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	Breaking through Denial By Dr. Jaime Romo Healing and Spirituality April 4, 2011 http://www.jaimeromo.com/blog/archives/364 It is Lent, a time where we might consider death and new life, perhaps death of denial and the new life of advocacy breakthroughs . It may seem that institutional denial its consequences are alive and strong all over the world: Malta, Australia, Chile, and Ireland. We see steps of accountability in the institutionalized cover up of predatory child abusers in the NW (Jesuits) and Philadelphia. Perhaps these reflect a good kind of death, in that we recognize the importance and urgency of ending cultures that perpetuated abuse. When individuals and groups are willing to speak prophetically to abuse, they help break through that denial in some way. The death of silence about sexual abuse, particularly by clergy and related to religious institutions can be redemptive. The recent charge that Bishop McCormack of New Hampshire was a pedophile pimp by New Hampshire House Majority leader, D. J. Bettencourt, may be a kind of breakthrough, even if the charge may have been a distraction from a budget discussion. There are different kinds of breakthroughs. An ex-priest in northern California challenges church leaders to end abuse and support survivors, a priest and nun march with survivors in Philadelphia. I look forward to the inaugural TAALK shows, in which I was honored to be among the first guests to raise awareness and encourage conversation and action to prevent sexual abuse. I have been working for the past few years to break through denial in churches, and create local policy and education that leads to individuals and groups that will begin to think critically and act responsibly to prevent and intervene in abuse. That work has felt glacial and there are some breakthroughs, however slow in coming. In my own area, there has been a new look to our Conference Safe Church webpage. In my own particular church, there has been some learning over the past few years of implementing an education program that, even in a church where a registered sex offender showed up four years ago, has not been enthusiastically supported. Just the other day, I received an invitation from a school of theology that I have had no contact with. The invitation was to apply for a faculty position. I don't know what will come of this and I see this as another breakthrough where who I am and what I know and the work I do related to transforming institutions from contexts of religious authority sexual abuse to healing could be valued and integral in a seminary setting. It's too early to say how much of a turnaround these breakthroughs represent. That may depend on you and others and how much you are able to believe what you see and believe what you hear from survivors. It will depend on how many will have faith that leads to action. I believe that D.H. Lawrence wrote about faith or religious practices that have not led to action to protect children and vulnerable adults. I am not a mechanism, an assembly of various sections. And it is not because of the mechanism is working wrongly, that I am ill I am ill because of wounds to the soul, to the deep emotional self and the wounds to the soul take a long, long, time, only time can help and patience, and a certain difficult repentance, long, difficult repentance, realization of life's mistake, and the freeing oneself from the endless repetition of the mistake which mankind at large has chosen to sanctify. The poem is called, "Healing." May it happen soon in the very places where there has been so much denial. Jaime Romo, Ed.D. works with survivors, supporters, and parents to protect children from abuse and live and learn in healthy environments. His most recent books are: "Healing the Sexually Abused Heart: A Workbook for Survivors, Thrivers, and Supporters;" "Parents Preventing Abuse;" and "Teachers Preventing Abuse." For more information, see http://www.jaimeromo.com
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