BishopAccountability.org
	Statement from International Childhood Sexual Abuse Advocate Regarding Latest Allegations from Syracuse University – Friday, November 18, 2011 By Robert M. Hoatson Voice from the Desert November 19, 2011 http://reform-network.net/?p=13426 Alleged sexual abuse survivors Bobby Davis and Mike Lang are to be applauded for their courage in reporting allegations of horrific sexual abuse by Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine. It is unconscionable that institutions such as a major university, a newspaper, a sports’ media outlet, and law enforcement officials chose not to alert the community of Davis’ allegations in or around 2003. Additionally, Coach Jim Boeheim’s comments on Thursday, November 17, 2011, claiming that one accuser is “lying,” should result in his dismissal for maligning a childhood sexual abuse victim. People and institutions that “don’t get it” need to be mandated by law to do something about childhood sexual abuse allegations or face the consequences of the law. Clearly, Syracuse University at least should have prevented Bernie Fine from being around children beginning in 2003. And, Syracuse University should have alerted its educational and athletic communities, including season ticket holders, that allegations of sexual abuse against Bernie Fine had been received by a former ball boy of the basketball program. The New York State legislature should be ashamed of itself as well. For nearly ten years, legislators have heard unending testimony from childhood sexual abuse survivors that should have resulted by now in the removal of the statutes of limitations on child sex crimes. It is a no-brainer, but legislators continue to pussyfoot, spurred on by lobbyists connected with the Catholic Church, primarily, and insurance companies looking to avoid large payouts for civil cases related to sex crimes. I hope New York State legislators and New York’s well-funded Catholic Conference realize now that they have been complicit in the cover-up at Syracuse University and other places in New York State. Shame on all of them! Sexual abuse of a child is referred to by experts as “soul murder.” There should be no time limitations on the reporting of sex crimes. Children who are abused very often cannot report abuse until they are much older, and laws need to protect them, not their abusers. Let’s hope this debacle at Syracuse University will spur our lawmakers to finally act to protect children. Like Penn State, Syracuse University knew. It knew almost 10 years ago, and did nothing. Coach Jim Boeheim knew. He didn’t say anything when he saw Bobby Davis with Bernie Fine in a hotel room at the Final Four. At least two media outlets knew, including one that claimed their “reporting standards” were not met in 2003. Reporting standards? The safety of children isn’t an important enough reporting standard? Once again, adults knew and did nothing to help childhood sexual abuse victims. Shame on all who knew and did nothing. Congratulations to Bobby Davis and Mike Lang for garnering the courage to report the abuse, even if it took nearly ten years for it to sink into the heads and hearts of supposedly intelligent people. Rev. Robert M. Hoatson, Ph.D. Co-founder and President Road to Recovery, Inc. P.O. Box 279 Livingston, NJ 07039 862-368-2800 Contact: roberthoatson@gmail.com
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