I asked a pastor friend about the Mandatory Reporting within churches, if they were like Learning Institutions....and here is what he said.
"We are mandatory reporters just like the schools. Also, there could be board liability that would be settled in a court but knowing of a situation and not addressing it could very much make a board liable."
I have spoken to a board member and a member of the Mission Board as well, and he acknowledges the rising levels of abuse, but he too, as far as I can tell, has not reached outside into the world for help...even with the rapid exponentially expanding abuse.
I don't believe they can fully appreciate the fact that they can be held liable. These board members who have heard the concerns, don't seem to grasp what it truly means for them. They are not understanding Mandatory...especially to be told to do something...from the worldly folks.
Like maybe those rules don't apply? How long can they get away with ignoring the mandatory reporting?
What I know, is in my father's case, the Minister Knew...not only my case, but others. He was brought in and he did not report. He is dead now, but is the board still liable?
Would a class action suit be something that would wake them up?
I have very little doubts that a case could be made, not only in the FALC church, but in the OALC as well....from what I hear from victims.
These boardmembers may believe that their responsibility is financial, and perhaps rule making....and give very little respect or attention to Mandatory reporting...and that they are liable. The word liable means, "Responsible by Law".
They are breaking the law...by NOT reporting. I don't think they get that.
As we sit on Father's Day, I know that the majority IF NOT ALL, are fathers. What is the message they are relaying to their children about sexual abuse? What are the 'good' fathers doing about this.
Wouldn't good fathers get involved, demand answers, withdraw their children from an institution that remains so indifferent to sexual abuse?
Wouldn't a good father stand by his child and place his doubts upon the abuser?
Wouldn't a good father resign from the board IF they would not address these issues? And, wouldn't a good father join with the outside to help bring these guys in?
Who again are these board members, as human's, fathers and men?
I don't get it.
It seems that each person is waiting for someone else to take the bull by the horns, to change up the way we do things, to rattle the cage, to be publicly outraged...to do something.
If they could only see what the outside sees.
Caring Less fathers...law breakers.
Who is more evil or harmful to the children? The ones who abuse or the ones who know and do nothing?
Dealing with abuse when it is sprinkled in your religion and families makes it doubly hard to reconcile, but it also makes it more twisted to the child. They need to see that someone in the mix sees evil. As it stands today, there is no movement....it appears that the devil and the angels are one.
I mean really, is there a difference who is actually touching the child, if there are so many who stand by and do nothing?
What will it take to make the Board move?
Will it be the class action suit?
The victims are now seen as without value, our words are doubted...and elicite no response. I guess it is until we team up with the world lawyers, judges, and detectives, police and maybe in the end wage a huge class action suit against them. There just should be a consequences for their nothing behavior....and I guess there is....you become who you hang with.
I see no difference between the abuse and the silent unmoving bystander.
What difference was there between my father abusing and the father's who knew and did not support their child? In both the victim is left without a father.
Is it possible to start a petition of outrage and would you sign?
