic figure in Australia to make a public apology for his alleged inappropriate behaviour with some "young adults". … Church insiders told The Australian the matter related to Bishop Toohey's relationships with a number of young women.

Wendy Fuller. "Priest jailed for stealing �640,000 in church money to spend on male escorts." Daily Mirror (UK) (April 29, 2011).
A Catholic priest has been jailed for three years after stealing more than �640,000 in church money and spending it on male escorts and a lavish lifestyle. The Reverend Kevin Gray, 65, was also sentenced to three years’ probation.

"Chilean police seize files on abuse case." UPI (April 20, 2011).
Chilean police raided the home and office of a lawyer representing a priest found guilty by the Vatican of sexually molesting boys, officials said. Officials seized files from Juan Pablo Bulnes after the Vatican refused to turn over documents on the abuse case of the Rev. Fernando Karadima, La Nacion reported.

Associated Press Writer Alessandra Rizzo in Rome contributed to this report. "Child-abusing ex-bishop's tell-all shocks Belgium." CBS News (April 16, 2011).
But Vangheluwe said he would never voluntarily leave the priesthood. … The interview took place in a wooded Catholic retreat in Ferte-Imbault in central France, where Vangheluwe has been sent by the Vatican.

Edward Chadwick. "Coventry priest who had affair with mum makes new celibacy vow." Sunday Mercury (February 13, 2011).
A disgraced priest who had a fling with a mum-of-four was given a second chance by the Catholic church after promising to return to celibacy … Peter Jennings, spokesman for the Archdiocese, said: "The Archdiocese of Birmingham returned Fr Patrick Udoma to public ministry in Coventry … This decision was also taken on the basis of Fr Udoma's own assurances that he would be faithful to his promise of celibacy."

Liz Hull. "Female chaplain made false rape claim against Catholic priest after their relationship ended." Daily Mail (UK) (February 11, 2011).
Birmingham Crown Court heard that Father Udoma started a relationship with Templeton in 2008 while based at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, in Weoley Castle, Birmingham.

"Defrocked Bolivian priest (Jose Mamani Ochoa) gets 22 years for sexual abuse." Latin American Herald Tribune (December 26, 2010).
A defrocked Bolivian priest has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for sexually abusing 19 children at a shelter in the central city of Cochabamba, the press reported.

"Esc�ndalo en Per� por un sacerdote filmado teniendo sexo con una empleada." eldiario24.com (November 5, 2010).
La televisi�n difundi� una grabaci�n del cura Jos� Antonio Boitr�n Solano teniendo sexo con la mujer encargada de la limpieza del templo.

Tom Worden. "Peru priest filmed in bed with cleaner." London Evening Standard (November 5, 2010).
A Catholic priest has been suspended after being caught on video having sex with his cleaning lady in his church in Trujillo, northern Peru.

Cedric Lagast. "Vrouw zou jarenlang misbruikt zijn door intussen overleden priester: Vangheluwe betaalt zwijggeld vanuit abdij Westvleteren." Het Nieuwsblad (Belgium) (September 5, 2010).
De verkrachtingen vonden plaats tussen haar 16de en haar 24ste verjaardag.

Adriaan Alsema. "Cali priest (Rodrigo Carvajal Vargas) with two girlfriends resigns." Colombia Reports (August 26, 2010).
A 73-year old Cali priest was forced to resign after one of his two girlfriends exposed she had sexual relations with the father.

"Renunci� a la iglesia cat�lica sacerdote (Rodrigo Carvajal Vargas) que manten�a relaci�n con dos mujeres en Cali." RCN Radio (Colombia) (August 26, 2010).
El sacerdote Rodrigo Carvajal Vargas, que ten�a una relaci�n con dos mujeres hace varios a�os, renunci� al cargo eclesi�stico que ejerc�a, dimisi�n que hizo ante al Arzobispo Coadjutor de la Arquidi�cesis de Cali, Monse�or Dar�o Monsalve.

"Priest (Peter Ballard) suspended after walking out on wife and two children to start new life with secretary." The Daily Mail (UK) (August 24, 2010).
A priest has stunned his congregation by walking out on his wife and two children to start a new life with his married personal secretary.

Mark Oppenheimer. "Sex scandal has U.S. Buddhists looking within." The New York Times (August 22, 2010).
In a 1995 letter to the president of the Zen Studies Society's board, Mr. Robert Aitken wrote: ‘Over the past three decades, we have interviewed many former students of Shimano Roshi. Their stories are consistent: trust placed in an apparently wise and compassionate teacher, only to have that trust manipulated in the form of his sexual misconduct and abuse.’

"60-yr-old priest arrested for raping woman in south Delhi." The Times of India (July 9, 2010).
A 60-year-old priest of a temple was arrested by Mehrauli police for allegedly raping a 35-year-old woman at Mandi village in south Delhi. The accused identified as Baba Somgiri was arrested after the woman complained that he invited her to the temple and raped her.

Jonathan Shugarts. "In his secret life: Apartment, bars, male strippers far from accused priest's Waterbury church." Republican-American (Connecticut) (July 9, 2010).
Kevin Gray's New York was a world of male escorts and a Manhattan gay bar frequented by sequined, flamboyant drag queens. Known in Waterbury as ‘Father Kevin,’ the Catholic priest lived a life of mid-week Masses, funerals, marriages and blessing members of his flock.

