As a Catholic wife, mother and advocate for clergy sex abuse victims, it was during Lent last year when I gathered up enough courage to submit my first OPINION article to OpEdNews, "Hidden Blessings" (http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_www_cath_060412__22hidden_blessings_22.htm ) And, one year later, I am very thankful for the many opportunities offered by OpEdNews and other publications, especially those encouraging public participation in matters relating to public safety, justice and the politically-charged clergy sex abuse crisis. You are truly "Hidden Blessings" -- thank you for allowing our OPINIONS:
TO ALL ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS:
In my OPINION, "Mental Reservation" Church Doctrine & Freedom of Religion have assisted your legal claims in courts of law for many years and you have personally experienced financial gain for these obvious judicial abuses.
In my OPINION, you have choices to make or not, review the criminal and civil public court records now available thanks to California's 2003 Sex Abuse Law and/or TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION!
TO POPE BENEDICT, BISHOPS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS:
In my OPINION, your legal advisors have advised that "Mental Reservation" Church Doctrine and Freedom of Religion were somehow legitimate legal claims in a court of law that would shield your religious institutions from moral, legal and financial accountability for sex crimes committed against the innocent by employees under your supervision.
In my OPINION, you have choices to make or not, listen to the courageous victims of sex abuse crimes committed by individuals under your supervision, continue to pay your expensive attorneys and public relations firms, and/or TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION!
TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS:
In my OPINION, legislation similar to California's 2003 Sex Abuse Law has been presented to you for passage on many occasions. This type of legislation will return due process of the law and a day in court to victims of past sex abuse crimes and families denied justice most of their lives. Yet, political, religious, government and expensive lobbyists continue to convince you that this legislation would be some type of religous persecution or discrimination.
In my OPINION, you have choices to make or not -- ignore the public criminal and civil court records now available thanks to California's 2003 Sex Abuse Law, ignore the personal stories of courageous victims and families that have experienced a lifetime of disabilities, and/or TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION!
"Mental Reservation" Church Doctrine and Freedom of Religion NEVER included sex abuse crimes, failures to report, obstructions of justice, perjury in any way, shape or form and/or free passes for sexual predators employed by religious institutions to roam churches, schools and public forums without accountability, and NEVER will! Without justice there will never be peace and without peace, faith and our country's laws are empty!
