Reporting Sexual Abuse (7 of 10)

Establishing Precedent

If you either witness or suspect sexual abuse, or if you have been sexually abused, you need to call the police immediately. If the abuser is a Christian at the local church or a family member who is a Christian, you still need to call the police. This precedent runs against years, perhaps generations of an opposing view. In every place that I have presented this information, numerous individuals will afterwards tell me of a time that they or someone they loved were abused by a “local Christian” and were told that they ought not disclose it. The two most common reasons given are (1) it will only bring more shame and heartache on the family and/or church and (2) Christians “are not supposed to take brethren to court.”

Sin blows up families and churches. Exposing sin, while painful, heals them.

The Scripture that is used to justify this erroneous view is 1 Corinthians 6:1-7. Verse 1 states “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints?” It has led some to spurn all uses of the judicial system and instead try to resolve every matter involving church members in a closed system (nevermind that sometimes the very system they go to is either an active or enabling force behind the abuse). This approach fails to distinguish between what Paul calls “trivial matters” and criminal lawsuits. A modern example for a “1 Corinthians 6 type of trivial matter” would be if two Christians went on to a television judicial show (like Judge Judy) and shamed the name of Christ by arguing over something petty on broadcast television. That certainly does no favors for the local church’s image in the community.

As stated, the glaring omission by advocates who “never take a brother to court” is the distinction between what is trivial and criminal. The Scripture that must go alongside 1 Corinthians 6 is Romans 13. The same writer of both Scriptures establishes in Romans 13 that civil government is instituted by God to punish criminal wrongdoing. Reporting a criminal offence committed by another Christian does not violate the prohibition of taking a brother to court, since the initiative for the trial rests with the state. Sexual abuse is a criminal violation of the law and, as such, must be reported to a law enforcement agency (Anderson, 1992).

Romans 13:1-5 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

The principles of Romans 13 remind us that we must obey the law. If the law requires the reporting of sexual abuse and we do not report it, we are breaking the law. Laws may vary on the language, departments, and codes, but there will be general overlap and consistency between them. For example: Texas has both civil and criminal laws to protect children from abuse and neglect. If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, the law requires that you report it (Texas Family Code Section 261.101 [a]). While this also may vary state to state, this Texas family code does not distinguish between someone professionally licensed or not. All citizens of Texas are mandated reports.

Failure to report suspected child abuse and neglect is also a criminal offense (Texas Family Code, Section 261.109). To put it in Biblical language for Texas citizens: the State of Texas bears the sword of God’s wrath towards sexual predators and abusers. The State will avenge the criminal wrongdoing. But that just vengeance cannot happen unless reported. Therefore, to remind the citizen just how serious this is, those who observe abuse and do not report it will suffer God’s wrath via Texas prosecution.

A final thought on precedent. Some have used Romans 12:19 to silence the victims of abuse, telling them that they should not seek justice or help because it is God's job to execute vengeance. We can see how perverted this way of thinking is if we apply the same concept to a murderer. If a man's beloved wife is murdered, would we tell him to just let it go because God will execute vengeance? No, for the safety and justice of our society, we report the crimes so that the authorities can seek the murderer to bring him to justice (Ingraham, et al. 2017). So it is with the criminality of sexual abuse. This criminal behavior, if not reported, destabilized the safety and justice of our society. A Christian, therefore, has a moral and legal responsibility to report such crimes to the State.

Signs of the Need

What happens when your congregation or family that once appeared to be healthy suddenly is thrown into confusion when the whispers of sexual abuse begin to sound? Observing or being informed of abuse can be crushing. “Malevolence takes a bite out of your spirit. Just sitting with it, just talking with people who consciously and deliberately exploit others, feels like being bitten,” (Saltar, 2003). While hearing about sexual abuse may be undesirable, we know that hiding from the truth only enables further abuse. We must remember that there is nothing new under the sun. We do not live in Heaven on Earth. We live on the fallen side of eternity. To deny the possibility that it could happen is not only unwise but ignorant and dangerous.

Ignoring a valid disclosure can have disastrous results. At the least, it increases the offender's confidence in his ability to get away with it. Often, it is a license to reoffend against the same child. Dr Saltar shares the following about a conversation with one molester: I believed if they told, that their mother or father wouldn't believe them. And when I found out they didn't, I would go back and molest them again. But not all children tell the first place. For reasons as varied as fear of the offender, shame at their helplessness, love and protection of a parent, or even shame of their own sexual arousal during the sex act - they don't tell (2003). Therefore, learning about sexual abuse may appear to be a complicate process.

