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As a Catholic wife and mother in Orange County, California, the clergy sex abuse/pedophilia crisis is one that has revealed many unknowns in our society.After reading an article by Pam Platt at the Courier-Journal, "Who's Obsession is it?" which relates to the media frenzy that has plagued JonBenet Ramsey's tragic murder, there is no doubt that many of us have joined the world of "news junkies" and obsessions relating to crimes committed against precious children.
In addition, there is no doubt that as a society, we have ways of protecting ourselves from painful truths relating to any crime committed against a child. After I took down the walls that protected me from the painful truths surrounding pedophilia in the Catholic Church, the personal stories of clergy sex abuse survivors and their families, led me to search for the how's and why's relating to the sex abuse crimes committed against children and vulnerable adults for many years. The truths have been haunting.
The clergy sex abuse crisis and the JonBenet Ramsey tragedy reveal two serious issues. As a society, we have an urgent need to find someone to blame for any heinous crime committed against a child. Many times in finding immediate blame, we fail to investigate and confront the evilness and cover-ups that may also co-exist in crimes committed against children.
* The JonBenet investigation and the clergy sex abuse crisis involve sex abuse crimes allegedly committed by trusted individuals and/or pedophiles.
* Pedophilia can never be cured. Pedophiles gain trust and access to children and vulnerable adults before they destroy. Pedophiles often escape prosecutions for crimes committed and roam our society as sexual predators.
* The media, law enforcement and our society have focused on blaming John and Patsy Ramsey for JonBenet's participation in beauty pagents -- stating that it was the parents' fault for making JonBenet a pedophile's target. This is a crime of its own and anyone who jumped into this "strategic" tactic needs to own up to it!
* Government leaders, law enforcement and our society have focused on blaming the clergy sex abuse victims and their families for their public outcry, for seeking justice and healing in criminal and civil courts of law -- claiming the victims and their attorneys are greedy. This is an ongoing crime of its own and anyone who jumps into this "strategic" tactic to protect politically-connected religious institutions from accountability, needs to own up to it!
OPINION: If a pedophile sexually abused and murdered JonBenet 10 years ago, then there is no doubt that it was someone who was politically-connected enough to escape facing accountability for JonBenet's tragic death. This is a crime of its own and anyone who kept quiet and jumped into this "strategic" tactic, needs to own up to it!
If the future brings the truths relating JonBenet's tragic death, there was a purpose for the 10 years of obsessions and media frenzy -- only justice will bring peace. A precious child's life was destroyed and her family tormented by public opinion and blame. The truths relating to the death of JonBenet Ramsey needs to be told to the world -- the truth will bring justice, peace and protections to other children in the future.
With persistence, the truths relating to the clergy sex abuse crisis will also bring justice and peace. The courage and public outcry of clergy sex abuse victims and their families have been publicly criticized and downplayed for many years. Many lives have been tormented for speaking the truth about sex abuse crimes committed by pedophiles employed by religious institutions.
When crimes destroy the lives of children and families, the truth must be told. Without justice, there will never be peace. Without peace, faith and our country's freedoms are empty.
