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
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the child sex abuse survivors’ movement. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the news and the emotions involved (Heck, even I’m overwhelmed). After years of little action, it seems as if survivors and advocates have been thrown into a hurricane of news, reaction and emotion—lots and lots…Continue reading The New York Child Victims Act: How will you change the world today?
