As a supporter in the Survivors of those Abused by Priests, Voice of the Faithful, A Coalition of Truth and founder of www.catholics4justice.com, not a day goes by that our society does not read about another judicial ruling by a Judge that denies due process to a crime victim or intentionally violates the privacy of a crime victim.
After reading an article in the Washington Post dated August 13, 2006, "Diocese Ordered by Judge to Identify Sexual Abuse Victms", only one thought comes to mind, What Has Happened to Our Country's Judges?
Why would a Judge order a violation of a promise to keep the identity of victims confidential? This is not the responsibility of a Judge. Is this a political ruling or in the interests of justice? Absolutely not -- it is a ruling that protects the Judge's political connections -- nothing more.
When Judges allow political pressures to influence judicial decisions, victims of crimes, their families and other victims continue to suffer in shame and silence. Enough is enough. If Judges had ruled in accordance with the laws guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, the clergy sex abuse crisis would have never continued, without corrective action.
Is this Kentucky Judge ready to accept the retaliations that will occur after the names of victims are released? I speak from personal experiences during the past 5 years. When one chooses to exercise free speech, press, opinion and/or petition the government with a grievance relating to violations of the law committed by employees of rich, powerful and politically-connected religious institutions, life changes drastically.
Crime victims cannot fight Goliath forever -- while Judges protect their political connections and while political interferences continue, children are placed at further risk.
Freedom of religion never allowed for sex abuse crimes and failures to report crimes to law enforcement by employees of religious institutions. However, it has happened and we now have thousands of sex offenders that will never be required to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives.
Are Judges and legislators ready to accept the responsibility for failing to strictly enforce the laws that protect children from danger and the U.S. Constitution?
If a Kentucky state judge believes that ordering the Kentucky Roman Catholic Diocese to release names of sex abuse victims is in the interests of justice -- think long and hard. Does this Judge realize that he will be throwing victims of crimes, who have petitioned the government with a grievance, to the political wolves in our society, without protections?
If criminal charges are warranted, the Judge should request a Grand Jury or District Attorney investigation. Judges do not have the authority to interfere with privacy rights of crime victims.
In my opinion, Judges have the duty to rule in the interests of justice and the protections of children -- not assisting religious institutions in minimizing damages by naming sex abuse victims who were promised confidentiality.
What Has Happened to Our Country's Judges?
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 ego, has evolved over the past 5 years.
My husband, Michael, is a former Catholic high school teacher and coach, who was forced to make a career change without due process of the law. He will soon complete his Masters Degree in Special Education, his new-found passion. Our children, Nicole, Rachel, Brent and Laurel are a gift to us and all who meet them. We pray our children and the world's children will witness society correcting the wrongs committed against innocent children and families. Without justice, there will never be peace; without peace, faith and our country's laws are empty.
One of the most important leassons one can learn from History, is that it repeats itself. We live in the chronological age of the 21st century, (which means little more than that we started counting with Christ,... B.C. or A.C.) Developmentally, we have regressed to the 'Middle Ages"....around the' Fall of the Roman Empire', with many almost identical developments and characteristics. The 'Catholic Church' has a long history of Great Power, Influence, Control, and wealth. During the 'Middle Ages', it completely took over State Goverment, and it ruled by installing fear in Christians and Non-Christians alike, demanding obedience, performing cruel punishments, and conducting brutal, psychologically manipulative interrogations. Today, our Goverment is using christian values to manipulate votes, elections, blind faith, and collect believers in volumes the easy way. You can always count on the Devil staying close to God....imitating God, forging God, acting like God. The devil collects the biggest crowds, and deceives....usually with some use of Miracles. What you are describing is a situation where the Catholic Church and the State are using each other. 'Freedom of Religion' is not working in your favor at a time of 'Insecure Goverment', which goes hand in hand with declining 'Freedom of Speech'. Women and Children have never been taken very seriously by the 'Catholic Church', and they are loved in direct proportion to their willingness to surrender, be selfless, endure suffering stoically, and show obedience. In a way, you are damned by what you are doing and not doing. I do not have the answers...especially since I understand you do not have the easy 'freedom of choice' that many will have told you you have. "Why not just leave the Church?"....sounds so logical, right? But you may want to move around and look at yourself, your family, your church, and people like 'Judges' from different perspectives...just observing. Ask yourself what God may be seeing from a clear distance?
by
Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 503 comments)
on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2:02:50 AM