Julie Stagis and Jenna Carlesso. "Police: Priest (Kevin J. Gray) used parish money for hotels, male escorts." The Courant (Waterbury, CT) (July 6, 2010).

"60-yr-old priest arrested for raping woman in south Delhi." Times of India (July 9, 2010).
The accused identified as Baba Somgiri was arrested after the woman complained that he invited her to the temple and raped her.

"Bolivian priest (Freddy Gutierrez Mendez) found guilty of sexual assault in Chile." Latin American Herald Tribune (June 20, 2010).

"Bishop who denied affair with married reverend is now living with her in home they bought with shared mortgage." Daily Mail Reporter (UK) (June 3, 2010).
Affair claims: Mandy Williams-Potter and former bishop Carl Cooper denied they were in a relationship when she was his aide at St Davids Cathedral.

"Irish bishop in Nigeria resigns after scandal." BBC News (May 31, 2010).
Richard Burke, the archbishop of Benin City, admits to a relationship but denies she was a minor when it began.

Associated Press. "Spanish order probed for alleged sex abuse." Washington Post (May 12, 2010).
[Jose Juan Jimenez, spokesman for the diocese of Cordoba] in southern Spain says a court is investigating allegations of sexual abuse by members of a Catholic religious order against disabled residents of a facility run by the congregation.

"Spanish order reports alleged abuse case." Associated Press (May 5, 2010).
A Catholic order in Spain [The Barefoot Carmelites] says it has reported to Spanish prosecutors allegations that one of its monks abused a minor.

John Coles. "Church suspends Rev over affair." The Sun (UK) (April 28, 2010).
A senior clergyman has been suspended from his cathedral duties over his relationship with a farmer's wife he counselled through a divorce. The Very Reverend Dr Chris Hardwick, 52, Dean of Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, … dad-of-two, told officials he was planning to leave his music teacher wife Linda …

Mary Ann Sorrentino. "The next Catholic abuse scandal: Crimes against women. Coming to light are widespread reports of rapes of nuns, young women from India's and Africa's poorest families." Salon.com (April 23, 2010).
Sister Marie McDonald, mother superior of the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa … quoted a vicar general in one African diocese who talked ‘quite openly’ in Rome in 1996 about celibacy in Africa, saying, "Celibacy in the African context means a priest does not get married, but does not mean he does not have children."

Federico Quilodran. "Chile priest charged with abusing daughter, others." Washington Post (April 14, 2010).
Ricardo Munoz Quinteros, 55, is accused of paying young girls for sex. … According to the charges, the priest abused girls between 16 and 18 years old … Munoz was serving in the parish of Melipilla … the bishop expressed "shock and dismay" at the priest's double life.

George Maponga. "Catholic priest (John Dzeka) raped me, says maid: A 34-year-old Roman Catholic priest based at Rutenga Mission in Mwenezi has been arraigned before a Masvingo magistrates' court for allegedly raping his 19-year-old maid three times last year." The Herald Zimbabwe (April 5, 2010).
The maid, [Dzeka] alleged, was trying to fix him for abandoning her for another girl.

Philip de Wit. "In Brazil, Catholic Church sees few scandals: Brazil is the biggest Catholic country in the world, but accusations of sexual abuse by its clergy are few and don't get much attention." NRC Handelsblad (March 31, 2010).
Sociologist Luiz Alberto de Souza said he understood [that] fear for social repercussions and shame played an important part in the relative absence of accusations levelled at the Brazilian priesthood … He found that more than 40 percent of all priests in Brazil maintained or had maintained an affectionate relationship with a woman.

Fiona Govan. "Spanish priest offered sexual services and spent church funds on pornography." The Guardian (February 25, 2010).
Samuel Martin, 27, the priest of two small parishes in the central province of Toledo, posted images of himself posing in grey underpants and said he was available for sex sessions with women and couples for 120 euros an hour.

Julia Juettner. "Missbrauch in der Kirche: Priester muessen lernen, was Sexualitaet ist." Interview mit Psychotherapeutin Rotraud Perner. Der Spiegel (February 10, 2010).
Perner: Heutzutage ist es in vielen kleinen Gemeinden doch gar kein grosses Thema mehr, wenn sich ein Pfarrer in eine Frau verliebt und diese ein Kind bekommt, da haben die Buerger kein Problem damit, wenn ihr Pfarrer eine Familie hat.

translation (Interview with psychotherapist Rotraud Perner). Perner: These days it is not a big deal if the pastor in a small congregation has a woman friend and even a child by the woman. The people just don't have a problem with their priest having a family.

Nicole Winfield. "Italian Catholic scandal draws in Pope Benedict." Belleville News-Democrat (February 9, 2010).
The scandal erupted in August, when the newspaper Il Giornale reported that it had court documents showing the editor of the newspaper of the Italian Bishops' Conference (Avvenire editor Dino Boffo) had paid to settle charges that he harassed the wife of a man he was romantically pursuing.

