Current Events
Dear Pope: Off Track Again?
Jun 29, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Abuse by ClergyI realize it has been a bad week for you and the Vatican. First, the Belgian police raid the offices of the Belgian Council of Bishops and remove records of sexual abuse investigations. You condemn this action by the police, expressing concern for the confidentiality of victims’ records. With all due respect, is it really the victims’ records you are worried about or the accused priests’ records?
Rape Victim Apologizes to Church?
Jun 09, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual ViolenceThat’s right. In 1997, a fifteen-year-old girl was raped (allegedly) by Ernest Willis, an adult church member. As a result, she became pregnant. She was instructed by her pastor, Chuck Phelps, to come before the church, confess, and apologize for getting pregnant, and then she was kicked out of Trinity Baptist Church in Concord, NH.
“. . . An Accident . . .”
May 21, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsThis story caught my attention last week. This is how the defense attorney described his client’s murder of his former girlfriend.
Dear Pope: Are We Talking?
May 13, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Violence, Sexual Abuse by ClergyI’m so glad you seem to be finding my advice helpful as you move to respond to the growing crisis over sexual abuse in the church. Your comments this week suggest that your understanding has deepened and your analysis is more on target.
Dear Pope: Check This Out
May 03, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual ViolenceI don’t know if you follow the National Football League in the U.S., but I think you will be interested in this.
Dear Pope: It’s Me Again
Apr 19, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by ClergyI’m still waiting for your call, but in the meantime, I’m quite happy to provide you with a free consultation because it’s so important that you get this right. So let me suggest some fine tuning to your efforts this past week. Please pass this memo on to your PR people.
Dear Pope: Call Me
Mar 30, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by ClergyAs the crisis erupts again in Europe and the U.S. with serious questions being raised about the Pope himself, one has to wonder if the men in charge have learned anything in the past 20 years. It would appear not. If the Vatican were to ask me for advice on how to handle this situation (which they will not), here are my ten steps to justice and healing.
The Invisibility of Domestic Violence in Faith Communities
Mar 23, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceLast week, Charles Parsons murdered his wife during a couples’ counseling session at Calvary Lutheran Church south of Seattle. He turned himself in and has been charged with first-degree murder and assault.
Tiger Confesses, Apologizes; We’ll Wait for Repentance
Feb 19, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsWhy did I watch Tiger Woods statement to the press today? I guess because I continue to be intrigued by how high profile public figures address their misconduct publicly.
O God, Deliver Us from the Pat Robertsons of This World
Feb 01, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsMuch has already been said about the sheer stupidity of Pat Robertson’s “pastoral” response to the tragedy of the Haiti earthquake and I will not bother to repeat.
Reflecting on Dr. King 2010
Jan 18, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsI grew up a white Christian girl in the segregated South. I remember the beginning of integration of our schools in junior high and of my local United Methodist Church.
It Looks Like a Duck, Walks Like a Duck...
Jan 12, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual ViolenceIt seems that we have a really difficult time in our culture calling rape “rape.” Plus we are inclined to give celebrities a free pass when it comes to sexual assault.
Not Done Yet -- The US Violence Against Women Act Since 1994
Oct 05, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic Violence, Sexual ViolenceThis month is the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in the U.S.
Health Care Reform and Violence Against Women?
Sep 15, 2009 — Categories: Current EventsHealth care reform is an urgent issue in the U.S. today. As the political “process” attempts to resolve legitimate issues in the debate, the crazies and the insurance companies are trying desperately to derail any efforts to fix a dysfunctional system. Okay. But what does this have to do with violence against women? Lots.
The Elders Name Religious Tradition and Practice as Sources of Harm to Women and Girls
Aug 04, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence“. . . we believe that the justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a higher authority, is unacceptable.”
Jimmy Carter Challenges His Church
Jul 24, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic Violence“The turning point in every social justice movement occurs when the authentic leadership of survivors is met with the genuine commitments of our most power social institutions.” So said my colleague, Judith Beals, in 2002 in the midst of the disclosure of extensive sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests.
"Bad News for 'Bad Men' . . ."
Jun 25, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual ViolenceGood news for women. Lavetta Elk, 26, is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from Wounded Knee, SD. Sgt. Joseph Kopf, an Army recruiter, raped Elk after she inquired about joining the Army. In April, Elk was awarded $600K in damages for the “pain and suffering” she endured. The basis of this verdict was the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.
"What About Torture?"
May 31, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by Clergy“Punching, flogging, assault and bodily attacks, hitting with the hand, kicking, ear pulling, hair pulling, head shaving, beating on the soles of the feet, burning, scalding, stabbing, severe beatings with or without clothes, being made to kneel and stand in fixed positions for lengthy periods, made to sleep outside overnight . . .”
"Pray for the Dead . . ."
Apr 12, 2009 — Categories: Current EventsTwenty years ago, 14 people were shot and killed in a classroom at a University in Montreal, Quebec, where they were studying engineering. Last week 14 people were shot and killed in an immigrant social service center in Binghamton, New York, where they were studying English.
Guest Blog: "An Ode to Rihanna and Chris Brown" -- Take 2
Mar 10, 2009 — Categories: Current EventsThe responses I have received from some readers of the previous blog are not surprising. Some readers are critical, some supportive and some puzzled by my take on the Rihanna-Chris Brown assault case.
