Possible Link Between Interstitial Cystitis and Sex Abuse

This article is fascinating, offering a possible link between sex abuse and Interstitial Cystitis. Though it has certainly not be scientifically verified, it suggests – yet again – that the effects of abuse are far reaching and tangible.

Pastor Charged with Spanking Child Who Reported Sexual Abuse

Amazing – and folks, this happens in churches. If the allegations are true, this situation is not unique.

Pastor on trial for spanking girl for reporting abuse.

Does Rape Feel Good?

Quite a few times I have seen this phrase as a search term used to find this blog. I’m not sure what that phrase has found on my blog since I have not directly addressed that question prior to this, but the question is obviously something quite a few people want to know.

Since it keeps coming up, I have written an answer to the question. However, given the sensitive nature of the subject I decided not to make a blog post of it.

If this is a question you need, or want, to know the answer to — check out Does Rape Feel Good?

When a Pastor is Convicted Does He Deserve a Reduced Sentence?

In virtually every case of clergy sex abuse I see, the accused, family, friends and church members plead for minimal or commuted sentences based on the wonderful acts and invaluable service the guilty party has devoted his life to in the balance of his existence. They say we must forgive because God forgives, and they say the man is not a monster, implying he is not to be compared to “truly evil doers” like perhaps Ted Bundy.

What is a monster anyway? Is the measure of a monster determined by physical appearance, tone of voice, career choices and the relative number of hours in one’s life that are spent in positive pursuits compared to the number of hours spent in active destructive evil? Or can a single act or two, which do incalculable damage to the life of another, be quite simply enough?

It is not what is outside a man which determines who he is. It is who he is inside. Who he is inside is what drives a man (or woman) to molest and sexually assault children. “Only one or two” is one or two entire lives too many.

Is Satan a monster or an angel? Of course, he cannot be redeemed, but he was created an angel.

There is no person on earth who is a monster. A monster is a mythical creature. Ted Bundy isn’t a monster. Charles Manson isn’t a monster. The most heinous criminal you can imagine isn’t a monster. And the pastor who was convicted of sexually assaulting two children 30 years ago and no one knows of any others is no different from Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, or any other criminal. They have all committed crimes worthy of consequences which include long-term, perhaps life-long, incarceration.

There is a fundamental truth people are overlooking. God does not give people a free pass on their consequences because they have been “more good than bad” according to some people’s standard of measure. Pedophiles have, in just one moment, done more harm than they can ever do good in an entire lifetime of stellar service, period.

God can redeem, God can forgive – but God does not give a free pass on the consequences — for either the victims or the offender. Victims serve a “life sentence” of consequences for what may occur in a moment’s time. Why does anyone think the offender has any right to a commuted sentence because “it happened so long ago” or “it was just once or twice” or “he’s really a wonderful man” or “he’s not a monster.”

We confuse human emotions and a human tendency to quantify evil with the reality of the law of sowing and reaping. God does not do that. Justice has nothing to do with feelings. God’s natural law of sowing and reaping, which, like the law of gravity, transcends the law of grace, demands consequences for actions.

And when God’s people say otherwise they are guilty of violating God’s direct Word on this subject. This is not acceptable. As long as this state exists in the church, and to the extent to which it remains, the church is crippled.

Former Pastor David Leon Bishop Arrested for Child Molestation

Former pastor David Leon Bishop was arrested Thursday, October 2, for more than 40 criminal counts of child molestation. Bishop, who was pastor of First United Pentecostal Church in Redding, CA since the early 1970’s resigned as pastor several months ago for unstated reasons. However, these pending charges were apparently the reason for that resignation, since he and his attorney have known these charges were in the offing.

While Bishop’s attorney says the incidents of the charges took place “many years ago” the district attorney’s office cannot file charges on allegations predating 1988. That is hardly “many years ago.” Nor is 40 charges a minor event. And neither number is small in the life of an alleged victim. The fact that someone would minimize either is chilling.

Church Hosts Sex-Abuse Awareness Event

“Don’t tell anyone or I’ll disown you as a daughter,” — that’s what one father told his teenage daughter after he sexually assaulted her. And that’s what she publically shared at a church-sponsored awareness event in Naperville, IL. This victim eventually got the courage to tell a neighbor who believed her and the guilty father served a year in prison, followed by two years of probation and two years of counseling. But all too often, victims are not believed when they tell.

Awareness events like this are so important for multiple reasons. Victims need the validation of knowing that what happened to them matters and other people care. The rest of the community needs to know how often this tragedy happens and needs to learn how to recognize it and what to do when it happens to someone they know. Perpetrators need to know their community will not turn a blind eye to their hideous misdeeds.

This event was sponsored by the DuPage Universalist Church. I’d love to see Protestant churches get on board with this issue which affects so many people sitting in their pews!

Struggling with A Church that Abandons the Abused

If you are one of those who struggles with how to feel about a church that has abandoned or mistreated the abused, you may find some thoughtful ideas in this article in the Boston Globe where they interviewed Kerry Kennedy about her book Being Catholic Now.  This book was written in response to her own struggle to reconcile her faith with things she saw in her church.  You may or may not agree with all her theology or political ideology, but she makes some very interesting points.

The Boston Globe asks that you complete a free registration to use their site.  The site may let you read most of the article before it shuts you out.  But the registration is free, and I felt the article was well worth reading.