BishopAccountability.org
	Child Abuse Presentation Is Good Step to Awareness By Joseph Ziliak Courier & Press [Indiana] March 11, 2006 http://www.courierpress.com/ecp/religion/article/0,1626,ECP_782_4532996,00.html The impact and extent of child sexual abuse are staggering. The financial impact in the United States has been estimated by Prevent Child Abuse America at more than $24 billion in direct costs and more than $94 billion in indirect costs. Statistics indicate that there may be as many as 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of whom do not report the offense. The Albion Fellows Bacon Center, the Catholic Diocese of Evansville and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Newburgh, are working together to bring the presentation "Illuminations: A Source of Light, Hope & Healing" to the area on March 20 and 21. The sessions will be 6 to 9 p.m. March 20 and 9 a.m. to noon on March 21. It is open to professionals, clergy, teachers and parents at no cost. Priest-psychologist the Rev. Ray Chase, who serves as head of the St. Vincent Center's National Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program, will be the speaker. Chase presented a similar program at the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library more than a year ago. His approach is from the inside; namely, what are the feelings and reactions of a victim of sexual abuse? The Baltimore priest worked with a family whose two sons were sexual- abuse victims. One was artistically inclined; the other had the gift of writing. Listeners to these presentations experience the scope of abuse from an emotional level, from within, from the skills of those who have been victims. We have come a long way in the past few years in articulating the issues surrounding such a situation as terrible as the sexual abuse of a child. Just speaking about it as a problem begins the road to freedom of dealing openly with such abuse. Until we can speak freely and openly, we cannot make headway. The stakes are high; namely, the physical, spiritual and emotional health of our children. Things that begin wrongly will end wrongly until we can intervene in some effective fashion. We know a lot about regaining health for victims, but not enough. What causes adults to attack children and infiltrate their minds and psyches through insidious allurements starting with signs of love, affection and support? Why cannot adults recognize obvious boundaries to evil? What fleeting moments of joy or pleasure can make up for a loss of innocence? What lifelong hurts are imprinted in minds and hearts of little children of God? Here are some more statistics that make this issue of sexual abuse so tragic. ◊ One in four female and one in seven male children will be sexually assaulted before the age of 13. ◊ Thirty-three percent of all cases reported involve children 5 years old or younger. ◊ Eighty percent of children are assaulted by someone they know. ◊ Eighty-seven percent of the victims and offenders are of the same economic level, race and social group. ◊ Seventy-five percent of children are subjected to repeated offenses by the same offender. ◊ Fifty-one percent of offenders are natural parents. The presentation by Chase may serve to open the eyes of some, may bring healing to some, may bring a horrible recognition of self-sin to others. It is a shame to have to present programs of this nature, but it is hoped that Illuminations will help to reconcile and heal, teach and enlighten.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.