Our Mission

Some of you may not be able to talk to your friends or family about what happened and are just beginning to confront the fact that you were abused. You need to realize you are not alone. There are sisters and brothers that understand, and are outraged at what happened to you. However, it can often seem like most in the church don't care. Have Church officials told you to "keep quiet about this," "Forgive and forget," "pray about it," "It's your fault" or "Don't judge"? These are typical ploys to keep you silent, enable more abuse and to place the guilt on you, instead of on the abusers and enablers where it belongs!

We must speak out. Public acknowledgement of abuse within the Church must begin now. This web site is only a small beginning. On this site we have included links and resources for survivors, preventive measures for parents and also typical orthodox patterns of and reactions to abuse that Orthodox Christians should be aware of. The issue of abuse of power in cult situations is an important one. We have devoted a page to Cult Abuse, which we will be expanding. We also have included a list of Orthodox Abusers.

The magnitude of the problem of abuse in the church is quite large; it affects all people. Abuse has a ripple effect that damages victims, their families, and communities. Please email Cappy Larson or Melanie Sakoda with any help, information or comments. Thanks!

Definition of Sexual Abuse

This definition of sexual abuse is from a report written by the Independent Board of Inquiry Regarding St. Anthony's Seminary which was presented to Father Joseph P. Chinnici, O.F.M., Provincial Minister, Province of Santa Barbara. November, 1993.

Sexual Abuse includes, but is not limited to any contact or interaction between a MINOR or VULNERABLE ADULT on the one hand, and an adult on the other, when the MINOR or VULNERABLE ADULT is being used for sexual stimulation of the adult person or of a third person. The behavior may or may not involve touching. Sexual behavior between an adult, and a MINOR or VULNERABLE ADULT is always considered forced whether or not consented to by the MINOR or VULNERABLE ADULT.

• A "MINOR" is anyone under the age of 18.
• A "VULNERABLE ADULT" is any person 18 years of age or older who is in a pastoral or professional relationship with a [clergy person]. The pastoral or professional relationship constitutes a "forbidden zone" which exists because the one in power [the clergyman] has a relationship with another based upon trust. No matter who initiates an action or how willing the vulnerable person says he/she is, the [clergyman] always has the responsibility to set appropriate boundaries regardless of the situation or circumstances.