Our Thoughts After the Pope's Visit
Posted by Helen at 4/21/2008 3:41 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Curt and I have voraciously been reading the news reports on the Pope's visit all week. He brought the problem of clergy sexual abuse to the world's attention, but he left without solutions for the victims. He's assuring people that they can come back to church now because they're making things better in the Church. He just didn't say how. No word of the accountability issue.
SNAP (www.survivorsnetwork.org) says, "Strong words must be followed by strong actions that have measurable results." The website is packed with valuable information and lists the five concrete child protection measures that SNAP is asking the Pope to implement over the next six months to a year.
Our book, Innocence Betrayed - A Dad's Story of Clergy Misconduct is the "alarm" and tells what happens when clergy misconduct goes unchecked or flat out ignored. It can lead a victim down the horrible path to clergy sexual abuse. We give information on where a victim can go for help on our website at www.innocencebetrayedbyclergy.com.
The Innocence Betrayed Workbook was written to offer solutions to victims right now. It will aid in recognizing the "grooming process," which is a finely tuned manipulation process that may go on over a long period of time. The Workbook lists prevention tips to help eradicate and one day stomp out clergy sexual abuse. The Pope asked his churches to open their doors to the victims to hear their stories and to aid them in their healing process. He didn't leave parishioners with tips on what to do or say to help victims, but our workbook does offer that type of information.
The problem is not just within the Catholic Church. It happens in all denominations. And the trap is very much the same in each case. The general public needs to know what the pedophiles know about manipulating a victim. Clergy misconduct always leads to abuse. The books explain why the Pope said he was "ashamed." It explains why victims also feel ashamed.
Curt and I feel that change must come from the outside, not inside the church. It's going to have to be a societal change without pressure to meet the statute of limitations, which we feel should be lifted. This could be the critical first step towards change. Clergy should be held to the same standards that we hold our teachers, coaches, and anyone who works with children. All clergy should have their fingerprints on a national database, and we feel it's important for mandatory background checks and regular psychiatric evaluations to take place. This is just a small part of slowing down the predator preachers. After all, a minister plays the intimate duel role of a counselor as well as a spiritual leader and should applaud the implementation of these procedures.
Our clergy members are God's representatives on earth. It's time to seal the cracks that predator clergy crawl through to gain access to our children and vulnerable adults.
We encourage you to respond and let us know what you think.
SNAP (www.survivorsnetwork.org) says, "Strong words must be followed by strong actions that have measurable results." The website is packed with valuable information and lists the five concrete child protection measures that SNAP is asking the Pope to implement over the next six months to a year.
Our book, Innocence Betrayed - A Dad's Story of Clergy Misconduct is the "alarm" and tells what happens when clergy misconduct goes unchecked or flat out ignored. It can lead a victim down the horrible path to clergy sexual abuse. We give information on where a victim can go for help on our website at www.innocencebetrayedbyclergy.com.
The Innocence Betrayed Workbook was written to offer solutions to victims right now. It will aid in recognizing the "grooming process," which is a finely tuned manipulation process that may go on over a long period of time. The Workbook lists prevention tips to help eradicate and one day stomp out clergy sexual abuse. The Pope asked his churches to open their doors to the victims to hear their stories and to aid them in their healing process. He didn't leave parishioners with tips on what to do or say to help victims, but our workbook does offer that type of information.
The problem is not just within the Catholic Church. It happens in all denominations. And the trap is very much the same in each case. The general public needs to know what the pedophiles know about manipulating a victim. Clergy misconduct always leads to abuse. The books explain why the Pope said he was "ashamed." It explains why victims also feel ashamed.
Curt and I feel that change must come from the outside, not inside the church. It's going to have to be a societal change without pressure to meet the statute of limitations, which we feel should be lifted. This could be the critical first step towards change. Clergy should be held to the same standards that we hold our teachers, coaches, and anyone who works with children. All clergy should have their fingerprints on a national database, and we feel it's important for mandatory background checks and regular psychiatric evaluations to take place. This is just a small part of slowing down the predator preachers. After all, a minister plays the intimate duel role of a counselor as well as a spiritual leader and should applaud the implementation of these procedures.
Our clergy members are God's representatives on earth. It's time to seal the cracks that predator clergy crawl through to gain access to our children and vulnerable adults.
We encourage you to respond and let us know what you think.
Helen and Curt,
I think the work you are doing is brilliant. No greater words have been displayed then It does not stop from within the church. Or school, homes, family, friends, or strangers. This is a growing problem in America. It is a Plague that is victimizing our children and even adults. It is like a virus that spreads quickly and uncontrollable.
The only way to defeat it is to hit it head on and that means by everyone. It has gone on under our noses for way to long now. No child or adult should ever have to live with such memories. It has placed our children in extreme danger when it happens and extreme danger after the fact. The suicide rate in young teens and children has risen dramatically due to the fact they feel so alone, so guilty. They can't make it or the memories go away. They hurt in such a way that words can never describe. They have a dark void in their souls that not even the smallest light can reflect its way in. They look up to us to protect them, and they wonder why we did not. They trust no one any longer much less the power of God. I admire your courage and your wisdom to come forward and attack this head on. I pray for the victims, I pray for our souls. I pray that we can some how put an end to this terror. This is terrorism of the worst kind. I hope we can all join and make a circle of strength that is so powerful the chain can never be broken. If we can just reach out and show the children we are fighting for them, there cries will not go unheard into the night. We will stand up for them and our voices will shout so strongly, so loudly that the Thunder of God will come down and strike these predators. We will be there to help them heal. We will be there to help them over come and we will be there to the end of eternity for this chain we are building will grow from generation to generation and the power of the soul will over come all obstacles in the way. I think you are in visioned and talented and through your first voices the echo's will sound from every corner of this earth. I wish you luck and much success. I give you my hand to start this circle with and I hope someone takes mine and the chain starts to build. May you have all the blessings you need to shout from the rooftops and may your voices be heard through out this planet. I wish you Joy, Love , and Peace as you walk on this journey.
Your Friend
Patricia J Smith
http://www.freewebs.com/blessedbeps
http://www.authorsden.com/patriciajsmith
Reply to this
Dear Patricia,
Thanks so much for your heartfelt comments. Your powerful words are an inspiration. I've got your hand!
Peace and blessings,
Helen
Reply to this
The two of you are being heard, and the word is spreading. I only pray it is spreading as fast as the incidents are happening. It seems I hear another case of abuse in the news everyday. Even though it is mainly our children who are especially being victimized, so are adults, and the whole family unit suffers. Your book illustrates the consequences and pain that one unscrupulous individual can wreak on the family unit.
If the perpetrator can be spotted and stopped, the targeted individual can be saved a lifetime of pain due to the trauma. This is where 'forewarned is forearmed' comes in. Education is key, and you are doing a good job of bringing the family's pain to light.
Reply to this
I give you my hand making three. As I believe, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Reply to this
Hello friends Helen and Curt
Yes I agree with you totally , when any humans gives any authority absolute confidence then we have to expect that this authority will exploit this absolute authority in bad things, our salvation is just in REASONING , we do not need any absolute confidence , we just need minded open in luv in humanism to be able to live in freedom under just which are the parents of great luv in humanism and so we can build our luv paradise on earth, hope you both happy more brilliant thoughts
Hani
Reply to this