If your traumatized adopted child told you that he had been raped by Santa Claus, what would your reaction be? Would you assume that he was lying? Would you question whether he was delusion and had a mental illness? If so, that is exactly what his abuser wanted you to think.

I have read numerous stories about child abuse survivors being raped by men who dressed up as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, a clown, or numerous other “unbelievable” characters. The most common character seems to be Jesus.

Why do child abusers do this? Because it gives them a level of protection that most other child abusers do not have.

Child abusers can be divided into two categories. Most people are familiar with the first category, which I call “street abusers.” They are like people who commit street crimes. The crime is committed in the moment in a state of “passion.” They threaten the child never to tell but do not bother to hide their identities.

There is another category of child abusers that I call “organized abusers.” I have also heard these abusers called “sophisticated pedophiles.” They are like the “mafia” of child abuse. They have thought through the best ways to protect themselves from being caught. One of those ways is making the child’s story unbelievable.

Think about it. The abuser dresses up like Santa Claus and rapes the child. The child, who likely still believes in Santa Claus, sees Santa raping her, not a man dressed in a Santa suit. If she tells, who is going to believe her? Every year at Christmas, she is triggered by seeing Santa and is conflicted about hearing what a great guy he is after her experience. Her fear reinforces the trauma, making her much less likely to tell. And then, even into adulthood, she is unlikely to believe her own memories.

Additionally, if she ever does tell, her credibility is shot. No jury is going to believe that Santa Claus raped her, and the police are unlikely to put out an APB on Santa. So, the abuser gets away with abusing the child, and the child grows into an adult who questions her own sanity.

If your traumatized adopted child tells you a farfetched story like this, believe him. He is likely telling you exactly what happened, only it was from the perspective of a terrified child. Also, prepare yourself for your child’s abuse being far more sadistic than what any caseworker told you. Organized child abusers often get into ritualistic abuse, which is much more severe than regular child abuse.

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The Dirtiest Secret Behind Child Abuse

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