In an effort to minimize the “PR damage,” some insist that before going to the police, we ought to first determine whether or not the story was true or credible. This may at first seem reasonable, but it is really an avoidance tactic. It is not your job to investigate. It is your job to report. As a licensed therapist, I am responsible to a similar mandate. When a therapist or counselor is made aware of abuse, it is not our job to play detective and rate the credibility of the claim. We have to report it and let the authorities determine the credibility of the claim.

Encourage parents who suspect their child has been abused sexually to schedule a medical exam for the child and an initial evaluation by a counseling specialist. Professional medical and mental health clinicians can handle the heavy emotionalism that surrounds child sexual abuse objectively while a family member may struggle to cope with it (Anderson, 1992). There may be clear physical, behavioral or emotional symptoms of child sexual abuse (see appendix A and B, but be warned, the symptoms are graphic). In all observable cases, the thing to note about symptoms of child sexual abuse is that behavior is abnormal in some way. Each child, depending on age and circumstance, is likely to show signs of abuse differently (and sometimes not at all) and, especially in the early stages, the symptoms may be passed over by those who care for the child (Anderson, 1992).

Making a Report

When the time comes to make a report, each state will have a different procedure for reporting abuse of a minor or the elderly. A simple Google search of “how to report abuse” is an acceptable way to start.  For example, when entered in my home state, the first website recommendation was TDFPS (click to follow hyperlink). This is the state website for Family Protective Services.  You have the option of calling a hotline number or making the report on the internet. The reporter’s identity will be confidential, so there ought not be fear of retribution in most cases. You are also protected by law from liability when you make a report or provide information in good faith during a CPS investigation. (Texas Family Code, Section 261.106).

If a report is deemed not credible by the authorities, the case will be dismissed. You will be notified of the dismissal via a letter in the mail or online depending on how you reported. If a report is deemed credible, there are different paths to proceed, depending on the circumstances. In Texas, for example, Child Protective Services (CPS) may begin with Family-Based Safety Services (FBSS). These are designed to ensure a child's safety in the home or make a return to home possible if the child has been removed. CPS may also provide other in-home services to help reduce the risk of future abuse or neglect. In serious cases, CPS can immediately remove the child from the home or request a removal from the court (HFLW, 2021).

I have filed reports with CPS and APS (Adult Protective Services) as a therapist due to disclosures in the therapy room. It is nauseating to hear of alleged abuse. It is nauseating to type out and file the alleged abuse. And for some reason, it is nauseating to receive a notification from CPS or APS that they have deemed the abuse as credible. There is something awful about being validated in the suspicion of abuse. But no matter how nauseating is may feel to report abuse, it is nowhere near the nightmare of the precious soul who experienced the abuse firsthand. May our sensitivities and scruples wash away as we think about the oppressed.

I wish I could tell you that the reporting process brings closure every time. There is, however, nothing new under the sun. Laws are put in place and yet some people slip through the cracks. With only 3% of sexual offenders being prosecuted (Salter, 2003; Anderson, 1992) it is disheartening to know that the system is imperfect. But it will only improve if we take sexual abuse seriously and report it. Darkness hates the light and hates being exposed by the light (John 3:20). Reporting sexual abuse shines light into the depravity of an offender’s deeds. The reporting process is a necessary application of the following Scripture:

Isaiah 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Works Cited:
Anderson, B. (1992). When child abuse comes to church: Recognizing Its Occurrence and what to Do about it. Bethany House Pub.
ESV Study Bible. (2008). Crossway Books.
FAMILY CODE CHAPTER 261. INVESTIGATION OF REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT. (n.d.). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.261.html
Hunt Family Law Firm, HFLF (2021). What happens when someone makes a CPS report? https://www.familylawyerkaty.com/blog/2021/february/what-happens-when-someone-makes-a-report-to-cps-/
Ingraham, D., Davis, A. P. O. E. R., & Davis, R. (2017). Tear down this wall of silence: Dealing with Sexual Abuse in Our Churches (an Introduction for Those Who Will Hear).
PENAL CODE CHAPTER 9. JUSTIFICATION EXCLUDING CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY. (n.d.). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.9.html
Salter, A. (2003). Predators. Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders. Who They Are, How They Operate, and How We Can Protect Ourselves and Our Children. Basic Books, New York, NY.
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). (n.d.). https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp

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