Eric Parsons / Star File Photo Santa Paula 12/1/06. Clergy abuse victim Eric Barragan, of Santa Paula, will talk with Mexico government leaders about child sexual abuse this week.

A clergy abuse victim from Santa Paula will tell Mexico government leaders this week that people who have been molested by priests are scared to come forward and with good reason.

"They're going to get (verbally) attacked by the community. They're going to be attacked by their own extended families," said Eric Barragan, who was abused when he was 12 and didn't tell anyone until he was 26. "The fear will consume you. The anger will consume you and unless you ask for help, you'll never be able to help yourself and address the issue."

Barragan, a 32-year-old restaurateur born and raised in Santa Paula, will testify Friday at the San Lazaro Legislative Palace in Mexico City as part of a forum on child sexual abuse. He'll speak before members of one of Mexico's major political parties, the Party of the Democratic Revolution, including at least a handful of senators and other members of the Mexican Congress.

He'll tell them Hispanics in America and Mexico are afraid to report sexual abuse against priests because they've been taught all their lives not to do anything that might damage the Catholic Church. They've come to believe they are somehow responsible for the crimes done against them.

"It's never spoken of," he said. "It's a taboo."

Barragan talks about the taboo as much and as often as he can. He and his brother brought criminal charges against Carlos Rene Rodriguez about four years ago. The former Catholic priest pleaded guilty to three counts of molestation and was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2004. Another brother wasn't involved in the criminal charges because of the statute of limitations but joined his brothers in a lawsuit that was resolved earlier this year as part of a $60 million settlement involving 45 cases.

A member of a clergy abuse group called Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, Barragan has been going to Mexico for more than a year, researching clergy abuse allegations involving priests who have worked there and in the United States. He talks to victims and tries to provide the support they need to deal with their abuse and to go public.

"Without the victims coming forward, there can't be a call for change," he said.

Barragan thinks Mexico's government is beginning to deal with child abuse but it needs more laws that offer anonymity and other protection to people who report abuse. The country also needs more support groups that bring victims together and show them they are not alone, he says.

His work in Mexico has brought him death threats. When he testifies this week, he'll be accompanied by bodyguards. He's also been told it's rare for a U.S. citizen to be asked to testify before members of Mexico's Congress, especially about a topic as sensitive as clergy abuse.

Even having a government forum that talks about abusive priests is rare, said Aide Garcia from the Mexico City office of Catholics for Free Choice, an organization that is helping to organize the event.

"The goal of this panel is that the government punishes those who commit (molestation) and protects our children," she said.

Staff writer Gabriela Gonzalez contributed to this report.