ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTS OVERVIEW OF THE MODERN RESEARCH

Abstract

Child sexual abuse is widely defined as an adult using a minor for sexual stimulation. Manners of sexual abuse include engaging sexual activities, indecent exposure to a child, grooming a child or production, dissemination or use pornography, involving pictures of kid maltreatment. Aside from potential physical harm to the minor, the psychological effects of children’s sexual misconduct are huge and include psychological incidents from depression to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A special issue is sexual abuse by people who represent God, especially in the Catholic Church, religious institutions and in religious fundamentalist families. Victims all over the globe have reported instances of child sexual abuse by clerics. It is hard to find a country without serious allegations. The main reasons are their position of authority, the celibacy and regular contact with children, in order to educate them, because parents and society relay on their kindness.