1. Have you ever had flashbacks?
Yes. They revolve around being trapped, running away from the house (my grandmother’s house) after some times of abuse, begging my grandmother for help
as she held the door while I was being trapped and wouldn’t let me out. I also have flashbacks about bleeding at night and in the bathtub, stinging
panic and crying myself to sleep.
PTSD symptoms?
Some, like losing track of time. I have memory blackouts for much of the the actual rape. I know an old-fashioned pointed can opener was used on me several
times. I remember the sadistic nature of abuse escalated because I wouldn’t show emotion. It was the only choice I had.
2. How does the public discussion of clergy sex abuse affect you emotionally?
I feel betrayed by the clergy and especially enabler bishops. They could have stopped much abuse and they chose to shield the abuser rather than defend
the innocent. I can only imagine the emotional pain of victims who weren’t believed or treated like they were the problem. That’s how my grandmother
treated me. I was four or younger when it started and certainly didn’t enjoy or ask for the abuse that evolved into sadistic rape.
3. How does the cover-up of clergy sex abuse affect you emotionally?
Asking for silence and an end to gossip instead of being willing to be accountable and let investigations go forward after the Viganò testimony was a huge
betrayal of Pope Francis. His actions and public statements since August have been completely inappropriate and reprehensible. I cannot defend the
Pope and this troubles me greatly as a lifelong Catholic. American bishops who were implicated as enablers or worse by Viganò continue to embarrass
themselves and lead me to believe the accusations against them. The silence now of even good bishops grieves me greatly. Investigations into those
allegations are warranted and should be moving forward, as many bishops called for at the time. It’s no less important now. The message to victims
and their families is simple- the Church simply doesn’t care that much.
There appears to be an overriding push to make sure the homosexual lifestyle doesn’t suffer any bad press… this against so much evidence of gay networks
and predatory behavior. Why the obfuscation? Because it collides with the agenda of many bishops to change teaching on moral theology? Again, this
is a horrible message to send to people who have suffered immensely. While all victims matter, my heart breaks for seminarians and other male victims
especially, as they are statistically less likely to report crimes of this nature.
4. Do you have anything specific you would like to say to Cardinal Mahony, or the LAREC organizers?
Please, consider the vulnerable who have suffered and/or are suffering because of sexual abuse of clergy. Please accept accountability for enabling abusers
through silence and hiding the problems.
How can the organizers claim to care about vulnerable immigrants and be so tone deaf to the pain of vulnerable sexual abuse victims? It’s like asking those
with a wide track record of contempt for immigrants to offer presentations on addressing the suffering of sex abuse victims. It doesn’t make sense,
and it’s deeply hurtful to people like me.
5. Any of this information that you are willing to share, would give people the context that would help them understand:
a. Your age when the abuse took place?
4 or earlier to 7
b. Were you abused by someone you knew and trusted? Clergy? Coach? Relative?
Step-grandfather, with the knowledge and assistance of my paternal grandmother
c. whether people believed you,
My mother did. My father didn’t want to, but the family pediatrician confirmed internal damage and scarring.
d. how long it took for you to reveal what happened
The pain was too much by the time I was seven. I was told by my father not to tell anyone or they’d hate me- so as to save my grandmother from embarrassment.
I didn’t say anything to anyone until I was 15-16.
Submitted by “Lee Ann.”
