Sexual Misconduct and the Clergy

On December 13, 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as the archbishop of the Boston Archdiocese and as the nation's most senior Roman Catholic prelate. Law's resignation was the culmination of a year-long controversy in which the cardinal was accused of covering up the sexual abuse of children by priests over a period of decades and then transferring the priests to other parishes where, in many cases, they continued to sexually exploit other children. Although much of the media's coverage of clergy sexual misconduct has focused on Catholic priests, sexual misconduct among clergy of all faiths occurs more frequently than most people realize. Documenting this devastating problem in many faiths, Sexual Misconduct and the Clergy examines all facets of clergy sexual misconduct. In a current and complete overview of the topic, this reference provides historical context, examines the scope of the problem, and presents a balanced account of efforts to deal with the problem of sexual misconduct by clergy of all faiths. Examining both the human and the financial costs of the scandal, this comprehensive volume reviews legislation and lawsuits relating to sexual misconduct and includes lists of the statute of limitations, the mandatory reporting laws in each state, and statistics about sex offenders. An additional chapter on how to research the topic, appendixes of laws and court cases, and a list of applicable organizations and agencies make this reference an invaluable resource for anyone studying this current issue.