May 17, 2006 at 14:55:48

Society's Challenge - Answering the Scandals with Personal Holiness

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By Debby Bodkin (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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My deepest fear from the abuse scandals is that my children, who attended Catholic schools and churches most of their lives, will join the institutional denial mentality because of their strong Catholic education and background.

This is how my new-found hobby of writing letters to editors and submitting articles nationwide, gave me an opportunity to answer the clergy abuse scandals with my own personal efforts and advocacy. My family sometimes says my letters and articles are annoying -- okay with me! But amazing how soon children learn to listen to what has occurred in their churches and this is a blessing from the survivors' courage to speak out publicly, so other children will be protected.

There is still so much work to be accomplished, so many children who need guidance in answering the scandals with faith and holiness, so many of the struggling faithful who want to help but don't know what to do.

There are many private and public ways to support those who have been abused in religious and trusted communities.

It is my sincere hope that as a society, we can take responsibility for correcting the wrongs that have been committed against children, with the assistance of our country's court systems and legislation that will finally clean religious institutions of dirty secrets, while demanding policies and procedures that will protect children in the future.

Finally, it is my hope that survivors of clergy sex abuse will continue to find the courage to share personal stories of sex abuses. More importantly, we pray that Catholics and non-Catholics will read and listen to stories of sex abuses. Listen with your hearts and hopefully, as a society, we can correct the wrongs that still lay buried in files and records.

To the survivors of clergy sex abuse: You are gifts from God and "Hidden Blessings", and thanks to your courage "Our Children Deserve More" and are safer today, than yesterday.

As a society, we can make a difference for the children in the world -- please take part. God bless you.

Debby Bodkin, Founder, www.catholics4justice.com
Supporter, Survivors of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)

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www.catholics4justice.com

As an amateur writer, mother, wife and legal secretary for the past 25 years, my passion for the courage of clergy sex abuse victims, their families and mandated reporters, who made a choice to protect children, before their own career security and (more...)

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