"'Sex mad' vicar (Stephen Smith) who prayed after making love with female churchgoer is suspended." Daily Mail Reporter (February 9, 2010).

Cover story: "Shame and Fear: Inside Germany's Catholic Sexual Abuse Scandal." Der Spiegel (February 8, 2010).
As shocking as the revelations were, they are merely ‘the tip of the iceberg,’ says the current director of Canisius College, Father Klaus Mertes, who made public the sexual abuse of students. For decades, German bishops tried to look the other way when their pastors engaged in sexual abuse, as well as to downplay the problem by characterizing it as isolated incidents.

Keely Knowles. "'Unwell' vicar is rested after being 'naughty'." Bedforshire News (February 5, 2010).
Rev Littleford read out a statement from the Bishop of Bedford. "… vicar Rev Stephen Smith had been suspended for six months because of his inappropriate behaviour with a lady member of our congregation."

The Bishop of Hertford, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster … has determined that the Rev Stephen Smith should be prohibited from exercising any functions as a member of the clergy for six months. … "This is a significant penalty [according to the bishop] …"

"Pastor on rape charge." Pretoria News (January 13, 2010).
A Zion Christian Church pastor who allegedly raped a woman churchgoer appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court yesterday, Johannesburg police said.

"Funeral tributes for shamed priest Father Gerry Nugent." Evening Times, Scotland (January 12, 2010).
He hit the headlines after admitting a sexual relationship with Angelina Kluk, who was murdered by Peter Tobin.

Dumisani Sibanda. "Roman Catholic priest mired in sex allegations." Sunday News, Zimbabwe (January 10, 2010).
She told Sunday News that when she fell in love with the priest (Cephas Gumbo), who initially identified himself to her as Dingilizwe Msipa, in May 2008, she was not aware that he was a Roman Catholic priest.

Matthew Wagner. "Houston woman in sex scandal undergoes conversion in Israel. " The Jerusalem Post (January 8, 2010).
… Rabbi Leib Tropper, the chairman of the Rabbinic Committee of Eternal Jewish Family, had allegedly forced Orand to conduct phone sex with him and purportedly encouraged her to have sexual relations with other men.

"Four Mexican priests leave church over celibacy rule." Latin American Herald Tribune (January 8, 2010).
… they have girlfriends and children … Archbishop Victor Sanchez Espinoza … explained to them the incompatibility of their positions with the family situations.

"Four Mexican priests resign after caught breaking celibacy vows." Fox News (January 6, 2010).
The clerics were either caught in a romantic relationship or discovered to have fathered children …

"Catholic priest (Ricardo Munoz Quinteros) in Chile charged with sexually abusing 3 girls, having child with 1." Baltimore Sun (January 6, 2010).
A Catholic priest and his girlfriend are accused of soliciting sex from young girls, including one who later bore his child …

G. Jeffrey MacDonald. "Religion News Service Advocates say abusive Irish priests assigned to U.S. churches." The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (January 5, 2010).
Roman Catholic priests accused of sexual abuse in Ireland have for decades been getting re-assigned to ministry positions in the United States, according to a church reform group with a new database of names.

Eva Hoare. "'Niece' sues diocese over alleged sex abuse: Woman who lived with now-dead priest (Raoul Deveau) says she had to call him 'uncle'." The Chronicle Herald, Nova Scotia, Canada (January 5, 2010).
Ms. Deschamp alleges Father Deveau had previously been moved from other parishes due to complaints about his sexual misconduct with another girl. (That woman also filed a lawsuit last year.)

Derek Scally. "Church accused of disregarding complaints of priest's (Georg Kerkhoff) child abuse." Irish Times (January 4, 2010).
The Catholic Church in Germany has been accused of ignoring abuse complaints against a priest who reportedly shared beds, saunas and showers with boys and young men … church authorities expressed relief that the cases did not involve small children.

"'Love affair priest (Giorgio Panini)' on murder rap in Italy." Mirror (January 3, 2010).
A priest who was said to be having an affair has been accused of stabbing his alleged lover's husband to death.

"Uganda Catholic priests form new church." New York Times (December 31, 2009).
… Catholic priests who are either married or want to marry have broken from the mainstream Roman Catholic Church here and formed a new church where celibacy is not required …

… Africa … has the world's fastest-growing Catholic population but … there have been several cases of priests living openly with women and fathering children.

"Eight years for former archbishop (Edgardo Storni)." Buenos Aires Herald (December 30, 2009).
An Argentine judge convicted a former Roman Catholic archbishop Wednesday of sexually abusing a seminarian in 1992.

"Nuns urged to abandon celibacy vow." Daily Nation (Kenya) (December 27, 2009).
Archbishop Daniel Kasomo said infidelity was rife among the church's rank and file and called on priests having secret love affairs to come out in the open and formally get married.

"When Fathers are daddies." Irish Times (November 21, 2009).

Brendan McDaid. "Love quit priest (Sean McKenna) says partner is not pregnant." Belfast Telegraph (November 20, 2009).

Vincent Gono. "Catholic priest rapes maid." Sunday News (November 10, 2009).

"Pastor (MP Coetzee) gets prison time." iAfrica.com (September 30, 2009).
… convicted on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of crimen injuria committed against three women ranging in ages from 16 to 21 years, who were members of his congregation.

