Author: Joelle Casteix

“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 mega church sect, was arrested in June for child rape, child pornography, and human trafficking. One of his alleged victims, speaking publicly after filing a lawsuit against the church in February, told the Los Angeles Times:

“For nearly 22 years, I was made to work for, travel for, lie for and give my body to an organization that saw me as nothing more than a source of profit and sexual pleasure”

Advocates estimate that there are thousands of victims across the United States.

Unfortunately, “procedural errors” by the California State Attorney General’s office caused the State Court of Appeals to order all charges against Garcia dismissed this week. From the Los Angeles Times

The appeals court ruled that because Garcia’s preliminary hearing was not held in a timely manner and he did not waive his right to one after an amended complaint, the complaint filed against him must be dismissed.

The problems don’t end there.

The Cardinal

In Australia, the highest court there reversed the 2018 conviction of disgraced Cardinal George Pell. Pell, who was convicted of molesting two boys, walked out of prison after the court determined that “jurors ignored “compounding improbabilities” caused by conflicting accounts from the cardinal’s main accuser and other witnesses.“

The trial, as well as this new decision, have been criticized for the secrecy surrounding them.

What do we do with this?

Officials in California can refile charges against Garcia, and as of the date of this writing, “The Apostle” has not been released from jail.

It is unlikely that Pell will be retried, unless other accusers come forward.

That is the key phrase: unless other accusers come forward.

It is very easy for survivors to become discouraged when when the justice system doesn’t work in cases like these. But I encourage something different:

BECOME ACTIVATED

This is the time when survivors and those who support them should stand up, reach out, and find those who have also been suffering in silence.

Now is the time to come forward and encourage others to do the same.

How can we do this?

1. Reach out to everyone you know who may be affected by child sexual abuse. Tell survivors they are not alone. Know that child sexual abuse is never the fault of the victim.
2. Find support, help and avenues of healing.
3. Learn about the laws in your state and country. If you have rights in the civil or criminal courts, stand up and assert those rights, if you are able. (Need help? Contact me)
4. Demand legislative change to expose child predators.

One of the best and most effective ways to end abuse is for survivors to stand up and be counted. Only then will predators and those who cover-up for them be put on notice that they can no longer prey on children.

What happened with Garcia and Pell must never happen again.

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, statistician, data analyst, and numerous scholars on the Catholic Clergy abuse crisis.

Thank you to the National Catholic Reporter for helping me spread the word.

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 deacons, nuns, teachers, employees, volunteers … any abuser who was protected by the institutional structure of the Catholic Church.

What is the survey like?

The survey is anonymous (even if you have not yet disclosed or come forward, you can still participate). It is short (takes less than five minutes to complete). It does not ask about the details of the abuse. It does not ask any questions that may jeopardize a current or planned lawsuit. The survey is comprised of opinion and objective questions. There are no “triggering” questions.

Why should you participate?

I am compiling a body of data that I will be publishing in White Papers/ebook format. I believe that the survivors’ community is poorly understood—and that well-meaning academics, journalists, and advocates operate under a series of assumptions that may or may not be accurate.

This is the first survey in a series. Other surveys will have more specific and thematic targets and will include broader audiences (Boy Scout survivors, familial abuse survivors, etc.).

How do you participate?

Follow this link. I will not know who you are and the anonymity of participants is protected.

Why is this survey important?

The more we (survivors, the media, the public) know about the survivors community, the more we can provide help and support. In addition, I believe that the results can help in the broader child safety movement.

Questions?

If you are not a survivor of abuse and would like to review the questions before recommending the survey to survivors, please email me at jcasteix (at) gmail (dot) com.