Prayers and Predators: Exposing the Reality of Religious Institutional Abuse, a Survivor Reflection on the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

As a survivor of childhood abuse, a neurodivergent individual, and a bisexual woman, my experiences echo the alarming statistics revealed by the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). The study's findings have resonated deeply with me, confirming that my experiences, while deeply personal, are unfortunately not unique.

The Religious Institution: A Framework for Control

The religious institution where I was raised centered its practices on:

1. Controlling sexuality with violence, threat, demeaning, removal of access to support & resources

2. Coercing reproduction to indoctrinate future generations

3. Exploiting labor for the church's benefit creating intergenerational poverty

4. Shaping the political and legal landscape to support 'religious' political control of diverse populations

Forms of Abuse Experienced

Sexual, Physical, and Psychological Abuse in Institutional Settings

- Sexual abuse through interrogation: Children were subjected to questioning about sexual behaviors and concepts beyond their awareness or maturity level. This practice, often employed in conversion therapy, is a form of sexual abuse.

- Intrusive questioning about personal attractions with the intent to coerce & harm, another form of sexual abuse

- Forced witnessing of violence, demeaning & threat against LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly gay men or sexual violence toward women & girls labeled 'Lesbians' for resisting male control or sexual advances

- Exposure to graphic sexual details inappropriate for children

- Abuse disguised as medical treatment: Non-medical staff performing invasive genital 'treatments' or examinations on children. Using their authority & power to threaten harm to, and harm children's genitals, injury to them through violent restraint

- Physical abuse labeled as 'religious discipline': Corporal punishment or other forms of physical violence justified as spiritual correction. Violence focused at genitals, developing breasts, accusations of being a 'man hater' coupled with sexual violence towards women & girls for non compliance

- Psychological abuse through indoctrination: Instilling harmful beliefs about self-worth, sexuality, and gender roles to induce subservience and compliance

Systematic Creation of Vulnerability

- Family separation: Isolating children from their support systems, making them more vulnerable to abuse, exposing them to known pedophiles & encouraging a belief system that girls are acceptable objects for grown men's sexual, reproductive & marital desires. Teaching girls their worth comes from reproduction, domestic labor, marriage or service to the church

- Labor exploitation: Forcing or coercing children & adults to work without pay or for minimal compensation, often under the guise of religious 'service' or 'character building' or under the auspices of 'good works' by a church non profit, exploiting our images for fund raising

- Denial of education: Limiting access to comprehensive education, particularly around sexuality and personal rights

- Social isolation: Restricting contact with the outside world, limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints and to extended family & friend support systems

Long-term Impact

- Ongoing psychological trauma from sustained abuse and manipulation

- Difficulties in forming healthy relationships due to distorted understanding of boundaries and consent

- Challenges in professional settings due to exploitative labor practices experienced in childhood

- Struggles with self-identity and self-worth, particularly for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent individuals

Connecting Personal Experience to ACMS Findings

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) revealed alarming statistics about child maltreatment in Australia, particularly regarding multi-type maltreatment. These findings resonate deeply with my experiences and highlight the systemic nature of abuse, especially for vulnerable populations. Though the study was individually focused, institutions are major drivers of social conditioning & individual vulnerability. The power that institutions have to disrupt our lives, to remove our self-determination & to exploit our labor with impunity while being considered 'charitable' is a major driver of human trafficking, trauma & intergenerational poverty. Individual self-responsibility alone cannot counter the pervasive & powerful effect that institutions have over our lives & the trauma-based conditioning & intergenerational poverty they create are socially & individually formative. Governments, social care, and medical care & families pay the cost for that inflicted trauma ultimately.

Multi-type Maltreatment: A Pervasive Issue

The ACMS defines multi-type maltreatment as experiencing more than one type of maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. Key findings include:

- 2 in 3 children who are maltreated experience more than one type of maltreatment

- 2 in 5 Australians (aged 16-65+) experienced two or more types of maltreatment

- 23.3% of Australians experienced 3-5 types of maltreatment

- 3.5% of Australians experienced all five types of maltreatment

Gender Disparities in Multi-type Maltreatment

The study revealed significant gender disparities:

- More girls than boys experience multi-type maltreatment (43.2% vs 34.9%)

- Girls are almost twice as likely to experience 4-5 types of maltreatment compared to boys (14.9% vs 7.6%)

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These statistics align with my experiences as a girl in an institutional setting, where I was subjected to multiple forms of abuse.