Madhu Krishnamurthy. "Des Plaines woman sues Catholic priest's (Edwin Bohula) estate over his will." Daily Herald (September 9, 2009).
Serwa claims she and Bohula had a clandestine affair for 13 years living together as "husband and wife" from 1994 until Bohula's death in 2007.

Cecil Motsepe. "Archbishop faces two rape charges: Girls, aged 10 and 13, abused." Sowetan (September 2, 2009).

UCAN. "Catholics defy bishop, attend banned priest's (Jacob Gerald Sequeira) retreat." Indian Catholic (August 7, 2009).

John Allen. "Vatican denies studying new rules for priests who father kids." NCR Online (August 3, 2009).
The Italian daily La Stampa reported . . . that the Congregation for Clergy was considering a new set of rules for [paternity] cases, which the newspaper described as "very widespread" in developing nations as well as some European countries . . . [for example] the case of Fr. Joseph Friedl, a popular [Austrian] pastor who recently acknowledged living with a woman for more than 25 years.

CNS. "African archbishop (Paulin Pomodimo) resigns after Vatican investigation." CathNews USA (May 28, 2009).
Guinean Archbishop Robert Sarah . . . visited the Central African Republic and "concluded that many local priests have official homes, children …"

Damien Cave. "Celebrity priest says he is torn between Church and girlfriend." New York Times (May 11, 2009).
Father Cutie said he had been in a relationship for the last two years with the woman, identified in news reports as Ruhama Buni Canellis, 35, a divorced mother living in Miami Beach. But he said he had not decided whether to leave her or the priesthood.

Andres Viglucci, Gerardo Reyes and Jay Weaver. "Church officials say Alberto Cutie's future is up to him." Miami Herald (May 7, 2009).
. . . "He is welcome in our church," Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida said . . .

Paul van der Steen. "The church in Gulpen: Sex scandal haunts Catholic church in the Netherlands." NRC Handelsblad (May 5, 2009).
The late Catholic priest Joep Haffmans upheld strict rules for everybody in Gulpen except himself: he embezzled money for the poor and had a string of girlfriends.

Michelle Faul. "Catholic Church faces challenges in Africa: Pope's rejection of condom use, priests with children spur controversy." The Ledger (March 19, 2009).
"Priests having affairs is rampant in the church" in South Africa, said Velesiwe Mkwanazi, a former Catholic lay leader who co-founded Women Ordination South Africa …

Andrew Buncombe. "Former nun tells of sex and suffering inside Indian convent: Catholic Church stung by autobiography recounting harassment and abuse." The Independent (February 20, 2009).
In Amen, an autobiography of a nun, Sister Jesme says when she became a nun she discovered priests were forcing novices to have sex with them. … Last summer, a 23-year-old novice committed suicide and left a note saying she had been harassed by her Mother Superior.

"Zimbabwe: Woman at center of Pius Ncube's adultery case dies." The Herald (May 7, 2008).

Fiona Murray. "Secret life of Ireland's singing priest (Michael Cleary)." BBC News (April 21, 2008).

Sarah Stricker. "Wenn der Herr Pfarrer eine Tochter hat: Dornevoegel auf bayerisch." Sueddeutsche Zeitung (April 10, 2007). Translation: "When Father Has a Daughter: A Bavarian Version of The Thorn Birds." Article is followed by numerous online reader comments (in German). Back to top
Als Veronikas Mutter 1978 das Pfarrerskind zur Welt bringt, wird sie ins Muenchner Ordinariat zitiert. Der damalige Kardinal Joseph Ratzinger, erinnert sie sich, habe ihr durch seinen Generalvikar ausrichten lassen, sie trage als Frau die alleinige Schuld. Es sei das Beste, den Kontakt zum Kindsvater abzubrechen.

translation When the priest's child, Veronika, was born in 1978, the mother was called into the Munich diocese. Then-cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the mother recalls, let her know via the vicar that she, Veronika's mother, was the guilty party. He further told the mother it would be the best for everyone involved that all contact with the child's father be ended.

Truman Lewis. "Priestly misdeeds rock congregations: Money and trust lost as priests (Jude Nanyumba and Rodney L. Rodis) lead double lives." ConsumerAffairs.com (February 8, 2007).
Wilmer Todd … went through Nanyumba's personal effects and found a letter from a woman in Africa who considered herself to be Nanyumba's wife.

Henry McDonald and Nicola Byrne. "Parish unites to back priest and teacher's love affair: The Galway scandal is not an isolated incident, says a rebel cleric who claims that hundreds of churchmen are involved in sexual relationships." The Observer (January 22, 2006).

Tom Peterkin. "500 Irish priests ‘having regular sex with women.’" The Telegraph (January 21, 2006).
Romances between an understanding man of God and an unloved wife were commonplace, as were priests and their housekeepers secretly living together as man and wife while relationships between priests and nuns were unofficially known as the "third way" by the church.

Andrew Connolly. "The Secret Life of Priests." National Catholic Reporter (May 20, 2005).
Book review of: Priests in Love: Roman Catholic Clergy and Their Intimate Friendships, by Jane Anderson.

