MN- Victims blast neighbors of cult leader

By Barbara Dorris
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
April 16, 2014

http://www.snapnetwork.org/mn_victims_blast_neighbors_of_cult_leader

We are very upset at those in Pine County Minnesota who suspected wrongdoing at Victor A. Barnard's compound but kept silent about it. We call on each and every one of them who saw or heard or experienced unusual behavior there to contact law enforcement officials immediately.

Barnard has been charged with dozens of counts of sexually assaulting young woman and girls. We commend the brave victims who have come forward and to law enforcement for tirelessly working to find this dangerous predator.

http://www.startribune.com/local/255322011.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue

News accounts quote several neighbors who said things like 

“I didn’t expect it to be anything good that was going on down there" 

“It’s been the buzz around here [with regard to the sexual abuse allegations]” 

We are appalled that these individuals - and who knows how many more - kept quiet about this.

When will people finally realize that they should trust their instincts and call the police when anything unusual seems to be happening to or with children? When will people finally start erring on the side of acting responsibly instead of acting timidly? When will people finally understand that where there's smoke, there very often is indeed fire?

We hope anyone who saw, suspected or suffered crimes by Barnard will immediately call police. It is never too late to report the truth and help protect other children and vulnerable adults.