Knowledge and Misconceptions About Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: Insights from Pastoral Agents

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is recognized as a major public health problem affecting a significant number of children and youth worldwide. Despite heightened awareness, professionals working with children and adolescents, particularly within religious settings, often hold misconceptions that hinder effective prevention and intervention. This study aimed to assess Spanish pastoral agents' knowledge of CSA and identify subgroup differences (e.g. by gender or age group). A total of 403 individuals (72.8% women, 27.2% men; age range 16-80, M = 44.6 years, SD = 17.3) responded to ten statements evaluating common myths and factual misconceptions about CSA. Results indicated that pastoral agents generally demonstrated accurate knowledge, though significant gaps remained, especially regarding prevalence. Notably, misconceptions such as "CSA is more frequent in low socioeconomic status families" and "the perpetrator is always a stranger" revealed marked gender-based differences. In addition, agents working primarily with younger children showed a higher level of belief in CSA myths compared to those working with adolescents. These findings underscore critical areas for targeted educational interventions. Training should address overlooked dimensions, particularly prevalence data and socioeconomic stereotypes, and be tailored to specific subgroups. Incorporating current empirical evidence and highlighting contextual risk factors may enhance pastoral agents' capacity to recognize, prevent, and respond effectively to CSA within their communities. By clarifying misunderstandings and strengthening professional preparedness, tailored programs can help bridge existing knowledge gaps and foster safer, more informed environments for vulnerable youth.