Via Email & Facsimile
U.S. House of Representatives
Attention: The Honorable Karen L. Haas
Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Capitol, Room H154
Washington, DC 20515
Re: PROTECTIONS OF CHILDREN - STOP THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST & OBSTRUCTIONS OF JUSTICE
Dear Honorable Karen L. Haas:
The events relating to the clergy sex abuse crisis that erupted in 2002 and most recently in the U.S. Senate, indicate that politics and the good 'ol boy networks have created serious CONFLICTS OF INTEREST causing ongoing OBSTRUCTIONS OF JUSTICE. Politics and the good 'ol boy networks have run the show too long. We can no longer remain silent.
The survivors of clergy sex abuse and their families have been screaming for years about the existing dangers in our society -- but politics and the good 'ol boy networks continued, without corrective action.
Elected government officials nationwide have had opportunities to correct the wrongs committed against children and vulnerable adults, through legislation similar to California's 2003 Sex Abuse Law. However, politics and the good 'ol boy networks are still doing their thing, without understanding the serious ongoing failures to protect children. This is a conflict of interest and brings ongoing obstructions of justice.
We have learned that no legal, religious, political or government institution should police itself -- it is a conflict of interest.
We have learned that politics and the good 'ol boy networks have reached far into the courts and judiciary systems for many years -- this is a conflict of interest.
We have learned that many have never looked a sex or violent crime victim in the eyes, have never listened to the victims' family pain -- allowing politics and the good 'ol boy networks to influence the media, courts and judiciary.
Please consider an immediate U.S. Congressional hearing to determine the need for legislation and corrective action. Clergy sex abuse victims, victims of crime and their families have been left alone to fight politics and the good 'ol boy networks.
As a society, we must stop the CONFLICTS OF INTEREST that cause OBSTRUCTIONS OF JUSTICE -- we must demand that children are protected. Without justice there will never be peace and without peace, faith and our country's laws are empty.
Respectfully submitted,
Debby Bodkin
Catholic wife, mother & concerned American
Founder, www.catholics4justice.com, and
Supporter, Survivors of those Abused by Priests (SNAP)
