Child sexual abuse within the church became a reality in recent months as the world watched the Catholic Church deal with its deepest, darkest secrets about priests and the unthinkable.
Thirty-eight states, including Alabama, now have laws requiring church leaders to report suspected cases of child abuse.
But what can churches do to protect its children from sexual abuse?
Attorney Tom Eden of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt of Birmingham, said, “These are devastating encounters in a church, and they are more devastating when you don’t have a program in place to deal with them.”
Discussing ways churches can implement policies to prevent sexual abuse, Eden spoke during the Alabama Attorney General’s 2003 Child Abuse Reporting and Clergy Seminar in Montgomery.
Confronting abuse
Eden explored 10 questions every church should ask to confront the issue of church sexual abuse.
- Are we acting like our church is immune to child sexual abuse?
Eden reviewed a number of child sexual abuse cases involving churches and their leaders from all denominations across the nation. He said it has been suggested that three-fourths of sex offenders may be regular churchgoers.
For example, a church in Virginia was sued when it tried to cover up sexual abuse at the hands of babysitters hired by the church to provide child care in area homes.
In California a youth volunteer from a Baptist church was charged with molesting children.
A youth missionary in South Carolina used computer games to lure boys into situations where they could be molested. And in Texas a Church of Christ custodian was indicted for molesting a 3-year-old. Eden pointed out that churches might not think about a custodian as someone involved in child care, but many have significant access to children.
- Have we considered what would happen if a child is abused in our church?
Abused children express profound and prolonged emotional, physical and spiritual hardship, according to Eden. Furthermore, children who are sexually abused may abuse another child and become child abusers as adults. For this reason, Eden suggests including on any application the question of whether that person suffered abuse as a child.
Sexual child abuse also damages a church’s reputation and witness, he added.
- Are we fulfilling our responsibility before God to protect the children of our church from harm?
Eden cited several Scriptures for churches to explore, including Luke 18:16, “But Jesus called the children to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,’” and Acts 20:28, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.” (NIV)
- Do we understand the legal grounds on which our church could be sued if a child is sexually abused?
Negligent hiring, selection, retention and supervision of church personnel and volunteers may make a church liable, Eden said.
He noted that when one Alabama school, Lyman Ward Military Academy, was ruled not liable for molestation, it was because the school had followed a thorough screening process.
Doors with windows and hall monitors who make regular unannounced classroom visits are two important ways to provide protection, according to Eden.
- Do we understand the benefits of having a program to prevent child sexual abuse?
Eden said the main objective is to protect the child and protect the innocent worker from some kind of unfounded claim.
- How should we screen our youth workers?
- How should we supervise our youth workers?
For both these questions Eden emphasized the importance of the two-worker guideline. This means ensuring that two workers are present in every child care situation. Eden noted that he could not find record of a successful suit against a church when two workers were present.
Screen workers well
He pointed out, however, that a married couple does not constitute two workers, emphasizing that workers should not be related by blood or marriage.
“If you walk away from this and do nothing more than implement that two-worker guideline, you’re far ahead of 90 percent of the other churches,” he said.
Most cases against churches involve paid workers, according to Eden. Therefore, criminal background checks are an important tool in guarding against sexual abuse because pedophiles are not likely to submit to one.
To conduct criminal checks but remain volunteer friendly, Eden suggested assuring applicants that the church is only interested in charges that might relate to child molestation.
As part of the screening process for volunteers, Eden suggested first praying for God to give discernment. He also advocated a six-month membership rule before allowing volunteers access to children.
Eden also suggested exercising special care in overnight situations, including establishing guidelines for parents who host an event in their homes on the accessibility of the Internet, alcohol, pornography, etc.
- How should we identify and report incidents of sexual abuse? Churches should provide training on the warning signs of abuses to its workers, according to Eden, as well as training on the behaviors of youth workers that might indicate abuse.
Older children should be instructed on how to respond to and report sexual abuse. Two people in the church should be designated as responsible for reporting abuse.
Eden said pastors might also consider using counseling consent forms that will indicate in advance that a person’s confession to this kind of crime will not be privileged communication to ensure “you’re not going to be trapped in a moral dilemma.”
Acknowledge abuse
- How should we respond to incidents of sexual abuse? Eden said victims want churches to acknowledge any abuse and admit guilt, implement efficient screening processes and provide compensatory damages or restitution costs for the expense of counseling, etc.
In response, Eden said a church should “be the church.” It should act redemptively by taking every report seriously.
A church should investigate the abuse, obey reporting laws, keep the congregation informed and treat the abused and family with compassion while taking care not to pre-judge the accused.
- How do we persuade our people to cooperate with a program to prevent abuse?
Eden recommended utilizing an 11-minute video on “Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse at Church” by Church Law and Tax Report.
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