Alexandra Roberts (letter to the editor) "Priests in Love."
Reader responds to Andrew Connolly's book review of Jane Anderson's Priests in Love: Roman Catholic Clergy and Their Intimate Friendships. National Catholic Reporter (June 17, 2005).

Barney Zwartz. "Woman reveals 40-year affair with bishop." The Age (Australia) (March 1, 2005).
Donald Shearman, now 79, the former bishop of Grafton, was defrocked as an Anglican clergyman last year. Peter Hollingworth was forced to resign as Australia's viceroy after a church investigation in 2002 found that his handling of the case when he was an archbishop was "‘nappropriate and unfair’. The beginning of the end for Dr Hollingworth was an Australian Story documentary on the ABC, in which he suggested the then 15-year-old Beth initiated sex with Mr Shearman, a priest in charge of the Anglican hostel in Forbes, where she boarded.

David Zucker. "A Betrayal of Their Sacred Trust: Rabbis, Cantors, and Chaplains Who Violate Sexual Boundaries." Journal of Religion and Abuse vol 7(2) 2005.

Paul Barker, James Hastings and Stephen Fraser. "Silent mistresses find voice against priests." Scotland on Sunday (January 19, 2003).
A support group for women who have affairs with Catholic priests is opening a branch in Scotland because its English headquarters cannot cope with the number of calls received from Scottish women. … "Sadly, all the stress and responsibility is placed on the women and it's a heavy burden to bear. If the relationship becomes public, it's the women, the Church's silent mistresses, who get the blame."

Andy Newman. "Priest charged in rape in 2000 in the rectory." New York Times (June 22, 2002).
Church officials in Brooklyn did not notify law enforcement officials of the woman's accusations against the priest, the Rev. Cyriacus Udegbulem, in 2000, and instead encouraged her to do so herself …

Cheryl Reed. "Unfaithful." MotherJones (December 1997).
As many as half of all priests break their celibacy vows, leading spiritually compromised lives. Inside the "don't ask, don't tell" policy of the Catholic church.

Michael Streeter. "‘Hundreds’ of Catholic clergy in secret liaisons." The Independent (September 23, 1996).
A new organisation for women who have children by priests is being set up by a mother who says her two children were fathered by a Roman Catholic cleric. Adrianna Alsworth, founder of Sonflowers, said the group was needed because women who have had relationships with priests often have no one to turn to.

Priests … and bishops … With Children

Eamonn Casey

"Intellectual force in the church who abhorred violence." Irish Times (January 2, 2010).
… the resignation of Dr Casey following revelations that he had a teenage son in the US … was a bombshell to Dr Daly who knew nothing about the matter until days before the story broke.

"Cardinal Daly faced testing times as Irish primate." BBC News (December 31, 2009).
… the cardinal (Cahal Daly) led the Irish Church through a series of sex and abuse scandals that rocked its very foundations. It started with the 1992 revelation that Bishop Eamon Casey had a teenage son in the US.

David McKittrick. "Return of the prodigal bishop." New Zealand Herald (November 27, 2009).
… while Bishop of Kerry, he had fathered a son and he had managed to keep his secret for 18 years … [according to the child's mother]: "Eamonn belligerently and grudgingly offered $100 (NZ150) a month [in child support]"

Michael Cleary

David McKittrick. "The secret life of Michael Cleary (entertainer, radio show host, father of two … and priest)." The Independent (September 11, 2007).
The gap between what he preached and what he practised was incredible. Phyllis Hamilton was ostensibly his housekeeper but they were sexual partners, living in flagrant disregard of the solemn rules of the doctrines preached by his Church in general and by himself in particular.

"In the name of the father." RTE TV
… he fathered two children with his housekeeper … Their first child was given up for adoption, while their second son, Ross Hamilton, lived in the house with Phyllis and Fr. Cleary.

Michael Cleary and Bishop Eamonn Casey had been close friends for many years and when news broke of the relationship between Casey and Annie Murphy in 1992, Cleary was devastated.

Paolo Curtaz

John Allen, Jr. "Pope's pastor is father of three-year-old child." National Catholic Reporter (June 1, 2007).
In the wake of revelations that he is the father of a three-year-old girl, the popular pastor of a parish in Valle d'Aosta in Northern Italy . . . will take a year-long sabbatical to reflect on his future as a Catholic priest.

Marcial Maciel Degollado

Damian Thompson. "Legionaries of Christ founder Fr Maciel may have had six children, say reports." The Telegraph (August 12, 2009).

Maurice Dillane

Tom Peterkin. "500 Irish priests ‘having regular sex with women.’" The Telegraph (January 21, 2006).
An indication of the extent of illicit sexual relationships within the church was given after it was disclosed that Fr Maurice "Mossy" Dillane, 73, had fathered a child with his 31-year-old girlfriend.

David Dueppen

"Miami priest allegedly fathers child, was sent to new parish after he lived with stripper for 3 years." Catholic Culture (September 22, 2009).

David Ovalle. "The priest, the stripper, and their baby." Miami Herald (September 18, 2009).
Former stripper Beatrice Hernandez says she had a baby with Catholic priest David Arnold Dueppen. She has filed a restraining order against him for domestic violence.

