Even During A Pandemic Sexual Assalt & Abuse Is On The Increase

Sexual abuse remains at record and all time high levels, especially during the covid 19 pandemic. In fact, reports have it that sexual abuse rates, along with various forms of mental anguish, have increased because there are few outlets for individuals to embrace community outside of their current situation or state demand for individual isolation. 

According to a USA Today report, calls to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network's (RAINN) National Sexual Assault Hotline are at their highest in its 26 year history. The same story reported that over 50% of the call's for help to RAINN in May and June 2020 were minors. 

Due to covid 19, many abused and potentially abused minors are forced to reside with their predators.While the Dept. Of Justice reports that 34% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by family members.RAINN reported that based on calls received in March of this year, 67% of callers identified their abuser as a family member and 79% of those individuals said that their perpetrator shared or lived in the same residence. As RAINN began to examine this startling increase, their leadership noted the following:

"As a result of looking at the information that we had from those sessions, it was clear that the abuse was escalating in both frequency and severity,"..."So a lot of the kids that were coming to the hotline were feeling pretty vulnerable and traumatized. And it was a direct result of COVID-19, because they were quarantined with their abuser. The abuser was now abusing them on a daily basis." ~ Camille Cooper VP of Public Policy RAINN [by NPR 8/2020]

What About Sexual Abuse Within The Church?

What happens when the sexual abuse comes from or is a result of a church leader? Although many of the stay at home orders issued by Governors across the United States, include churches and houses of worship, the predators have not taken time off doing their sinful deeds and making arrangements to perpetuate their sexual sins and crimes. In fact isolation makes it more easy for the perpetrator of sexual crimes to do their filthy deeds because victims or more static or centered in one location. 

Although his abuse was from the past, recently Pastor Logan Wesley III received a life plus 220 year sentence for his sexual perversions. Most, if not all, Wesley's sins were done while he was Pastor Of Trinity Temple COGIC of Texarkana, AK. Because his wife and church mother also heard complaints from the victims of his sins, and ailed to act on behalf of the individuals, they are being tied civilly under the states mandated reporter laws.

Cyber & Technology Sexual Abuse

Then there are more ways to sexually abuse than in person physical abuse. Such is the case of a 65 year old Priest from Queens, NY Francis Hughes, who befriended a 15 year old  stating that he was a part-time college professor and councillor and persuaded the boy to send him pictures of his penis by text messages. 

As you can see, although society may be restricted in certain ways, the sickness of pedophilia and child sexual abuse cannot be caged. 

I Am My Brother's Keeper Wants To Know Your Story

IMBKCAC recently added a "YOUR STORY" feature to its web site HERE and is encouraging those who have been victims of church related and clergy sexual abuse and misconduct, or those who may be experiencing such now, to confidentially share that story or reach out for general help and assistance if needed. 

The O'Hara Law Firm reports:

"In the last twelve years, over 375 leaders and volunteers of Southern Baptist churches have been charged with sexual misconduct. Over 200 of them were convicted or plead guilty. The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) refuses to take meaningful steps to end abuse in churches, claiming that each church has individual autonomy."

COGIC and many other denominational churches embrace the same or similar concept of faith mission pastors and churches, while demanding money for credentialing simultaneously claiming insulation from the acts and actions of local pastors and church personnel. The frustration of this type of arrangement causes those who have been victimized to merely give up in their plight to seek justice and restoration in many cases.  

IMBKCAC is a RESOURCE that can be contacted 24/7 to field or engage alleged sexual abuse and allegations of church related abuse. We would like to hear from you even if anonymously.  

In short, we believe that God can heal all wounds, and we would like to know YOUR STORY!

Blessed!

Additional Resources:

NSVRC: Resources For Covid 19 Response

ABUSE Tracker