Shattering the Illusion

Child Sexual Abuse and Canadian Religious Institutions

By Tracy J. Trothen
Subjects Family & Relationships, Child Abuse, Law, Child Advocacy, Religion
Series Editions SR Hide Details

Paperback : 9781554583560, 212 pages, August 2012
Ebook (EPUB) : 9781554584086, 212 pages, September 2012

Table of Contents for Shattering the Illusion: Child Sexual Abuse and Canadian Religious Institutions by Tracy J. Trothen
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Child Sexual Abuse in Religious Institutions
Research Methods
Overview of the Chapters
2. The Roman Catholic Church in Canada
Church Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960–1980
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981–1991
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992–2009
Chapter Summary
3: The United Church of Canada
Church Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960–1980
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981–1991
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992–2009
Chapter Summary
4. The Anglican Church in Canada
Church Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960–1980
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981–1991
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992–2009
Chapter Summary
5. The Mennonite Church in Canada
Church Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960–1980
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1981–1991
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1992–2009
Chapter Summary
6. Islam in Canada
Institutional Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse, Including Relevant Statements, Policies. and Practices: 1960–2009
Educational Work
Chapter Summary
7. The Canadian Unitarian Council/The Unitarian Universalist Association
Church Structure and Description of the Context
Approach to Child Sexual Abuse Including Relevant Statements, Policies, and Practices: 1960–2009
Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse and Complaints by Adults of Historical Childhood Sexual Abuse
Chapter Summary
8. Gathering the Pieces
Themes and Historical Shifts
Relevant Differences Between the Identified Religious Institutions
Future Directions
Summary Table
Notes
Index

Description

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.

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, University of Alberta, H-Net Reviews, April 2013, 2013 December