Fernando Lugo

"DNA paternity test clears Paraguay leader Fernando Lugo." BBC News (September 23, 2010).
The paternity case came after Mr Lugo, a former Catholic bishop, shocked Paraguay last year when he acknowledged another child as his son.

"Lugo agrees DNA test in third Paraguay love-child case." BBC News (December 16, 2009).
The Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo has agreed to take a DNA test in the third paternity lawsuit he has faced.

"Paraguayan president allegedly also has a 22-year old daughter, claims relative." MercoPress (November 25, 2009).

Gary Duffy. "Paternity claims harm Paraguay leader." BBC News (April 25, 2009).

Jeremy McDermott. "Paraguay's 'red bishop' president faces paternity tests: Fernando Lugo, Paraguay's President and a former Roman Catholic Bishop, is facing paternity tests after three women claimed that he fathered their children." Telegraph (April 23, 2009).

Jason Martin, Vocations Director

Suzanne Le Mignot. "Woman claims father fathered her child: Says priest left her during engagement." CBS Chicago (January 11, 2006).
In Fr. Martin's current role, he is the vocation director for the Discalced Carmelite Friars at the Edith Stein House of Studies in Hyde Park.

Peter McDonough

Mike Keegan. "Bishop knew priest's love-child secret." Manchester Evening News (September 4, 2009).
. . . the Bishop (Terence Brain) was happy to let Mr McDonough remain in the priesthood as long as he stayed celibate.

Rodney Rodis

Lisa A. Bacon. "Retired priest sentenced for bilking two churches." New York Times (February 22, 2008).
[Rodis] used the money, the authorities said, to support his wife and three daughters . . .

Candace Rondeaux. "Va. priest's double life devastates parishioners." Washington Post (January 30, 2007).
. . . unbeknownst to parishioners, for the past 14 years, Rodis has been living with a woman identified in court records as his wife and three children an hour away in Spotsylvania County, where his neighbors believed he was in the import-export business.

Pamela Gould. "Spotsy 'family' had neighbors fooled." Fredericksburg.com (January 15, 2007).
"It's not a crime for someone to be married, but I imagine there might be some people mad at him over that," Louisa Commonwealth's Attorney R. Don Short told The Associated Press . . .

Francis Ryan

John Follain and Bojan Pancevski. "Errant priests' secret children to sue church: The Vatican faces fresh scandals over the children of priests." The Sunday Times (April 18, 2010).
In Maryland, two children of the late Father Francis Ryan … [discovered] through DNA tests that he was their father. Carla Latty, 58, and Adrian Senna, 65, say Ryan never admitted he was their father or made any payments to their late mother. Senna was sent to an orphanage, while Latty was put up for adoption.

Stan Strycharz

Christina Cepero. "Group backs ousted Bonita priest." News-Press Bonita Springs, Florida (January 14, 2011).
Strycharz said he revealed his relationship with the mother to [Bishop Frank Dewane] almost three years ago. His relationship with the mother ended shortly after the child's birth, but he provides child support and has visitation rights. Strycharz said he asked the church for forgiveness and that the bishop chose not to punish him when the issue was disclosed to him more than two years ago.

Kelly Farrell. "Supporters rally around embattled Bonita Springs priest." Naplesnews.com Naples, Florida (January 13, 2011).
The ousted priest from St. Leo's Catholic Church in Bonita Springs has a growing defense team of parishioners rallying for his reinstatement. … Best Buy founder Richard Schulze and wife Maureen … were among the first to publicly announce their support … [parishioner Otis Wragg] said the Roman Catholic Church provides some flexibility with a priest's vow of celibacy.

Karla Ray. "Allegations of sex, money misuse surround Bonita priest." ABC-7 (August 4, 2010).
Celibacy is one of the vows taken to become a priest and there are concerns that Strycharz was having consensual sex with adults.

Kelly Farrell. "St. Leo Catholic Church priest in Bonita Springs placed on leave." Naples News (July 25, 2010).
Strycharz was born in Mielec, Poland, and has been active as a priest since May 17, 1991, according to the St. Leo website. He was ordained as a priest in the Diocese of Venice and attended Orchard Lake Seminary in suburban Detroit. Strycharz has also worked at San Marco Catholic Church on Marco Island and Epiphany Cathedral in Venice.

Arturo Uribe

William Lobdell. "Faithful furious over tactic: Catholics express shock over lawyer's arguments that a woman who sued Portland archdiocese for child support should have used birth control." Los Angeles Times (August 03, 2005).
Richard J. Kuhn, an outside attorney who was hired by the archdiocese to handle the case … said the defense he raised was probably based on his suspicion that Collopy got pregnant to keep Uribe out of the priesthood. … Kuhn … said he brought up the lack of birth control … to allege that Collopy was trying to trap Uribe into a long-term relationship.

William Lobdell. "Priest's son to get a boost in assistance: Catholic order pledges more child support and counseling for Whittier cleric's 12-year-old." Los Angeles Times (July 28, 2005).
Uribe, the outgoing pastor of the 4,000-family St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Whittier, has never seen the child he fathered in 1993 while working with the Redemptorists as a pastoral assistant at a Portland, Ore., parish.

