Child sexual abuse: a call for zero tolerance

Recent allegations of child sexual abuse by some clergy have shocked many people to the point of leaving many unsure how they should react. I wish to share some personal reflections from my recent experience in the United States. Over there I witnessed first hand through my own practice how many people dealt with the exposure of similar cases.

Paedophilia is a very complex problem indeed, and requires a thorough consideration of all aspects involved. Although it is part of a larger domain, child abuse, I will limit myself to some salient points that I believe are key to our evaluation of this reality in our society.

a) The first step is to understand the problem. Paedophilia is the abuse of a minor by a person who is at least five years older. Although technically speaking, paedophilia refers to victims who have already reached their puberty age, many times this term is used by the media to cover all victims, irrespective of age. US studies show that perpetrators of paedophilia equally target same-sex and opposite-sex victims. The gender of the victims usually depends on the availability. Perpetrators are overwhelmingly male.

b) All paedophiles seek sexual gratification. Often, such people act from rage, impulse, serious emotional immaturity, or drive to dominate others. In this respect, unfortunately, children are often the easiest prey. Perpetrators may court children through attention, praise, gifts, etc.

c) Any child abuse is abuse of power. This power, which can be either natural (e.g. between a parent and a child), or professional (e.g. between a teacher and a student, a therapist and a client, a priest and a penitent, etc.), usually causes serious transgression against one's trust and basic need for safety. It can leave deep traumatic scars both in the short and long term.

d) Is paedophilia a sickness, a criminal act, or otherwise? There is no black or white answer. Saying that paedophilia is a sickness implies a treatment and a cure (and it may excuse the perpetrator). However, empirical evidence shows that there is no absolute cure. If paedophilia is a crime, then it warrants appropriate justice, which should never be disguised for vengeance.

Certain stimuli early in life seem to fuse the ideas of childhood with sexual arousal. This may suggest that paedophilia may have an early onset. US studies have indicated that addiction protocols can help in addressing this serious problem, such as: strict abstinence, tight behavioural strategies to avoid temptation, and possibly libido-lowering drugs such as Prozac. Obviously, motivation remains key in all this. Experience shows that addressing this problem involves a lifelong journey. To prove this, two-three-year recovery programmes in the US have high risk of relapse.

e) How prevalent is paedophilia? Paedophilia is a social scar and is prevalent among all sectors of society, not just one particular group. US studies indicate that the ratio of alleged perpetrators among Catholic clergy (about 1%) is similar to that of other social groups: doctors, nurses, teachers, Protestant clergy, straight and gay, single and married people, etc. Using the blame-game is beyond the argument.

On the other hand, it is easy to generalise or go overboard with accusations - however, the real answer begins by keeping facts in perspective. Because Fr X or Fr Y has been accused of child sexual abuse, does not mean that all priests are abusers! Neither does it mean that Fr X or Fr Y is indeed a child molester. Let's not forget that one is innocent until proven guilty. Otherwise, such reasoning and judgement proves as out-rightly wrong, dangerous, and unChristian.

Evil is evil, no matter who does it (whether a perpetrator or a false accuser) and for whatever reason it is done. Paedophilia is complex, and many perpetrators may well have been abused themselves as children. However, addressing paedophilia should always have one focus: protecting the needs and rights of our little ones, while abhorring uncompromisingly this evil.

f) What about false accusations? False accusations do occur at all times. Society is obliged morally and legally to protect its citizens, from any kind of injustice. A case in point is the false accusations of paedophilia levelled against the late LA cardinal, Bernardin Gantin. When truth emerged that the allegation was totally false, it was too little too late for Gantin's emotional and physical well-being, not to mention his reputation and morale of his family, friends and Catholics of his archdiocese.

g) If child abuse is prevalent in our society, we need to evaluate it objectively and maturely and address it immediately. In my opinion, the best appraisal should not be dealt through the media. Moreover, paedophilia might open a Pandora's box of other related problems: like the way we relate to other vulnerable citizens in our society, be they physically or mentally challenged, the elderly, single and teenage mothers, victims of domestic violence, or otherwise. I believe that a society proves its real worth in how it deals especially with these people.

h) To date, Malta does not have any mandatory reporting laws. Laws in some US states, such as Maryland, where I practised psychotherapy, bound the helper to report in writing any alleged cases (past or present) of any form of child abuse to the authorities within 48 hours of the report by the client/s. Not to do so may well result in suspending one's licence of practice. In our country, people who come across allegations of child abuse have only a moral obligation to report.

Although one is obliged to report criminal acts, our laws still lack specific coverage through a Children's Act. I strongly believe that one way where we can start addressing such a reality is through a clearer and stronger legal framework. Child abuse needs to be considered in its broad understanding, clearly defined, and appropriately dealt with. Society needs to have a good enough system that protects and helps appropriately the victims, gives proper justice to the perpetrators, but also protects the individual rights of innocent people against false accusations.

i) Children need to be more educated about what is appropriate versus inappropriate behaviour. They need to know what to do if abuse occurs, and to whom to refer. People in contact with children should know what constitutes abuse (not just sexual), how to recognise some of its signs, and about their obligation to report and combat this evil. Overall, there is a pressing need of more social awareness about childhood maltreatment.

j) The response of the Church, indeed of any concerned Maltese social entity, should be a wake-up call of honest appraisal. This will hopefully serve as a courageous soul-searching for the truth, all the truth, and nothing but the truth, to protect properly the most vulnerable of our society and stop any further evil from ruining more lives.

Rev. Michael Galea, Ph.D., is a psychologist who specialised in cases of child abuse and related traumas