Advocates propose (clergy) sex abuse reforms

[Ian David]

Advocates propose sex abuse reforms
Accountability, victim relief key

By Christine McConville, Globe Staff | January 8, 2007

About 60 people, most alleged victims of clergy sex abuse, unveiled a bill yesterday designed to provide relief for victims of childhood sexual abuse, while making abusers more accountable and letting the public know how pervasive this abuse is.

After a solemn midday march yesterday from the Archdiocese of Boston's Cathedral of the Holy Cross to the front doors of a nearby law school, they outlined a plan to more fully address what some called a "silent, violent epidemic."

"All of us can't fix what happened to us, but we universally want to protect future generations from going through this," Ann Hagan Webb of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests told a cheering crowd in Boston's Chinatown after the legislative package was detailed.

Jetta Bernier, cochairwoman of the Coalition to Reform Sexual Abuse Laws, said the Comprehensive Protection from Childhood Sexual Abuse Act of 2007 aims to lay the groundwork for future reforms.

The group's bill includes a provision that forces institutions that serve children to report to law enforcement credible information they receive about individuals who are alleged to have abused children in the past yet who are still working with children. It also calls for reducing financial barriers for survivors who cannot afford treatment by allowing them to tap into a victim's compensation fund.

<snip>

According to the Archdiocese of Boston, between 1950 and 2003, 162 priests were accused of sexually abusing minors. This group represents about 7 percent of the priests serving in the Archdiocese during that period. Since the Globe publicized the issue in 2001, accusations against priests have surfaced worldwide, resulting in more financial settlements.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/01/08/advocates_propose_sex_abuse_reforms/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[jarab]

1. Three laudable goals.

But, these would not be necessary had the sexual abuse laws in the past applied to everyone equally. A priest's (clergyman's) indiscretions are no better (or worse) than my atheist, drunk, unemployed neighbor's, although some might argue - with some veracity - that those in positions of power are more accountable.

jmho
...O...

[Ian David]

6. See related thread: Transforming Fear into Power: The Politicization of Child Sexual Abuse

Transforming Fear into Power: The Politicization of Child Sexual Abuse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3069559

[hashibabba]

2. I agree that those in more power need to be more accountable.

I'm not a Catholic, but my sister is. She's afraid she needs to tell the boys to be careful around the priests at school and at mass.

So, only 7% of the priests are offenders? Well, isn't that a nice figure. That means your kid will at least meet several abusers in his or her lifetime. That's comforting.

[sybylla]

3. Don't assume this is a Catholic problem

I receive a bi-monthly newspaper that puts together a "Black Collar Crime Blotter" from newspaper accounts across the country and around the world. Based on it's content over the past 10 years+ that I've been receiving it, I can tell you that other denominations, their clergy, lay people and volunteers have just as much trouble with sex abuse and crime as does the Catholic church.

Every child should be taught what's right and what's wrong in relationships with people of power. Good intentions should never be assumed in any situation, regardless of the person involved. Instincts for self preservation should never be abandoned for faith. But acquiesence to power is what the churches teach and so churches by their very nature give cover to those who would pervert their relationship with the community.

All such houses of worship should welcome the new law. It is one giant step towards cleansing them of charlatans while discouraging said charlatans from seeking refuge from the law in the house of God.

[Ian David]

5. Agreed. There have even been a couple of rabbis in the past couple years.

But I do think that the celibate lifestyle probably attracts sexual abusers in greater numbers. Anyone who expresses a desire to suppress a human being's natural, normal need for sexuality for their entire life has got to have some psych-sexual issues of some kind going on.

[Ian David]

4. "Only 7%" is the number The Vatican is reporting of their own free will.

Why do you think they fought so hard to kill a bill in Massachusetts that would have required all religious institutions to have the same financial transparency as secular non-profits do?

Because they don't want us to find out how many victims they're REALLY buying-off.

Imagine if "Only 7%" of school teachers, or "Only 7%" of psychiatrists or "Only 7%" of gynecologists molested children-- what an uproar there would be.