The Boy Scout Files

National Survivor Advocates Coalition
October 19, 2012

http://nationalsurvivoradvocatescoalition.wordpress.com/editorials/

The Boy Scouts of America, on order of the Oregon Supreme Court, yesterday released over 15,000 pages of files detailing child sexual abuse by scoutmasters and other volunteers from 1959 through 1985.

The pattern that is revealed is the same as that within the Roman Catholic Church and at PennState.

Our question is: will the response be the same or will there finally be an uprising of men and women of goodwill that will protect children and provide access to justice for survivors?

Don’t children matter?

If members of a religious organization that was proclaimed a moral pillar of the planet can’t lead in this fight to protect the innocent, guard the vulnerable and say and mean enough is enough can society in general?

We applaud and join in Road to Recovery’s call for a federal investigation into the criminality of the acts by adults who were in positions of trust in the Boy Scouts.

We applaud and join in Professor Marci Hamilton’s call for a renewed examination of statutes of limitations through the country regarding sexual abuse of children and their extension to provide protection and justice.

We applaud and support SNAP’s direct words, “The simple truth is that lofty words by Scout executives are merely that: words. We encourage Scouting families to hold out for real change, not superficial public relations moves. When it comes to kids’ safety, we urge Scouting families to be skeptical, not trusting, and vigilant, not complacent. “

Opportunity has knocked again – thanks to the courage of Kerry Lewis and five other survivors who brought legal action.

Can we match their courage this time and grab at opportunity holding on for dear life and actually getting the change that children deserve?

Or once again will there be a few days of interest while the news stories run and complacency will, at least in conversation, take a short vacation but then quickly comes home and unpack?

Exercise is needed, necessary and important to our lives the experts tell us.

Well, let’s get off our duffs and make sure children are protected.

How many more reports are we waiting for?

You can find us at our webblog:

NationalSurvivorAdvocatesCoalition.wordpress.com

Road to Recovery’s at: road-to-recovery.org

SNAP’s at : snapnetwork.org

Please connect.

Children are depending on it.

The child being targeted today, the child suffering in tormented silence today, the child considering ending his or her life today because of sexual abuse could be your son or daughter, your grandson or granddaughter, your niece, nephew, or the kid next door.

Don’t they mean something to you?