Monday, April 26, 2010
Bad time for everyone
It is a bad, difficult time for everyone who has any dealings with clergy sexual abuse. It is with heavy heart that we see that situation with William Casey. How tragic for everyone involved! How utterly devastating to see the effects of clergy sexual abuse on the entire community. It is never more painful than in the eyes of Warren Tucker whose courageous stand for justice has been seen by so many. This is a time to pray . . . and when you do, keep the victims of religious authority abuse very high on your list of those you pray for. And throw in a prayer too for all children, teens and vulnerable adults.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Former St. John Neumann priest charged Monday
Posted in Farragut Press, Monday, April 22, 2010
http://www.farragutpress.com/articles/2010/04/12369.html
http://www.farragutpress.com/articles/2010/04/12369.html
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Jennifer's story
I wanted to let all of you know how much I appreciate all the support you guys gave us. I couldn’t talk about this with everyone before now because my lawyer told me I couldn’t until it was over. I just want to explain this to everyone (some of you already know this) so you can understand what took place. My slander case was completely separate from the sexual abuse case. Had we gone to trial the sexual abuse would not have been part of it.
I talked to Cheryl and Crystal before this went forward because I wanted them to know where I was at from the beginning with all this so we wouldn’t have another Lynette situation. I wanted them to know that I just wanted CGT to be held accountable and know that people would stand up against them and that we wouldn’t be bullied into silence ever again. I never thought about a payday or how much we could get out of them. From the first lawsuit, I just wanted to be heard.
About a few months ago I really started to be able to let go of the pull that CGT had over my life and it was liberating. If you all knew what the last 4 years were like for me you would me amazed that I was even able to do that. I know it was only by the Grace of God, because I for one never thought that day would come. But it did. I realized that my children had lost a mother and Paul had lost a wife to this. I was so busy trying to keep everything together that I even lost who I was. I had no real life and the joy that I have always had was completely sucked out of me. It was time to reclaim my life again.
I know that some people are disappointed that this didn’t go to trial, but it didn’t need to and I am glad to have it over with. When I first decided that I couldn’t stay silent anymore (4 years ago) I really thought that the truth would matter to the people in CGT once there was no denying it. I thought that they stayed because they believed what Steve and the other Trustees were telling them. Now that we have proven the lies, they still don’t care. People didn’t even bother to read the depositions because they don’t want to know the truth and those that did read it don’t care about the real truth anyway. They cared about preserving their little world, even if it was based on lies. I realized that I was still fighting for a group of people that didn’t want us to fight for them. Those people that the truth mattered too already knew the truth and had left. The community was made aware and CGT now knows that if they cover up sexual abuse in the future they will be held accountable.
We accomplished all that we set out too. There was nothing else I could do and I wasn’t going to fight anymore just to fight. Now that doesn’t mean if I got a phone call tomorrow that someone was being abused that I would turn from it. I would jump right back in and try to help this person get justice but other then that, I am done. I want to focus on my family and friends and rebuild my life.
I have not been silenced about my past. I would never give up my voice. The only thing I can’t talk about is the slander case and how it was resolved. But there really isn’t a need to, because everything had already been made public by me when I posted the original complaint on my website and in the news. In working with SNAP I have learned that victims rarely get to be heard and there is rarely a positive outcome for them within the justice system. Anything we can accomplish is a victory for us. When I first came forward 4 years ago Becky said “Oh it’s JUST Jennifer, give her 6 months and she will be on to something else”. She will never know how much her words helped me at the times that I felt like giving up.
It was really important to me that you all know that I had not gone back on any word to the victims about what I would do in this matter. If this had been about sexual abuse then it would not have ended like this. But this was about my family. Although, I do feel like I honored Cheryl and Crystal in the decisions I’ve made, I also wanted to be sure they knew that I appreciated them being willing to stand up in a custody hearing and tell the truth about what happened to them. When I first came to them and asked them and others to testify about life in CGT they agreed They had no idea where else this would lead (nor did I ), but every time I came to them and others about not just stopping there and needing more from them, I was never turned down. They were willing to do something that would divide their family from that moment on because it was the right thing to do. And it wasn’t just them willing to do that. It was all of you.
But if you look back on everything that was accomplished during the past 4 years, I am very proud of everyone who was willing to take a stand. My nature is to stand up and use my big mouth, so for me this did not take me out of my comfort zone (even though it was more emotionally painful then I would have ever imagined) but for people like Cheryl, Crystal and Shari, well this went against their comfort zone and so I think they are far more brave than I ever was. It would have been harder for me to turn away and not speak out, so I completely respect the fact that they did something that was hard for them to do. It wasn’t just them that were willing to stand for the truth at the risk of losing family it was the Linder’s too. Not only did they stand up for the truth but their friendships with me caused tremendous strain on their relationships with their family still in CGT. They were cut off because people saw it as them choosing me over them. But it wasn’t that at all. They chose the TRUTH and people at CGT still don’t understand the difference.
