UNITED STATES
Patrick Noaker
By Attorney Patrick Noaker
As is discussed in part 1 of this series, Nun sexual abuse is more prevalent than most originally thought. If that is the case, then why have there not been as many lawsuits for sexual abuse involving nuns? This article discusses some of the unique aspects of bringing civil claims relating to sexual abuse by nuns.
There is no question that civil lawsuits have played a major role in exposing and understanding clergy sexual abuse. In fact, Fr. Thomas Doyle, one of the heroes of the child protection movement in the Catholic church stated “The twists and turns of the civil discovery process have been the most important factors in exposing the extent and nature of clergy sexual abuse.” [1]
So, why have there been so few civil lawsuits involving nun abuse been filed? There have been a brave few who have brought sexual abuse lawsuits involving nuns; however, those lawsuits have been somewhat sporadic. Why?
Disclosure is difficult
Initially, it must be noted that disclosure of any kind of sexual abuse as a child is extremely difficult. Sexual abuse causes trauma and survivors are often fearful of coming forward. In addition, sexual abuse may cause a wide variety of psychological problems that can cause survivors to experience shame, fear and grief as a result of the abuse. Disclosure is sexual abuse is extremely difficult and those who are able to report the abuse, normally do so only after years struggling with where, when and how to report.
So, why do fewer nun sexual abuse victims disclose the sexual abuse by filing a lawsuit than those sexually abused by priests? An article by Myriam S. Denov, Ph.D from the University of Ottawa titled “The Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse by Female Perpetrators” may be instructive on this issue.[2] According to Dr. Denov, the general public and even child welfare police and social workers have historically perceived sexual abuse of children by women to be less harmful to victims than sexual abuse by men, often leaving victims of female perpetrators feeling trivialized. When those same victims were evaluated, those who had sexually abused by both men and women reported that the sexual abuse by the female perpetrator was more harmful.
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