Blog
Analysis and commentary on issues that concern the work of FaithTrust Institute.
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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.
Women’s Work Is Never Done
Mar 08, 2010 — Categories: Child Abuse, Sexual Violence, Domestic ViolenceMarch 8 is International Women’s Day. So I was pleased this past week to be in New York City for events surrounding the 54th Annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Not only is women’s work never done, our agenda continues to expand.
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.
"Don’t Let the Light Go Out . . ."
Dec 23, 2009 — Categories: Sexual Violence, Domestic ViolenceJews have just completed celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of lights. Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. And we all celebrate the passing of the winter solstice which assures us that, in the northern hemisphere, the days will surely get longer now.
Life Is Precious
Dec 10, 2009 — Categories: Sexual ViolenceLast week Carolyn Scott Brown, the Director of Educational Resources at FaithTrust Institute, and I went to see the new movie, Precious.
“The Bible Says . . .”
Nov 20, 2009 — Categories: Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence“The Bible says I can have sex with my 8-year-old child . . .” “The Bible says I can beat my wife because she is to be subject to me . . .” These and other biblical justifications haunt my consciousness.
The Work Is Global
Nov 09, 2009 — Categories: Sexual Abuse by ClergyI don’t know how to work on anything but violence against women and children. I have no other skills. So it’s a good thing that I have a job where I get paid to do the one thing I know how to do.
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.
