Help available to abuse victims

Tuesday was a double-edged sword for victims of sexual abuse.

More than 1,000 victims referenced in a grand jury report on decadeslong abuse by over 300 Catholic priests got the closest thing to justice, but the healing process is far from over.

“Any time there is large amounts of news media coverage, it isn’t uncommon for people to feel reminded of their own experiences of abuse,” said Ali Mailen Perrotto, president of the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties.

“It is one of the trauma echoes, right along with hearing something, seeing something or smelling something that takes a victim back to those horrible memories.”

Around 3.2 million Pennsylvanians, a quarter of the state’s population, is Catholic.

“Faith is a very important part of people’s lives, especially here in Schuylkill and Lebanon counties,” Perrotto said. “This has rocked a lot of people to the core. We’re here to provide support and talk to people, even if you haven’t been abused, but this is really affecting your lives. This is all a lot to sit with.”

Women’s Resources of Monroe County said in a Facebook post that it stands with the victims recognized in the grand jury report.

“We recognize,” the post states, “that news coverage about sexual abuse, transcripts of victim testimony, and the resultant conversations among our friends, neighbors and family can often be traumatic and bring about feelings of helplessness, anger or despair for victims, parishes and the community. This report and its scope may deeply impact victims and our community at large. We want all affected to know they are not alone — there are free and confidential resources for those victims identified within the report, for parishioners in need of assistance with processing the report, as well as the community in general who may need guidance in talking through the emotional toll.”

Healing is different for every person. Many choose never to report victimization. They fear nobody will believe them or it will be swept under the rug.

The majority of victims in the Catholic Church abuse report are young boys.

“There is still somewhat of a stigma for any man to come forward when it comes to abuse,” Perrotto said. “Our society has long told us it’s only adult women that are abused, when the real numbers are much more equal. I think we are seeing more males coming forward in the last 10 years.”

The effects of child sexual abuse can last a lifetime, Women’s Resource of Monroe County reports.

“Victims may feel significant distress and display a wide range of psychological symptoms, both short- and long-term. Childhood sexual abuse has been correlated with higher levels of depression, guilt, shame, self-blame, eating disorders, somatic concerns, anxiety, disassociative patterns, repression, denial, sexual problems and relationship problems. Also, delayed disclosures of sexual violence are normal, common and should be expected. Many people who have been sexually abused wait months, years or decades before discussing what was done to them with anyone, let alone making a formal report to authorities.”

When a person passes away, as many of the priests named in the grand jury report have, that victim can feel freed up to tell their story.

“We see that a lot,” Perrotto said. “That victim feels the threat isn’t there any more.”

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office left open a clergy abuse hotline, which has been ringing off the hook since Tuesday’s report was released.

“Our hotline for clergy sex abuse has been lit up since yesterday afternoon,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro tweeted on Wednesday. “(We have gotten) 150+ calls/emails & lots of survivors who are now surfacing to tell their stories and seek justice. I’ll repeat it again: This is an ongoing investigation.”

The hotline can be reached at 888-538-8541.

The Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case was a really important case, Perrotto said, just as important as the Catholic Church report.

“The widespread coverage and institutional accountability that was put in place at Penn State following that sent a message to victims, particularly boys and adult males, that they could start reporting these acts,” she added. “Help is there for them and people will accept them and support them. You can call if you’re having nightmares, flashbacks, any of that. People can come into our office, but our counselors go out into the community, too. We’ll meet people at a coffeehouse or go anywhere that we can be of assistance.”

The report is out. Now what do people do with it?

SARCC is emphasizing its prevention education services. Parents and caregivers can learn more about identifying signs of grooming and receive mandated reporting training.

For more information, visit http://sarcclebanon.org.

Tip lines for victims

Sexual assault victims can contact the following agencies:

Carbon County Victims Resource Center: 610-379-0151

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)

Women’s Resources of Monroe County: 570-421-4200 (24-hour hotline)

Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center Schuylkill County: 570-628-2965 (24-hour support line)

Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley: 610-437-6610 (24-hour hotline)

Pennsylvania Attorney General’s clergy abuse hotline: 888-538-8541