NEW YORK
IPS

By Lydia Lim

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 18 2013 (IPS) – Mary Caplan was just 14 years old, and her father was dying of cancer. When she went to the local priest in her hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey, to ask for prayers and help, he sexually abused her, and went on to do so for the next two and a half years.

“[The priest] told me there was a way that I could have a miracle for my father,” Caplan told IPS. “If I did certain things to him, because he represented Jesus, my father would have a miracle.”

“For me, what’s worse than the original abuse is to know that it is still happening. That’s re-traumatising, and just tragic for society.” — Abuse survivor Mary Caplan
The priest continued to abuse her until her father passed away.

“When my father died, I went…