Once again, there are stirrings of an alleged sexual abuse within the FALC...I hate that I have to write alleged, but he is innocent, until proven guilty. He is 'not' to be judge and the church should be kept separate, and the list goes on and on to protect him, while little children are left to work through the affects of his vile behavior.
The more strenuous your objections and indigination, the more you need his innocence to save your belief. Your belief in the one right church, your belief in the forgiveness of sins, your belief in a preacher, his image...perhaps even his name.
Do you dare see him in a new light? What will happen to your faith and belief if you dare bring in the possibility that the children and their parents are right?
Many will try and keep their precious religion and pure faith, while a man of the pulpit has resigned, and allegedly he has sexually abused his grandchildren...they will try and separate his 'sins' from the message of God...and not rush to judgement and leave that up to God, to overlook and look beyond the abuse.
This behavior is nothing new. For decades now, the good christians of the churches have been unwilling to respond...would not dare do something so unchristian like as to see what is, to not forgive and forget, and to stare unflinchingly at abuse...while giving up their ticket into Heaven.
They do not see their behaviors OF not reacting IS keeping this whole cycle going.
What are they saying to the folks who dare speak up? How are they treating the parents who dare stop going to church? Are they listening or defending their church?
In a perfect world, a child would speak of abuse and the whole structure would fall, for the good folks would tear it down themselves. They would demand the church to pay retribution to the victims. They would set up Help lines for victims. They would enlist armies of therapists and counselors to deal with the families involved. They would take the lead in helping victims speak up. The board members would be out leading the charge to make sure he is prosecuted...by opening the space for other victims to feel safe....to feel heard and believed. Their "Greetings Of Peace" would publish places where they could seek help. There would be a number to call the detective with information that would help these young victims.
Instead...there is nothing coming from inside of the church.
Can't we at least wonder why the church is so silent?
Why the board members are not screaming with outrage?
Why are they not supporting the detective and asking for a full fledge investigation and asking their parishioners to help?
Why are so many adults completely acting so irrationally about sexual abuse (allegedly) by a preacher?
Maybe the questions are not about judging him, but about looking at the silent church...its chairperson and board members. Why are they so unwilling to grab a hold of this and start demanding answers and leading the investigations. Is the church NOT responsible for allowing a pedophile to be a preacher? What is their role, do they have any accountability here? Have they not heard his name being mentioned with sexual abuse prior and what was their response?
What I find more shocking than a preacher molesting his grandchildren (allegedly) IS the SILENCE and NO REACTION of the Board of the First Apostolic Lutheran Church...as well as other parents.
If, this was a learning institution, these same folks would be banging on the doors and removing their children Immediately. What stops them now? What is holding them back from rushing forward?
Whatever it is....it is what keeps the neat little nest of abuse going. It is the fact that good people will not change their minds, drop their faith...to bring in abuse.
Their Belief stands in the way of seeing and responding to abuse.
How many facts do they need? How much information would change their minds? How much of their lives depend upon the preacher's innocence and him not being an alleged monster?
What are they willing to sacrifice for their belief? How many little boys will have to be abused before they are willing to see differently....?
I watch this and know, he isn't the only monster lurking....denial is equally at fault.
For all it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing....Ellie Weisel.
