tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post2440334746200835563..comments2024-03-17T16:21:14.907-05:00Comments on Stop Baptist Predators: Raise every voice!Christa Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-19804621363573334282009-10-09T16:51:40.914-05:002009-10-09T16:51:40.914-05:00Christa, I appreciate what you are accomplishing o...Christa, I appreciate what you are accomplishing on this site. I was a pastor who sinned sexually (not in a predatory fashion). I hurt many around me. Consequences were severe. I can't imagine where I would be if others around me tried to sweep things under the rug.<br /><br />I'm glad your work is helping those who have been victimized. Keep it up.Frank Gantzhttp://www.pulpit2pew.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-32012353689293554542009-10-09T13:10:05.473-05:002009-10-09T13:10:05.473-05:00Sarah, Know that you have one person in the South ...Sarah, Know that you have one person in the South praying for you. Bravo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-81045506653859074862009-10-09T10:33:35.689-05:002009-10-09T10:33:35.689-05:00You are very right! My words were chosen with hast...You are very right! My words were chosen with haste. <br />What I had meant to convey is that, by speaking out, Sarah (and others who have done the same) have, hopefully, ended a cycle of manipulation and abuse. The perpetrators of this abuse DEPEND on their victims to remain silence, and the manipulation is designed to encourage feelings of guilt, which foster silence. When people speak out, we can hope that victims will find inspiration and solace, and begin to understand that they themselves are victims--not guilty parties! <br />The priority of the victim will always be to first take care of his or herself. I am proud of Sarah for being able to do that, and for having come so far that she has found the strength to speak out about what has happened to her in an effort to protect others.Chris Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03352367621912281730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-65242627122625713052009-10-09T10:25:53.711-05:002009-10-09T10:25:53.711-05:00Chris said: "... as it is the silence of vict...Chris said: <i>"... as it is the silence of victims past that enable the victimization of others."</i><br /><br />Perhaps Chris didn't intend his statement in this way ... but I want to be very, very clear about something: It is NEVER the fault of the victims for enabling the victimization of others. The silence of victims is part of the psychological trauma and damage that is inflicted by the perpetrators. The victims are not responsible for their own injury.<br /><br />Furthermore, many victims do indeed make tentative efforts to speak of what was done to them, and they are usually shut down -- often by other church leaders who reinforce the web of silence that was begun by the perpetrator.<br /><br />It is not "the silence of victims past that enable the victimization of others." Rather, it is the failure of church and denominational leaders to act upon the voices of victims past that enables the victimization of others.<br /><br /><a href="http://stopbaptistpredators.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-it-hurts.html" rel="nofollow">This article by Mary Gail Frawley O'Dea</a> offers some helpful insights into the nature of the psychological damage done to clergy abuse survivors.Christa Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04560409585720043015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3874123597623259718.post-27838966480841436542009-10-09T09:58:31.777-05:002009-10-09T09:58:31.777-05:00I'm so proud of you Sarah! You're definite...I'm so proud of you Sarah! You're definitely doing the right thing, and I'm happy to see that there are so many wonderful people out there to support you. It's important to spread the word about these crimes, as it is the silence of victims past that enable the victimization of others.Chris Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03352367621912281730noreply@blogger.com