William Lobdell. "Priest and his son are bound by poverty: A Whittier pastor fends off a woman's legal bid for more money to raise their sick child." Los Angeles Times (July 24, 2005).
Parishioners at St. Mary also were never told that their pastor had a son. … In 1994, the archdiocese, headed by then-Archbishop of Portland William Joseph Levada, … said the "birth of the plaintiff's child and the resultant expenses … are the result of the plaintiff's own negligence," specifically because she engaged in "unprotected intercourse."

Gabino Zavala

Ian Lovett. "California: Bishop who fathered 2 children resigns." New York Times (January 4, 2012).

"Archbishop calls for prayer after priest admits fathering children." L. A. Times (January 4, 2012).
A church official did reveal that the children are not twins, indicating Zavala had more than a passing relationship with the children's mother.

Websites for Victims of Sexual Exploitation by Clergy, Therapists, Doctors

Inclusion of support groups in this list does not imply endorsement by the website editor. Individuals are encouraged to learn as much as possible about any group before contacting them for support.

The listing is intended to illustrate the number of groups around the world that have emerged in response to women sexually involved with clergy.

Translations by google and the website editor.

The Apostles Wives’ Club. Marcella Paliekara, founder of The Apostles Wives’ Club states in her post of June 11, 2009, "Truth About Secret Relationships And Boundaries":
When a priest, especially if is he is your pastor, counselor, or spiritual director, invites you into his life as a lover, special friend, or in any other way outside of these relationships, he is violating his ethical code. Depending on what is happening, at the very least he has violated your trust, and possibly he is abusing you spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, and sexually.

The Awareness Center, Inc. The International Jewish Coalition Against Sexual Abuse/Assault. Vicki Polin, founder and CEO.
Our goal is to have current information on what's happening in Jewish communities around the globe and to provide hope and healing to those who have been sexually victimized …

Bethany (Ireland). Support group for "those in love affairs with the clergy" established by bishop Pat Buckley, in Larne, County Antrim.
"500 women in secret affairs with priests: support group." The Sydney Morning Herald (May 22, 2009).
Bishop Pat Buckley said a conservative estimate was that one in 10 of the 5000 priests enjoyed regular sex with women and some even referred to their clerical collar as the bird catcher.

"Wedding bells for gay bishop Pat Buckley." Belfast Telegraph (January 30, 2010).
The unofficial bishop said that while he would like to speak publicly about the union, his partner preferred to stay out of the limelight.

BUENAS NUEVAS - para sacerdotes y mujeres que se aman. Good News for priests and women who love each other.
Support in Spanish hosted by the Good Tidings group listed below. There is also a Spanish-language support group for the children of priests and their mothers listed on the Good Tidings website: SANTOS INOCENTES - para ninos de sacerdotes o para madres de ninos de sacerdotes.

Clergy Sexual Abuse in Australia. CAVEAS (Clergy Abuse Victims Education And Support), founded by Clare Pascoe.

Good Tidings, founded by Cait Finnegan. Although the group was formed to help priests discern whether to leave the priesthood, Ms. Finnegan stated in a recent New York Times article:
"We quickly discovered that many of these priests were playboys. They weren't looking for any discernment, they were simply staying and playing."

Initiativgruppe vom Zoelibat betroffener Frauen. Initiative Group for Women Afflicted/Harmed by Celibacy (German). [www.zoelibat-frauen.de]
Wir sind Frauen die eine heimliche Beziehung zu einem katholischen Priester leben oder gelebt haben; die Priesterkinder allein erziehen. . . Wir wissen, es gibt sehr viele Frauen, denen es so aehnlich geht, wie uns. Frauen in solcher Beziehungen . . . stellen sich viele Fragen, mit denen sie sich alliene glauben; sie haben Angst vor der Zukunft; sie fuehlen sich oft schuldig. translation We are women who have or had a clandestine relationship with a Catholic priest; who raise the priest's children alone . . . We know there are very many women who are similar to us. Women in such relationships . . . ask themselves many questions; they are afraid of the future; they often feel guilty.

MACSAS Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (British).
MACSAS is a support group for women and men from Christian backgrounds who have been sexually abused by Ministers or Clergy, as children or as adults.

Magdala Foundation. Stichting Magdala (Dutch).
Stichting Magdala heeft als doel vrouwen die een relatie met een priester hebben of hadden, te steunen in hun streven naar publieke erkenning van hun relatie door derden. translation Magdala Foundation aims to help women who have a relationship with a priest or have had to be supported in their efforts to give public recognition of their relationship by third parties.

Origins of the Magdala Foundation. A relationship with a celibate person is not an everyday relationship, it cannot be, there is a taboo. Girlfriends of priests must often remain invisible, because the outside world knows nothing of that relationship nor does it want to know. For most women, this means that they can not act as they would wish, that they must adapt to their partner and his work. Furthermore, it often means that the secrecy that surrounds this relationship leads to isolation. Many a woman thinks she is the only one in such a situation and in many cases she dares not let her relationship be known to others, let alone someone she can turn to if problems arise. And unfortunately, we must also recognize that secrecy regularly leads to abuse within the pastoral relationships.

