It’s been nearly 20 years since news of the Catholic Church abuse scandal first broke. And yet religious organizations continue to fail children. Abuse-prevention policies get ignored, allegations aren’t reported, and cases get covered up.
To make matters worse, one dangerous court precedent could prevent parents from suing religious institutions that harm their children.
The Child-Friendly Faith Project previously publicized egregious abuses in the Mormon Church and at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. We are now calling out other problematic institutions and providing critical information to parents who are thinking of enrolling their children in faith-based schools or programs.
In the news
Abuse in Arizona
Mormon church accused of failing to protect scouts
Finally fired
Baptist churches hired known sex offenders
Last February, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) expelled two member churches for employing pastors who were convicted sex offenders. In 2019, the SBC published a report on preventing and responding to sexual abuse cases. However, churches are not required to follow the recommendations.
Misery in Missouri
Circle of Hope was a more like a circle of hell
Hiding behind religion
Lawsuit against religious school is dismissed
A district court in Texas threw out a lawsuit filed by a mother against Trinity Episcopal School after her son endured repeated racist bullying. The judge agreed with the school that the court shouldn’t “intrude upon a religious institution’s management of its internal affairs.”
What every parent should know
While it’s heartening that these cases are receiving public attention, it is possible that they and others like them could be dismissed, thanks to a legal precedent set by a Texas appellate court in 2018. In that case, the Episcopal School of Dallas raised what is known as the “ecclesiastical abstention doctrine,” or EAD.
As a result, the school faced no recourse and details relating to how a boy was harmed by an unjust expulsion weren’t brought to light. If you’re a parent or guardian who is thinking about enrolling or re-enrolling your child in a faith-based school or program, you need to know about the EAD.
Click the button below for a free fact sheet on how the EAD could affect your right to sue religious institutions.
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