We're hearing a lot of talk about child abuse these days - and perhaps the most horrifying of all the accounts is the church's orientation. To associate these deplorable actions with God must be the greatest betrayal possible. From the overall accounts of abused children, there are always people in authority involved - older brothers, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, older neighbors - whoever, it seems there was always a higher authority to bow to. But to be told that the intimacy was part of God's plan surely is go-to-the-head-of-the-class evil. Of the few victims I know, the shattering of trust has permanently skewed their relationships - on all levels. Some obviously adapted better than others, but the damage cannot be overestimated.
And the haunting soul-echo down through the ages is "Why me? Did I do something to allow this to happen?"
With every breath we must reassure the devastated, and work for the severest of punishment for the monstrous offenders.
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