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Analysis and commentary on issues that concern the work of FaithTrust Institute.
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“Let the children come to me and forbid them not . . . and let the healing begin.”
Aug 19, 2009 — Categories: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by ClergyThrough the eyes of three families, the documentary All God’s Children (70 minutes) www.alllgodschildrenthefilm.com tells the personal story of the first boarding school for children of missionaries to be investigated for abuse at the hands of the parents’ Protestant missionary colleagues.
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 . . .”
“Where Are We?”
May 15, 2009 — Categories: Sexual Violence, Domestic ViolenceAs I was presenting a workshop recently on how we should challenge the roadblocks which the church can present to battered women and affirm the resources, I noticed one participant was very quiet and reserved.
“I Have Such Doubts!”
May 05, 2009 — Categories: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by ClergyThe movie “Doubt” depicts the enormous complexity of the possibility of sexual abuse of a child by a Catholic priest. Fr. Flynn is portrayed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a likable, middle aged priest deeply engaged in the life of the parish and school. He is open and progressive and wants to lead the parish forward.
"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.
“. . . Better That a Millstone . . .”
Mar 23, 2009 — Categories: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse by ClergyThere are times when the contradictions of life overtake me. I was flying home from the east coast last week and one of those times intruded. On the plane, I sat next to a mother and father and their two-year-old daughter; in front of them sat their five-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. I was struck immediately by how thoughtful and respectful the parents were with the children and the siblings were with each other.
"It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over"
Feb 20, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Sexual Abuse by ClergyIn baseball, there is an old saying about the game: "It ain't over 'til it's over." It's the reminder that you can't leave after the seventh inning and assume you know the outcome. As we have seen cases of sexual abuse by clergy emerge in recent years, it might be easy to assume that we have seen the worst of it. Yet the news continues to inform us of cases still waiting to be heard and justice still waiting to be experienced. It's definitely not over yet.
The Guy Who Took Down the Signs
Jan 23, 2009 — Categories: Current EventsLike millions of other Americans on January 20, I was flooded with memories and emotions as I watched Barack Obama be sworn in as our President.
Rick Warren’s Teaching
Jan 13, 2009 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic Violence, Sexual ViolenceSince Rick Warren was invited to give the Invocation at the Presidential Inauguration next week, he has been attracting some attention and scrutiny. Warren is the Senior Pastor at Saddleback Church in California.
Santa Targets His Own Family
Dec 26, 2008 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceAn ex-husband took advantage of the annual family gathering at his in-laws’ house to inflict his violence on his ex-wife and her family. He appeared at the door dressed as Santa, and one of the children let him in. He opened fire on the 25 people there and then set fire to the house.
Is the Gospel of “More Sex” Really Good News for All?
Dec 10, 2008 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic Violence, Sexual ViolenceSo Pastor Ed Young of the Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, got the attention of the media. And his church members. He called for a week of “congregational copulation” to take people’s minds off the economy. Pastor Young has added his blessing to our already highly sexualized culture.
"Déjà vu All Over Again"
Dec 02, 2008 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceAnother murder in a church; another domestic terror homicide. On Nov. 23, Joseph Pallipurath entered the St. Thomas Syarian Orthodox Kananaya Church in Clifton, NJ and killed his wife.
Muslim/Arab/Terrorist?
Oct 31, 2008 — Categories: Current EventsI promised myself I wouldn’t discuss the election in my blog. This is not the place for partisan anything. But in this last week before the election, I do have to comment on the overt racism that continues to persist even unto the very end.
The Fight to End Terrorism
Oct 10, 2008 — Categories: Domestic Violence“Compare the raw numbers. In the same seven-year period [2000-2006] when 4,588 U.S. soldiers [in combat] and police officers [on duty] were killed by hostiles or by accident, more than 8,000 women – nearly twice as many – were shot, stabbed, strangled, or beaten to death by the intimate males in their lives."
Corporeal Punishment, Child Abuse, and Christian Teaching
Oct 01, 2008 — Categories: Child AbuseDr. Ted Tripp, the senior pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, came to Seattle recently preaching the importance of corporeal punishment beginning with infants. According to Tripp, he is commanded by God to preach to parents to spank their young children on bare skin and then tell them you love them in order to teach them respect for authority.
“Another Hate Crime . . . with a Backstory”
Sep 15, 2008 — Categories: Current Events, Domestic ViolenceOn a Sunday in late July, Jim David Adkisson entered the Tennesse Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville and opened fire. He said he hated gays and liberals and “all liberals should be killed.” He murdered two people and seriously injured 6 others before being subdued by other church members.
“Rape and Miniskirts: Déjà vu All Over Again”
Sep 05, 2008 — Categories: Sexual ViolenceLet’s begin with the bottom line: lack of modesty in dress doesn’t cause rape. But this doesn’t stop Father Sergio Roman from condemning miniskirts.
