Our map is the only comprehensive source of reported incidents of religious child maltreatment in the U.S. across all faiths and belief systems. This tool is an essential contribution to child welfare. Statistics on child abuse in the U.S. are plentiful, but no research or data sets have narrowed the focus solely on religious settings—until now.
And we need your help.
Religious Child Maltreatment occurs when religious belief, doctrine, or practice are used to justify abuse or neglect of a child.
In the United States, many laws exist specifically to protect children from harm like physical abuse, sexual assault, medical neglect, and even educational neglect by not sending your child to school. These are just a few obvious examples.
What’s not obvious is that many religious individuals and organizations—in both red and blue states—are exempt from prosecution if their actions defy those laws. In other words, if the harm is inherent to a religious tradition, if it takes place in a religious setting, or if it occurs on property owned by a religious organization, the law may allow it.
This is wrong. Child abuse is always harmful, so it should always be forbidden. But it’s not. Religiously justified harm will continue to be accommodated unless laws that protect children apply to everyone.
YES! And that’s why we’re here. Our mission is to raise awareness of just how common Religious Child Maltreatment is, and just how vulnerable any child or family can be.
We are dedicated to raising awareness of how religious influence works to undermine laws that exist to protect children.
This occurs at all levels of government in the form of “religious exemptions” that create ironclad loopholes favoring religious belief over the health, safety, and well-being of young people.