Questions & Answers

Child Abuse

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Marriage and Family › Child Abuse

The question

I know it is mandatory to be gentle and loving towards a victim's wounds, but it seems obligatory to also encourage them to protect their community and themselves by not keeping company with someone sexually immoral (1 Corinthians 5:9), or an un-rehabilitated child rapist. It appears there is a requirement to confront people of their offenses. David the prophet would never have offered us the most profound repentance (Psalm 50) had he not been confronted by Nathan (2 Samuel 12). David needed to be confronted in order to repent. Confronting child rapists and encouraging victims to report them is in the best interest of the offender (helps them repent and prevents offending a little one (Matthew 18:6), the victim, (it helps them heal and not normalize perversion), and the community (protects future potential victims).

The answer

This is correct and sensible. If this is a child or any individual currently being abused, you have a duty to warn, report, and protect the victim, immediately. However, when the situation is very far in the past, has exceeded the statute of limitations according to the state where the crime occurred, and the survivor is healing at her own pace, you must allow her [the victim] to have her peace and voice in making her own decision. Yes, she should be encouraged, but not pressured, to at least reveal the sexual assault to family members that may be allowing children to be near this relative because they are either unaware of what happened or are still in denial and trying to hide it. The victim should also keep some distance, for peace of mind and to allow the healing to progress. If there is any possibility or reason, even a minute speculation, to believe that this relative may still be molesting anyone at this time, you can and should report him.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2445 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.