Sexual Misconduct by Clergy and Church Workers - Part 2

Sexual misconduct by clergy, lay employees, and volunteers

Key point 4-11.02. Clergy who are sued for sexual misconduct may be able to assert one or more defenses. Seduction of Counselees and Church Members

* An Oregon court ruled that a pastor who engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman could not be sued directly by the woman's husband. A married woman ("Erica") with two small children worked as a receptionist at her church's preschool. She later became the senior pastor's administrative assistant. A few years later, Erica sought out the pastor for marital counseling. During this counseling relationship, the pastor and Erica became sexually involved. Eventually, Erica told her husband about the relationship, and her husband pleaded with the pastor to discourage Erica from continuing the relationship. A few months later, Erica discovered that she was pregnant as a result of ...