Overview
Several institutions have been the subject of scrutiny in recent years for the commission and cover-up of widespread child sexual abuse, notably the Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Church, among others. Abuse within institutions is unique in terms of the multi-layered impact that abuse has on survivors, on those who are not survivors, and on all institutions.

Impact on Survivors

Sexual abuse within institutions impacts survivors beyond the trauma of the abuse itself. Most people who join, or otherwise affiliate themselves with, an institution do so because they believe in the institution’s mission, or they like what that institution purports to offer its members. For example, youth who join scouting often do so because they and/or their parents believe that scouting will offer a safe, fun, and fulfilling experience. In the case of the Catholic Church and other religious institutions, individuals embrace their faith, its leaders, and adherents as a trusted spiritual community that is often a deeply-held part of their identity and worldview.

When a child or youth is sexually abused within an institutional context, the abuse can have a far-reaching impact on the survivor, including:

• Confusion as to whether what happened was actually abuse, based on the personal belief – and/or being told – that this person, group, or institution could never be abusive
• Feelings of being betrayed by an individual, group, or institution they trusted and held in high regard
• Conflicted feelings regarding ongoing loyalty to or membership in the institution, and support of its mission separate from the abuse
• Crisis of identity or spirituality, especially if being part of the institution is intimately linked to the survivor’s sense of self, family, community, cultural identity, or religious beliefs
• Feelings of being ostracized or disconnected from friends, family members, or mentors who remain loyal to and supportive of the institution and/or the abuser(s)

If the survivor reports the abuse to someone within the institution, how that person and/or the institution responds also has a significant impact on the survivor. Too often, survivors who report the abuse are met with skepticism, gaslighting, ostracism, and/or accusations of being unfaithful to the institution or wishing to cause it or the abuser(s) embarrassment. Such a response deepens the trauma the survivor feels and makes the healing process more difficult.

Impact on Those Who Aren’t Survivors

Non-offending members or supporters of an institution who were not themselves abused are also impacted when widespread sexual abuse comes to light. Such individuals may question many of the same things that survivors question, including their prior loyalty to the institution, their ability to judge the character of others, and what the reality of the abuse means for their own beliefs going forward. Additionally, these non-survivors may wonder if they unwittingly enabled the abuse through their blind trust in authority figures or fellow members. Family members of children who were abused may feel a sense of responsibility for having failed to protect the child or to notice manipulative tactics of the abuser(s).

“My husband, an Eagle Scout, took great pride in his Philmont belt buckle and wore it for years. The news that this wonderful organization, which has saved so many youths, also has been a place of abuse and anguish for many has ripped my heart in two. My husband didn’t have a father in his home, and only saw his father once a week. He really re-parented himself with the kind, brilliant tutelage of the Scoutmasters he met, and so did his brother. They loved Scouting. It led to lifelong love of camping and hiking, My husband felt so very proud of his badges and beads. All his life, he lived by the values of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, and brave. It meant so much to him. So, what’s tragic about the news of abuse in Boy Scouts includes the obvious and horrible harm to the boys, and also the horrible damage done by those same perpetrators to the organization itself,
founded on strong principles. The harm done reverberates throughout the organizations they touch, as well as in the hearts of the ones they hurt directly. ~ Kiesa Kay

Impact on Other Institutions

Institutions that have not, to their knowledge, experienced widespread sexual abuse within their ranks are also affected when abuse comes to light in other institutions. The dynamics of, and vulnerabilities to, this abuse are common across all types of institutions. Individuals who sexually abuse children generally gravitate toward environments where they can operate with impunity. Characteristics of such environments include:

• Easy access to children whose parents are quick to entrust others with their care, guidance, and teaching, and are unlikely to question the abuser’s character or actions
• Inherent trust, respect, and esteem enjoyed by members, authority figures, donors, and other adults affiliated with the institution
• Lack of robust policies regarding the safety of children, access to children by adults, screening processes for adults with access to children, and reporting of abuse
• Failure to communicate existing policies to all members of the institution, and a lack of accountability or oversight regarding those policies

When widespread abuse in another institution comes to light, institutions and their members often react either defensively or proactively. For example, institutions may feel a need to downplay the news or distance themselves from the offending institution, or to take a closer look at their policies and protocols related to child safety. Members of institutions may likewise feel compelled to set themselves and their institution apart as safer and better for children, or they may feel compelled to question their leaders and demand a review of existing policies. The best responses are those that lead to greater transparency and a more proactive approach to preventing sexual abuse. This begins by acknowledging that all institutions are vulnerable to abuse of numerous kinds (not just child sexual abuse); that everyone has a responsibility to protect children; and that developing, communicating, and adhering to robust child protection policies should not be avoided, but wholeheartedly embraced by the entire institution, beginning with its leaders.

Conclusion

When widespread abuse in another institution comes to light, institutions and their members often react either defensively or proactively. For example, institutions may feel a need to downplay the news or distance themselves from the offending institution, or to take a closer look at their policies and protocols related to child safety. Members of institutions may likewise feel compelled to set themselves and their institution apart as safer and better for children, or they may feel compelled to question their leaders and demand a review of existing policies. The best responses are those that lead to greater transparency and a more proactive approach to preventing sexual abuse. This begins by acknowledging that all institutions are vulnerable to abuse of numerous kinds (not just child sexual abuse); that everyone has a responsibility to protect children; and that developing, communicating, and adhering to robust child protection policies should not be avoided, but wholeheartedly embraced by the entire institution, beginning with its leaders.

Additional Resources

If you are an adult survivor of child sexual abuse, you can find resources and supporive content created by other survivors at www.survivorspace.org.

If you are affiliated with an institution and want to learn more about how to protect children from sexual abuse, please contact Zero Abuse Project.