But it is amazing how much strength everyone has gotten through this. People have been set free of many chains during this time, and people who never thought they had a voice found theirs. And we ALL (every one of us who spoke out, sexual victim or spiritual victim) were apart of something that had never been done before within the GAC group and God used all of us to shine a light into that place! I lost a lot of people that I thought were my friends, but I gained so much more out of this. I gained true friendships. I can look at all of my friends and have so much respect for them. So in the end I really didn’t lose a thing. It was more like I got out all the weeds and now my garden is able to grow and I am able to see the beauty. I know that sounds corny, but it is true!
I want to say a special thanks to all the victims of sexual abuse. I know first hand how hard this has been. You all have been so brave in coming forward. I want to recognize each one of you and tell you how much I love you and how you made such a difference by speaking out. That even includes Lynette. Even though I was very hurt by what she did, she is a victim of that place as well and I know how much pain she relived having to tell her story.
I also want to mention SNAP. A lot of you don’t know much about them but had it not been for Ann Brentwood (may she rest in peace) I would have never known where to even begin. She guided me through so much of this and taught me so much about character and love. She was with me from the beginning and she is the one who told me our voice was the most important thing we could give to this and then she taught me how our ears become just as important, because we need to give back to other victims who are coming out of what we have been through. She was the toughest ex-nun that I know of. She is so thrilled with what has happened. She would always tell me that the smallest victories needed to be celebrated in a BIG way. She made such an impact on my life and she is so missed. But it wasn’t just her, David Clohessy who is the Director of SNAP was there whenever I called.
He dealt with Libby at the beginning of this and let me know that he would do whatever he could to help. Libby didn’t realize that she helped me the day she started sending emails to him, trying to get him not to allow me to be a part of SNAP. Because of her, what we went through at CGT was made very clear to him. He never would even have known me like he does if it wasn’t for her. But his heart ached so much for me after reading what a mother would say about their own daughter that he got involved in any way he could. SNAP was mainly focused on the Catholic Church, but it didn’t matter that we weren’t Catholic. He cared because we were victims. Had it not been for SNAP we never would have known about the Lawyer in CA and we never would have sued. There are so many people that got involved who didn’t know us, but they did it because it was what was right. They were one of the first people to help me see that I mattered and that I wasn’t disposable.
Who would have thought that Catholics and former Catholics would have been apart of helping me??? I guess they were right when they taught us that Catholics were their beast It’s all a bit ironic and funny!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to let all of you know how much I love you and to thank you for standing with me during all of this.
I talked to Cheryl and Crystal before this went forward because I wanted them to know where I was at from the beginning with all this so we wouldn’t have another Lynette situation. I wanted them to know that I just wanted CGT to be held accountable and know that people would stand up against them and that we wouldn’t be bullied into silence ever again. I never thought about a payday or how much we could get out of them. From the first lawsuit, I just wanted to be heard.
About a few months ago I really started to be able to let go of the pull that CGT had over my life and it was liberating. If you all knew what the last 4 years were like for me you would me amazed that I was even able to do that. I know it was only by the Grace of God, because I for one never thought that day would come. But it did. I realized that my children had lost a mother and Paul had lost a wife to this. I was so busy trying to keep everything together that I even lost who I was. I had no real life and the joy that I have always had was completely sucked out of me. It was time to reclaim my life again.
I know that some people are disappointed that this didn’t go to trial, but it didn’t need to and I am glad to have it over with. When I first decided that I couldn’t stay silent anymore (4 years ago) I really thought that the truth would matter to the people in CGT once there was no denying it. I thought that they stayed because they believed what Steve and the other Trustees were telling them. Now that we have proven the lies, they still don’t care. People didn’t even bother to read the depositions because they don’t want to know the truth and those that did read it don’t care about the real truth anyway. They cared about preserving their little world, even if it was based on lies. I realized that I was still fighting for a group of people that didn’t want us to fight for them. Those people that the truth mattered too already knew the truth and had left. The community was made aware and CGT now knows that if they cover up sexual abuse in the future they will be held accountable.
We accomplished all that we set out too. There was nothing else I could do and I wasn’t going to fight anymore just to fight. Now that doesn’t mean if I got a phone call tomorrow that someone was being abused that I would turn from it. I would jump right back in and try to help this person get justice but other then that, I am done. I want to focus on my family and friends and rebuild my life.
I have not been silenced about my past. I would never give up my voice. The only thing I can’t talk about is the slander case and how it was resolved. But there really isn’t a need to, because everything had already been made public by me when I posted the original complaint on my website and in the news. In working with SNAP I have learned that victims rarely get to be heard and there is rarely a positive outcome for them within the justice system. Anything we can accomplish is a victory for us. When I first came forward 4 years ago Becky said “Oh it’s JUST Jennifer, give her 6 months and she will be on to something else”. She will never know how much her words helped me at the times that I felt like giving up.
