http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org daily 1 2010-02-13T01:04:25Z http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/124 The U.S. Department of Justice has updated its definition of rape. Now we can name more clearly what victims of rape have known for centuries. No publisher dsorin Sexual Violence 2012-02-03T00:40:31Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/120 This time last year I was on my way to Capetown, South Africa, to visit my friend, Elizabeth Petersen and the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI). This was my first trip to this massive continent and, like so many people, I immediately fell in love with South Africa. No publisher dsorin Current Events Other Sexual Violence 2011-11-21T08:40:55Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/119 A former defensive coordinator for the Penn State football team, Jerry Sandusky (a priest in the Church of College Football), has been arrested and charged with sexual abuse of boys over a 15 year period. No publisher dsorin Current Events Child Abuse Sexual Violence 2011-11-11T02:14:25Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/117 “Corrective rape.” When I first heard this term, I stopped dead in my tracks. Having thought that I had heard it all when it came to violence against women, here was yet another perverse variation of rationale for sexual assault. No publisher dsorin Current Events Violence Against Women Sexual Violence 2011-10-31T19:14:53Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/114 The only real news in the case of the charge of sexual assault against a powerful French politician is that the victim came forward and filed a complaint. The outcome is classic and predictable. No publisher jfredricksen Current Events Sexual Violence 2011-09-06T20:30:04Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/107 This is the advice given by many insurance companies to clients who are churches or religious organizations when faced with a disclosure of abuse by one of their leaders. Frankly, it is advice that will very likely lead to lawsuits brought by survivors of abuse and to significant settlements paid out by insurers. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence 2011-05-18T18:46:06Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/105 Actress Ashley Judd recently disclosed that she was sexually abused as a child; American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi recently disclosed that she was sexually abused as a child; Senator Scott Brown from Massachusetts recently disclosed that he was sexually abused as a child. When each made a public disclosure, the media described these disclosures as “confessions.” No publisher MMukai Current Events Child Abuse Sexual Violence Sexual Abuse by Clergy 2011-04-25T07:58:07Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/100 I realize that you are soon to retire as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I can only assume that you are exhausted from dealing with sexual abuse by priests in your diocese for so many years and from all of the subsequent scandals. I hope that you will have time to reflect on your role in addressing this longstanding problem of betrayal by your priests. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence Sexual Abuse by Clergy 2011-02-17T18:17:49Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/99 I look forward to the beginning of February, not in anticipation of February 2 as Groundhog Day (which I have never understood anyway), but in celebration of February 1 as the Feast Day of St. Brigit—she who breathes life into the dead of winter. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence Domestic Violence 2011-02-02T01:05:03Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/77 That’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. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence 2010-06-28T22:07:15Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/75 I’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. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence Sexual Abuse by Clergy 2010-06-30T22:45:50Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/74 I don’t know if you follow the National Football League in the U.S., but I think you will be interested in this. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence 2010-06-18T19:33:46Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/70 The world of youth and young adults is a post-modern nightmare, where: • sexual harm is normalized • sexual exploitation is for many, a rite of passage • getting paid for sex is acceptable • sexting (texting nude images) is okay • monogamy is passé • participation in virtual alternate life games (role play)is the latest craze • the media says your value is based on how sexy you are • the depersonalization that comes with social networking is cool No publisher MMukai Sexual Violence Domestic Violence 2010-03-18T16:14:35Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/69 March 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. No publisher MMukai Child Abuse Sexual Violence Domestic Violence 2010-03-15T15:32:46Z Blog Entry http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/blog/marie-fortune/65 It 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. No publisher MMukai Current Events Sexual Violence 2010-03-12T22:21:47Z Blog Entry