Church Sexual Abuse

Houses of worship and places related to religion should be safe spaces for members of a congregation, as well as their children, guests, and friends. With young people especially, church-related environments are designed to build trust with church leaders who can exert significant influence over youth and their families. The unfortunate truth is that in Colorado, like many other places, senior church members use their leadership and positions of trust to prey on vulnerable children, teenagers, and adults. If you or a loved one has been the victim of sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, or molestation by a Colorado pastor or other church leader, we encourage you to call the church sexual abuse lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation about how we might be able to help you. Each call is confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege even if we decide that we cannot represent you in your case.

Because of the close and trusting relationship that church leaders often build with their victims and victims’ families, victims usually feel scared and intimidated to bring a claim of sexual abuse, rape, or molestation against a church leader or elder. Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, pastor and church sexual abuse lawyers Brian Bradford and Jason Levy understand the courage it takes before a victim can come forward and confront his or her perpetrator, and we will honor our client’s bravery to stand up and hold a church accountable.

We know that survivors of church sexual abuse often times feel extreme guilt and shame, and that he or she is somehow at fault for what happened. Our Longmont church sexual abuse attorneys what you to know that sexual abuse by a person in position of trust is not your fault, and we are sensitive to the emotional and mental health aspect of sexual assault.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, we have the skills and resources to be your powerful advocate against a church that has allowed sexual abuse to happen. Over the years we have developed a remarkable track record of successfully seeking justice in courtrooms across Colorado. As your advocate we promise that we will stand by your side and help you get the resources you need to help address your abuse. For example, we can help you find mental health counselor as well as experts in sexual abuse who can help us prove your case to a jury. We are ready and willing to stand up against some of the largest congregations in Colorado regardless of whether your sexual abuse happened at Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Evangelical, Baptist, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational or any other denomination.

Our Colorado church sexual abuse attorneys understand that rape, molestation, and sexual abuse can happen at a place of worship, but also at church-related functions like summer camps, retreats, off-site bible studies, daycares or Sunday Schools, or even at the home of other church members or the pastor himself. Additionally, while children are common targets for sexual abuse by religious leaders, vulnerable adults can also be victims of sexual assault by church leaders taking advantage of their position of trust.

When sexual abuse by a church pastor or other leader happens, it is always about power. Our Colorado church sexual abuse lawyers will bring to bear all of our knowledge, resources, and experience to counter-balance the sense of power that a church leader feels he or she may have. In short, we are ready to fight for you and get you the justice you deserve.

Identifying possible sexual abuse in children and young adults can be difficult. As parents and friends of victims of sexual abuse, it is important that we are aware of some of the warning signs of sexual abuse such as:

• Change in personality
• Unusual sexual behavior
• Anger problems
• Depression
• Engaging in criminal activity
• Disconnecting from friends and family

Further information about the signs of sexual abuse in children can be found at RAINN Webiste, (the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)).

If you or a loved one has been a victim of rape, molestation, or any other type of sexual abuse by a church leader or elder, we invite you to call us today at 303-543-1000 to speak with one of our Colorado church sexual abuse lawyers. We help injured victims throughout Colorado, and we stand ready to listen to your story.