If you find yourself reading newspapers or checking the news on TV or the internet, you will see and read a lot of stories about child abuse carried out by members of the Roman Catholic church, especially priests. News commonly portray priests and members of the clergy being accused and eventually arrested due to sexually abusing children, minors, or even young adults. In some instances, there are even priests who admit and confess to their wrongdoing.

The reason why there is significant media coverage on this particular issue is the fact that it is a very distressing and pretty uncommon problem the society is slowly learning about. Although the number of cases does not equal to that of child abuse and molestation cases performed by sex offenders and pedophiles, the thought of having a priest as the culprit is very troubling. The whole community who once devoted and respected their church and its priests is now distraught and feel betrayed by the very institution that has the responsibility of teaching them to be righteous in all ways.

Even though there hasn’t been that much study targeting the number of cases in other churches like the Protestant and Seventh-Day Adventist, we’re sure that they also have a number of pastors or ministers who are guilty of the crime. Anyway, for now it really does not matter what church you go. What’s important is to know the basic guidelines in protecting your child against the abuses carried out by your priest, pastor, or minister:

- Although they come in rather deceiving personalities, bear in mind that a priest who harms children is either a pedophile or predator. This means that they will use their position as a servant of God in order to lure children in trusting them. So what you have to do is keep a cautious eye on these types of people.

- Children normally don’t lie. Most young kids aged below 10 are still incapable of making stories up. So if your child tells you that she/he has been molested by a priest or pastor, you as a parent must believe it.

- Though you can always leave your kid to the company of a church member or a priest, just make sure that you can still monitor if she/he is forced to be alone with someone. Most of the time, activities in church involving children are done by group. So if the priest or the pastor wants to be alone with your kid, then that’s something you can oppose to.

- Remember that clergy abuse is not limited to church leaders and priests, other members can as well carry out the abuse. Thus, you must keep an open eye on them as well.