One in 250 Australians was sexually abused during childhood by a leader or other adult in a religious organisation, new research led by Australian Catholic University shows.
The first nationally representative figures on the prevalence of child sexual abuse by leaders or other adults in religious settings shows nearly three-quarters of the reported cases occurred in Catholic-run organisations.
The research, led by Australian Cathoic University’s Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), reveals about 0.4 per cent of the population, or an estimated 87,000 Australians, experienced sexual abuse during childhood by leaders and other adults in religious organisations including male and female clergy, priests, and pastors.
