Shattering the Illusion: Child Sexual Abuse and Canadian Religious Institutions

by Tracy J. Trothen

Overview

Shattering the Illusion is the first book to gather and comparatively analyze policies addressing child sexual abuse complaints in a selection of religious institutions in Canada. Although there is a substantial body of literature regarding Christianity and sexual abuse, very little of it focuses on religious institutions in Canada and their respective policies.

In the foreword, Tracey J. Trothen summarizes the Cornwall Inquiry, out of which this book arose. She then examines the Roman Catholic Church, The United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church, the Mennonite Church, Islam, and the Canadian Unitarian Council/Unitarian Universalist Association, describing in detail the evolution and particular content of policies and procedures that address child sexual abuse complaints directed at paid and volunteer faith community representatives and/ or leaders. She identifies differences and common themes among the approaches taken by the institutions and provides a summary table for an accessible comparative overview.

Child sexual abuse is not new, but the emergence of policies to address abuse complaints within religious institutions is. This book identifies significant and shared causal factors behind the emergence of policy and reviews their content carefully. This review will serve as a significant tool for furthering the development of such policies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554583560
Publisher:	Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Publication date:	08/01/2012
Series:	Editions SR Series
Pages:	212
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Tracy J. Trothen is an associate professor of theology and ethics at Queen’s School of Religion, Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario. She is the author of over twenty scholarly publications, including Linking Sexuality and Gender: Naming Violence against Women in The United Church of Canada (WLU Press, 2003). Her more recent publications are concerned with the intersections of sport, technology, and religion.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction ix

1 Child Sexual Abuse in Religious Institutions 1

Research Method 2

Overview of the Chapters 4

2 The Roman Catholic Church in Canada 11

Church Structure and Description of the Context 11

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-80 14

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981-91 17

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992-2009 25

Chapter Summary 40

3 The United Church of Canada 43

Church Structure and Description of the Context 43

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-80 45

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981-91 46

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992-2009 51

Chapter Summary 71

4 The Anglican Church in Canada 73

Church Structure and Description of the Context 73

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-80 76

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981-91 78

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992-2009 82

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse and Complaints by Adults of Historical Childhood Sexual Abuse 85

Chapter Summary 98

5 The Mennonite Church in Canada 101

Church Structure and Description of the Context 101

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-80 105

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981-91 106

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992-2009 108

Chapter Summary 119

6 Islam in Canada 121

Institutional Structure and Description of the Context 121

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-2009 122

Educational Work 126

Chapter Summary 128

7 The Canadian Unitarian Council/The Unitarian Universalist Association 129

Church Structure and Description of the Context 129

Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960-2009 132

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse and Complaints by Adults of Historical Childhood Sexual Abuse 132

Chapter Summary 139

8 Gathering the Pieces 141

Themes and Historical Shifts 141

Relevant Differences between the Identified Religious Institutions 145

Future Directions 148

Summary Table 150

Notes 155

Index 187

Editorial Reviews

''The book's strongest and surely to be its most lasting contribution is its enumeration of religious institutional policies and procedures to handle complaints. Its focus on development of child sexual abuse policies in twentieth-century Canadian religious institutions makes it original.''

Jonathan Anuik

''The disclosures by victims and survivors of the sexual abuse they have experienced at the hands of faith leaders has shaken the foundations of our faith communities and has given us the opportunity to address this long-standing evil in our midst. Tracy J. Trothen has produced a thorough and thoughtful rendering of the history of Canadian faith communities confronting the sexual abuse of children. Her multi-faith approach adds depth to the discussion, allowing the reader to compare and contrast. We need this historical, multi-faith perspective to inform our current efforts and to learn from the past as we face the future. A very valuable contribution to the field.''

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune

''This is a wonderfully informative book, a must-read for both religious leaders and volunteers in congregational life. Tracy J. Trothen and her team of research assistants have been doing their homework and the result is a thoroughly documented overview of how Canada's major religions have responded (or failed to respond) to the issue of child sexual abuse. Each chapter is packed with facts, resources, and commentary that will help the religious professional and the committed follower alike, and at the close of the book is an excellent summary table. A great resource.''

Nancy Nason-Clark