BishopAccountability.org
	Diocese Supports Men's Recovery By Aine Moorad London Free Press March 2, 2009 http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/03/02/8583746-sun.html A program that helps men who have been sexually abused has received $75,000 in funding from the Roman Catholic Diocese of London. The Silence to Hope Project provides support groups for men from Windsor to Wingham and Sarnia to Simcoe. Tom Wilken, project co-ordinator for Silence to Hope, said males make up 37% of sexual abuse victims under the age of 21. "We need to include men into the circle of compassion. There's a myth in our society that men represent abusers and women represent victims." It's the third year the diocese has provided money, spurred by several high- profile sexual abuse cases involving priests. But the money is aimed at helping all males who have been sexually abused as children, not just the victims of priests, Wilken said. Mark Adkinson, a spokesperson for the diocese, said church officials have seen value in funding the Silence to Hope Project. "STH makes a big impact in the community," he said. "We partner with experts that are making a big difference in people's lives." Wilken's top priority is to increase education and awareness of male sexual abuse. With the help of the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness, he has distributed more than 1,500 free copies of his books to agencies such as the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Ontario Provincial Police. Wilken hopes that his book will provide agencies with guidance on how to train staff so they are better able to support sexually abused males.
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