Risk Factors for Multi-type Maltreatment

The ACMS identified several factors that double the risk of multi-type maltreatment:

- Parental separation

- Family mental illness

- Family substance problems

- Family economic hardship

These factors create vulnerabilities that abusive institutions often exploit, as was the case in my experience.

Personal Reflection on ACMS Findings

As a survivor of institutional abuse, a neurodivergent individual, and a bisexual woman, my experiences sadly align with these findings:

1. As a girl, I was at higher risk for multi-type maltreatment

2. Being neurodivergent increased my vulnerability

3. My bisexuality made me a target within an institution focused on controlling sexuality

The prevalence of exposure to domestic violence in multi-type maltreatment combinations also resonates with my experiences of witnessing violence against LGBTQ+ individuals within the institution.

Implications for Professionals

1. Recognize Patterns: Understand that certain demographics (e.g., girls, LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent people) are at higher risk of abuse

2. Identify Subtle Forms of Sexual Abuse: Recognize that interrogation about sexual matters and exposure to inappropriate sexual content are forms of sexual abuse, often used in conversion therapy practices

3. Understand Institutional Contexts:

- Religious or other institutions may have structures that enable abuse, including practices that may be disguised as 'therapy', 'guidance', or 'religious education' name the behaviors of those practices clearly in plain language & the impact on the victim to clarify & bust the attempt to hide abuse behind acceptable terms

- Be aware that sexual & other abuse of minors in institutions is often hidden behind acceptable euphemisms such as 'discipline', 'religious training', 'education', 'play', or 'medical treatment'

- Map the patterns of behaviors, the methods & the impact on individuals. Name the behaviors specifically in ways that bust the 'cover- up' language meant to hide the reality of abuse & coercion

- Question practices labeled as 'character building', 'spiritual guidance', or 'moral education' that involve discussions of sexuality with minors with the implicit threat of harm, rejection, violence, removal of access to support or resources

4. Recognize Camouflaged Abuse: Be vigilant about practices that:

- Isolate children for 'special instruction' about sexual matters

- Involve invasive questioning about a child's thoughts, feelings, or experiences related to sexuality

- Expose children to graphic sexual content under the guise of education or moral instruction

5. Long-term Impacts: Consider how childhood experiences in such institutions can affect adult life, including labor exploitation and mental health

As professionals working with families:

1. Develop trauma informed & domestic abuse approaches that consider the intersectionality of identity and abuse

2. Advocate for policy changes that protect vulnerable populations within institutions, including bans on conversion therapy and similar abusive practices

3. Provide targeted support for survivors of institutional abuse, recognizing the complex nature of their experiences, including the long-term effects of sexual abuse through interrogation

4. Challenge societal norms and beliefs that enable such abusive systems to persist

5. Educate colleagues and the public about less recognized forms of sexual abuse, such as inappropriate interrogation and exposure to sexual content

6. Scrutinize institutional practices: Question and investigate any practices labeled as 'discipline' or 'religious training' that involve discussions of sexuality with minors

7. Empower children and families: Educate them about appropriate boundaries and help them recognize when 'training' or 'discipline' crosses into abusive territory

Conclusion

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study has shed light on the prevalence and patterns of abuse, confirming what many survivors have long known: child maltreatment is alarmingly common, especially among vulnerable populations. As a survivor, I can attest to the long-lasting impact of institutional abuse, particularly when it's disguised as care, discipline, or religious instruction.

By understanding these behaviors & patterns, recognizing all forms of sexual abuse (including those disguised as legitimate practices), and listening to survivors' experiences, we can work towards creating safer environments for all children. It's crucial that professionals working with families remain vigilant, question institutional practices, and advocate for the protection of all children, regardless of their gender, neurodiversity, or sexual orientation.

The path to healing and prevention is long, but with increased awareness and action, we can make significant strides in breaking the cycle of abuse and supporting survivors. Let the findings of the ACMS serve as a call to action for all of us to do better in protecting our most vulnerable.

Read the Study & access the statistics here: https://www.acms.au/