Sins of The Cloth: An Examination of Media Portrayals of Christian Clergy Sexual Assault Perpetrators

• In Event: Sex Offenses and the Media

Abstract

Research on media portrayal of clergy sexual assault perpetrators is limited, particularly regarding the factors journalists emphasize when framing these cases to the public. Currently, media coverage of sexual offenses within Christian denominations has increased, highlighting the need to understand how the media shapes public perceptions of these cases. To address this gap, a content analysis was utilized to explore media portrayals of Christian clergy sexual assault cases in 491 news articles from six news sources: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, NBC, and the New York Times. Findings reveal that perpetrators with prior criminal and allegation histories in conjunction with being published during the #ChurchToo movement increased the likelihood of negatively portrayals of perpetrators in Christian clergy sexual cases. Policy implications and future research are to be discussed.

Authors

• Allica Campos, Texas A&M International University

• Brittany Hood, Texas A&M International University