In the Name of God: A Profile of Religion-Related Child Abuse Bette L. Bottoms University of Illinois at Chicago Phillip R. Shaver, Gail S. Goodman, and Jianjian Qin University of California, Davis Running head: Religion and Child Abuse Address correspondence to: Bette L. Bottoms Department of Psychology University of Illinois at Chicago 1007 W. Harrison Street (M/C 285) Chicago, IL 60607-7137 [E-MAIL:
[email protected]] The research reported here was funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (Department of Health and Human Services) and conducted in collaboration with Alexis Thompson and with the assistance of Kathleen Beety, Jim Brandt, Kathy Cavanaugh, Eugene Colucci, Maureen Coughlin, Leslie Dreblat, Brian Flaherty, Erica Howard, Noelle Kardos, Todd Karl, Wendy Landman, Anne Orgren, Kimberly Packard, Steve Pawlowski, Chowdry Pinnamaneni, Jianjian Qin, Susan Reisch, Chris Rhoadhouse, Karleen Robinson, Julie Rothbard, Tracey Schneider, and Kimberly Tyda. Tina Brown and Michael Raulin kindly consulted on the use of DSM diagnostic categories. Ken Lanning and Phil Stevens consulted on various issues concerning abuse allegations. We extend special thanks to all of the professionals who completed our survey. Religion and Child Abuse3 Abstract Religious beliefs can foster, encourage, and justify child abuse, yet religious motivations for child abuse and neglect have been virtually ignored in social science research. In this article, we examine cases of religion-related child abuse reported to mental health professionals nationwide. In particular, we describe in statistical detail cases involving the withholding of medical care for religious reasons, abuse related to attempts to rid a child of evil, and abuse perpetrated by persons with religious authority such as ministers and priests.