In my talks to groups, I always try to impress on people how child sexual abuse destroys communities. When a predator undermines family and community bonds to target a child, the ripples of sexual abuse damage radiate farther than the child victim. It happened in my case—affecting (and destroying) my family, my peers, and the…Continue reading “Can’t you just let it go?”
Buried in the news about COVID and the global George Floyd protests, the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, VA, quietly announced today that it is starting “formal investigations” of child sexual abuse against four former priests. What is NOT interesting about the investigation is that there are four accused priests. What IS interesting is the relevant—but…Continue reading Tough Questions for the Diocese of Richmond
“The Apostle” and a Cardinal. The self-appointed leader of a Mexico-based religious sect and the former Treasurer of the Vatican. Two men accused of and jailed for child sexual abuse. Now, both have had their charges reversed. Justice has not been served. The Apostle Naason Joaquin Garcia, the head of the La Luz Del Mundo…Continue reading Naason Joaquin Garcia and George Pell: Justice Denied
The data is in and the key take-aways, I believe, are surprising: the Survivor Insights Survey results will be published soon. For once, COVID 19 has actually provided some benefits. Because work and life have come to screeching halts for many professionals, I have expanded access to my expert on the visual representation of data,…Continue reading Survivor Insights Survey Update
Friends and colleagues: I am compiling data for a research project that is going to do a deep-dive into insights about the survivor community. The first phase is a five-minute survey for SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. You need not be abused by a priest – I am looking for survivors of…Continue reading Survivors: I need your insight
On December 1, New Jersey opened its two-year window for adult survivors of child sexual abuse. From WHYY: A landmark New Jersey law, that takes effect Sunday, opens a two-year window for all past victims to file civil lawsuits against their perpetrators, as long as the abuse occurred in the state. Many such victims had…Continue reading New Jersey Opens Window for Survivors
Funny, the Archdiocese didn’t care about victims until Gavin Newsom signed AB 218 into law. The new law allows adult survivors of child sex abuse in California to use the civil courts to expose abuse and cover-up. So now, diocese officials are trying to get all friendly before January 1, 2020, when victims can start…Continue reading The Archdiocese of San Francisco is Having a Party for Abuse Survivors
CA AB 218 is now law. Victims of child sexual abuse—no matter how old they are or when the abuse occurred (public or private institutions are both included, as well as victims in the family)—can come forward in the courts and expose what happened. For those of us from Mater Dei, the All-American Boys Chorus,…Continue reading A note to my friends about AB 218
California Enacts AB 218: Landmark Bill Protects Children from Sexual Abuse California Enacts AB 218: Landmark Bill Protects Children from Sexual Abuse Zero Abuse Project Commends the New Law, Which Opens a Three-Year Window for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault to Seek Justice and Hold Institutions Accountable. Sacramento CA, (October 13, 2019) – Zero Abuse…Continue reading California opens three-year window for victims of child sexual abuse
Why Independent Compensation Programs are a Sham, Reason 3,298 It was a throwaway quote by Orange Bishop Kevin Vann that gave him away. Yesterday, six dioceses across the state of California launched what they are calling the Independent Compensation Program (ICP) for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests. The programs, modeled after similar…Continue reading Orange Bishop Kevin Vann needs a History Lesson, or
This morning, New York’s Rochester Diocese became the 20th U.S. diocese to seek bankruptcy protection when faced with child sex abuse and cover-up lawsuits. Why did the diocese choose to seek bankruptcy protection? Bishop Matano (pictured above) is making this all about the Benjamins. He wants to elicit sympathy from parishioners, make the public think…Continue reading Diocese of Rochester Bankruptcy: Let’s Talk Turkey
Survivors of child sexual abuse often don’t know what to do when a civil window opens in their state. Here I answer some of the most common questions from my own experience in California’s 2003 civil window.
You want a juicy scandal? Don’t go to Hollywood. Instead, look no further than State 48. And because of a new law, it’s time for a dive into the history of child (and vulnerable adult) sex abuse and cover-up across Arizona. I’ll talk about new law and why survivors can come forward at the end…Continue reading A Brief History of Child Sex Abuse and Cover-up in Arizona
Click here to listen to my entire August 28, 2019 interview with Phoenix’s KJZZ on how to prevent child sexual abuse.
I get SO MANY emails asking for help in this arena. Start here. You can always email me for suggestions and guidance, too. And no “helpful hints” on video production, please. I can’t take any more. My 13-year-old son is already overloading me how much improvement I need. Ugh. I told him that my videos…Continue reading Don’t go it alone: How to find a civil attorney for your child sex abuse case
In September, a representative for bishops in six California dioceses will begin mailing out information packages to survivors of clergy sex abuse. These packets will discuss a church-run compensation program for years of shame, suffering and cover-up perpetrated by priests and bishops across the state. I am not a fan of these programs at all.…Continue reading California Bishops to Start Passing Out Cash to Victims: Why Now?
Yesterday, the Diocese of San Diego issued a press release, calling an “all hands on deck” meeting about child sexual abuse. At the meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13, “All diocesan employees will hear about the steps the diocese is taking to protect children and young people, and on the moral and legal…Continue reading The Diocese of San Diego: The Land of Smoke and Mirrors
Being an honorable Boy Scout is not about forcing yourself to carry secrets of hurt and shame. Honoring the Boy Scouts is not about protecting the public from the truth about your experience in Scouting. So what do you do if you are a Scout who was sexually abused? What do you do if you…Continue reading Boy Scouts and Abuse: Why come forward?
Yesterday, six of California’s Catholic bishops announced an independent compensation program for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. I wrote an extensive series on these programs a while back. While the some of the details are different, the facts about these programs remain the same: This plan is not about helping survivors. This is about the…Continue reading Independent compensation programs hit California
