PENNSYLVANIA
The Daily Item
By Bevin Milavsky
The Daily Item
A woman who was sexually abused as a child is working for legislative change to stop the cycle of abuse and bring justice to others who have been victimized.
Tammy Lerner, of New Tripoli, is co-director of the Lehigh Valley chapter of SNAP (Survivor's Network of those Abused by Priests), and for the past three years her main focus has been serving as legislative director.
Ms. Lerner's abuse began when she was 4 or 5 and growing up in Mifflinburg. She said the abuse was committed by two members of her extended family.
Ms. Lerner's grandfather was a non-denominational minister who held church services in his home every Sunday.
Although her grandfather was in no way involved in her abuse, she said the very strict, conservative nature of the religion engendered secrecy, much like what shrouded the Catholic clergy abuse scandals.