Misbruik door Hulpverleners MdH. Abuse by Helping Professionals (Dutch). This website includes information and brochures in Dutch, German, and English.
MdH Archive of news stories regarding misconduct by therapists, doctors, etc. in Belgium, Canada, the UK and the US.

Plein Jour. In the Light of Day (French).
See article: "Familles clandestines et celibat des pretres." Article paru dans le numero 6 de la revue "Parvis, Chretiens en liberte pour d'autres visages d'Eglise" (Juin 2000). translation "Clandestine Families and Priestly Celibacy." The women involved experience: a part-time common life with our partner; a relationship lived in hiding: hidden from family (our family and his family), hidden sometimes from friends, relatives . . . Distorted social relations: in view of all or part of our family, we are officially "single women" . . . Precarious: as long as they are required by the bond of obedience to their superiors, our companions may have to leave us overnight on a simple decision to transfer or other assignment from their superiors . . . Unmarried priests in secret relationships. The theme of priests with girlfriends is one of the last great taboos of the Church. And because of the clandestine relationship for the persons concerned, is tainted by untenable pressure. . . .

An organized silence: the women say NO! Most clerics involved, both victims and accomplices, are silent. If they agree to testify publicly about their situation, they would be warned by their superiors to choose between their companion and their position as priest. Misinformation maintained on the priests who have lived secretly with a woman, has consequences for the Church, but also on the lives of women.

Pokrov. Orthodox Churches.
A Welcome To Survivors of Abuse.

Abuse can take place whether you are a young toddler, a child, a teenager or an adult. You can be married, single or divorced. Abuse can occur against men as well as women. Even priests, seminary students and clergy-wives can be abused . . .

Abuse occurs anytime someone uses their power (spiritual power, political power, physical power, etc.) to manipulate or force another person into submission . . .

The pastoral or professional relationship constitutes a "forbidden zone" which exists because the one in power has a relationship with another based upon trust. No matter who initiates an action or how willing the vulnerable person says he/she is, the [clergyman] always has the responsibility to set appropriate boundaries regardless of the situation or circumstances.

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. RAINN.org
Sexual Exploitation by Helping Professionals

Sexual exploitation by a helping professional: sexual contact of any kind between a helping professional (doctor, therapist, teacher, priest, professor, police officer, lawyer, etc.) and a client/patient. … Such behavior is regarded as unethical and, in every licensed profession, can be grounds for malpractice and possible loss of license.

Sexualisierte Gewalt in der Therapie (German).
Books on sexual exploitation by therapists.

Stiftung Linda (Swiss). Linda Foundation.
Sexueller Missbrauch und sexuelle Grenzverletzungen in oeffentlichen oder privaten Institutionen wie Schulen, Sportvereinen, Heimen, Spitaelern, Kirchen oder durch staatliche Organe wie Polizei oder Justizbehoerden finden nicht nur statt, sondern werden viel zu oft vertuscht. Man schweigt und deckt die Taeter. translation Sexual abuse and sexual boundary violations in public or private institutions such as schools, sports clubs, homes, hospitals, churches or state institutions such as police or judicial authorities not only occur, but are too often concealed. The silence of the bystanders protects the perpetrators.

In ihrem Leid allein gelassen werden Jugendliche, Erwachsene, aber auch ihr ganzes familiaeres Umfeld. Ihnen eine Stimme zu geben, Hand zu bieten und den Finger auf ein Unrecht zu legen, haben wir uns zur Aufgabe gemacht. Gerecht und fair. translation Adolescents, adults, and their entire families are frequently left to suffer alone in silence. Only when we give voice to these victims and point out this injustice, will we make this situation better. It is right and just.

StopBaptistPredators.org, founded by Christa Brown.
The mission of StopBaptistPredators.org is to break the silence of Baptist clergy sex abuse.

Brown's story of abuse is recounted in her book, This Little Light: Beyond a Baptist Preacher Predator and His Gang. The book was recently reviewed by William Thornton in BaptistLife.com (September 7, 2009). Brown describes her experience:

What you get is: a lot of people wishing you would go away, a lot of people just ignoring you … You get called a liar … You learn that there is BGCT [Baptist General Convention of Texas] money to help abusers return to ministry but none for victims.

WITNESS (British).
WITNESS aims to promote safe boundaries between professionals and the public in order to prevent abuse. See also: WITNESS Training.

ZoeFra (Swiss). Verein der vom Zoelibat betroffenen Frauen. Association of Women Afflicted/Harmed by Celibacy.
Weshalb die ZoeFra? Liebes-Beziehungen von katholischen Priestern gibt es viel mehr, als in der Oeffentlichkeit bekannt ist. Fuer die betroffenen Frauen bedeutet das: viele offene Fragen; Gewissenskonflikte; Schuldgefuehle; versteckt Leben und Lieben; Angst vor dem Entdecktwerden; Einsamkeit; Zukunftsaengste. translation Why the ZoeFra? Love relationships by Catholic priests exist much more than the public knows. For the women this means: many unanswered questions; conscience conflicts; guilt; hidden life and love; fear of discovery; loneliness; fear of the future.

This site is established to share informational resources for victims and advocates of adult victims of clergy sexual abuse.