Current Events
The Launch of SAFFI
Dec 02, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceElizabeth Petersen first contacted FaithTrust Institute in 2004 and finally came for a visit in 2009 while she was studying in the U.S. on a Humphrey Fellowship. Immediately upon meeting her, we realized that her vision for her work in South Africa paralleled our work at FaithTrust Institute.
“My Heart Is So Sore . . .”
Dec 01, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceWe sat together with the Religious Leaders Forum of Cape Town. Clergy and lay, men and women who have come together to address gender violence in their communities. Twenty people met in a room in a Dutch Reformed Church. The women began to share their stories.
16 Days of Activism
Nov 30, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceI awoke to bright sun and cool breeze in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s summer here. Everything is in bloom in this semi-tropical part of the world. This is good news to an already light-deprived northwesterner who left winter and snow behind in the States. I am here as a guest of the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI). I am also here as a speaker and specialist sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.
Domestic Terror: A State of Intense Fear Related to Household or Family
Nov 15, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceHere are two current events that, when juxtaposed, caught my interest. Changing social norms is getting harder, not easier. “In revealing the decision points that led him to choose waterboarding as an interrogation technique, Bush says, ‘CIA experts drew up a list of interrogation techniques . . . At my direction, Department of Justice and CIA lawyers conducted a careful legal review. The enhanced interrogation program complied with the Constitution and all applicable laws, including those that ban torture.’”
Dear Bishop Long
Oct 12, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Abuse by ClergyDear Bishop Long: As a fellow pastor, I am glad to see that you are studying scripture and praying as you confront the allegations of pastoral misconduct from four of your young followers. I see that you are comparing yourself to David as a young man in battle with Goliath. I appreciate your identification with David, a young man battling powerful odds. However, you might find it interesting to study the older David, the flawed and imperfect leader we read about in II Samuel.
You Shall Know the Truth . . .
Sep 24, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Abuse by ClergyBishop Eddie Long is a national Christian leader, preacher and pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lithonia, Georgia, outside Atlanta. He is now facing three civil actions from two young male members of his church alleging that he coerced and manipulated them into sexual activity with him. He denies the allegations. His church members are stunned, and many are coming to his defense. The allegations made by the two men fit the classic pattern of clergy misconduct involving sexual abuse.
The Calendar Brings Us Together
Sep 09, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsThe fact that Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) begins the evening of September 8 and Eid al-Fitr (the end of Ramadan for Muslims) occurs on September 10 this year offer us an opportunity to consider the richness of these faith traditions common to America.
Freedom of Religion . . . for Some?
Aug 19, 2010 — Categories: Current EventsLast Sunday I preached at my local church, and I am attaching a summary version of my sermon here. I am speaking as a Christian pastor to my fellow Christians. During this season of Ramadan, a primary holiday for Muslims, and with “Islamophobia” being stoked by demagogues, Christians must speak up. These are dangerous times.
Pastors Who Don’t Report
Aug 13, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Child AbusePastors Daniel and Laura McCluskey from the Church on the Word in Phoenix have been arrested. The pastors were both arrested Tuesday and booked on one count each of failure to report sexual abuse. One victim of incestuous abuse disclosed to them in 2008. The pastors confronted the abusive father who admitted his abuse of his daughter but was “repentant.” The pastors counseled the victim to “forgive” her father and restore the relationship. The father allegedly stopped abusing this daughter (who then moved out) but continued to molest her younger sister.
Dear Pope: I Was Worried
Aug 02, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Abuse by ClergyWhile I was on vacation, the Vatican came out with a significant doctrinal statement condemning the sexual abuse of children and the ordination of women. One could not help but conclude that these were somehow related. So I was worried that you intended to send the message that the crime of sexual abuse of a child was equivalent to the doctrinal violation of ordaining women.
Boys to Men
Jul 19, 2010 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceA baseball game is a place where boys are socialized to become men. And in a world where men’s violence against women is rampant, it is worth considering as a place to work on changing the norm of violence against women. Help the Seattle Mariners win a $200,000 Pepsi Refresh Project grant to support domestic violence work!
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.
