The gift that the scandal at Penn State is offering is it is encouraging others to stand in the long line of abused children, whether it happened recently or years and years ago.
The adults who are standing today, are great examples to others that we can't sit down and silently pray that it will go away. It won't.
What I find so infuriating is that many will HEAR about abuse, but not believe it. Which is the biggest problem victims have is being believed. Imagine, we are not believed.
What does 'believing' us mean? What will show us you believe? What actions are your changing to tell us that you are now 'believing' in the news?
What I just get so floored by is that people listen, but they don't believe. They hear, but they continue on as if we had not spoken.
Josh commented on my blog post, "Shattered Dreams" stating that not only did his Uncle abuse his father, he also abused him. That means that Eric has gone on abusing now for many years. What will that mean to you all who sit in the pews? What will happen? Will you contact the Chairperson of the Board of the First Apostolic Church and DEMAND he not preach? Will you start to then question many things, or will you hear it and just pass it on as 'their story' their life, and go on unchanged?
I believe there is active listening where it instills actions and then there is passive listening where it requires nothing of you.
What I want to impress upon you, that passive listening is the greatest gift to Eric, it will allow him to freely abuse in the third generation. Imagine that?
Passive listening is what Joe Paterno did. Passive listening is what those in Higher Positions did. Passive listening is how so many boys were abused, while the coach horsed around in the showers.
I don't know what it will take in your world for you to act upon knowledge, for you to stand up and get 'involved'.
What I see most is the courageous abused children, even those who are now adults stepping forth.... and speaking out. How many will be believed? Just as in the Penn State case, you will draw a side, you will decide who to believe and why....I would be curious to hear the other side.
Josh is telling you, do you believe him? Do you dare not act? For all who will passively read blogs and then go on with life unchanged, you are exactly what is needed for sexual crimes to be committed, again and again and again. There is a term for you all, accessories to the crime.
Those who know and remain unmoved.