It was really important to me that you all know that I had not gone back on any word to the victims about what I would do in this matter. If this had been about sexual abuse then it would not have ended like this. But this was about my family. Although, I do feel like I honored Cheryl and Crystal in the decisions I’ve made, I also wanted to be sure they knew that I appreciated them being willing to stand up in a custody hearing and tell the truth about what happened to them. When I first came to them and asked them and others to testify about life in CGT they agreed They had no idea where else this would lead (nor did I ), but every time I came to them and others about not just stopping there and needing more from them, I was never turned down. They were willing to do something that would divide their family from that moment on because it was the right thing to do. And it wasn’t just them willing to do that. It was all of you.
But if you look back on everything that was accomplished during the past 4 years, I am very proud of everyone who was willing to take a stand. My nature is to stand up and use my big mouth, so for me this did not take me out of my comfort zone (even though it was more emotionally painful then I would have ever imagined) but for people like Cheryl, Crystal and Shari, well this went against their comfort zone and so I think they are far more brave than I ever was. It would have been harder for me to turn away and not speak out, so I completely respect the fact that they did something that was hard for them to do. It wasn’t just them that were willing to stand for the truth at the risk of losing family it was the Linder’s too. Not only did they stand up for the truth but their friendships with me caused tremendous strain on their relationships with their family still in CGT. They were cut off because people saw it as them choosing me over them. But it wasn’t that at all. They chose the TRUTH and people at CGT still don’t understand the difference.
But it is amazing how much strength everyone has gotten through this. People have been set free of many chains during this time, and people who never thought they had a voice found theirs. And we ALL (every one of us who spoke out, sexual victim or spiritual victim) were apart of something that had never been done before within the GAC group and God used all of us to shine a light into that place! I lost a lot of people that I thought were my friends, but I gained so much more out of this. I gained true friendships. I can look at all of my friends and have so much respect for them. So in the end I really didn’t lose a thing. It was more like I got out all the weeds and now my garden is able to grow and I am able to see the beauty. I know that sounds corny, but it is true!
I want to say a special thanks to all the victims of sexual abuse. I know first hand how hard this has been. You all have been so brave in coming forward. I want to recognize each one of you and tell you how much I love you and how you made such a difference by speaking out. That even includes Lynette. Even though I was very hurt by what she did, she is a victim of that place as well and I know how much pain she relived having to tell her story.
I also want to mention SNAP. A lot of you don’t know much about them but had it not been for Ann Brentwood (may she rest in peace) I would have never known where to even begin. She guided me through so much of this and taught me so much about character and love. She was with me from the beginning and she is the one who told me our voice was the most important thing we could give to this and then she taught me how our ears become just as important, because we need to give back to other victims who are coming out of what we have been through. She was the toughest ex-nun that I know of. She is so thrilled with what has happened. She would always tell me that the smallest victories needed to be celebrated in a BIG way. She made such an impact on my life and she is so missed. But it wasn’t just her, David Clohessy who is the Director of SNAP was there whenever I called.
He dealt with Libby at the beginning of this and let me know that he would do whatever he could to help. Libby didn’t realize that she helped me the day she started sending emails to him, trying to get him not to allow me to be a part of SNAP. Because of her, what we went through at CGT was made very clear to him. He never would even have known me like he does if it wasn’t for her. But his heart ached so much for me after reading what a mother would say about their own daughter that he got involved in any way he could. SNAP was mainly focused on the Catholic Church, but it didn’t matter that we weren’t Catholic. He cared because we were victims. Had it not been for SNAP we never would have known about the Lawyer in CA and we never would have sued. There are so many people that got involved who didn’t know us, but they did it because it was what was right. They were one of the first people to help me see that I mattered and that I wasn’t disposable.
Who would have thought that Catholics and former Catholics would have been apart of helping me??? I guess they were right when they taught us that Catholics were their beast It’s all a bit ironic and funny!!!
Anyway, I just wanted to let all of you know how much I love you and to thank you for standing with me during all of this.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Paul St. Charles is dead
A priest who was never defrocked died in November 2009. He should have been defrocked.
The diocese of Memphis Tennessee requested Paul St. Charles' removal from the priesthood; this request was made in 2004. Why did Rome not do this? Did they really want to do this or were they just giving victims of abuse a condescending pat on the head?
Today the church in Europe is in turmoil over renewed allegations of abuse and the coverup in the highest ranks of the church hierarchy. They earned the heartache because of the heartache their abusive clergy have caused.
The diocese of Memphis Tennessee requested Paul St. Charles' removal from the priesthood; this request was made in 2004. Why did Rome not do this? Did they really want to do this or were they just giving victims of abuse a condescending pat on the head?
Today the church in Europe is in turmoil over renewed allegations of abuse and the coverup in the highest ranks of the church hierarchy. They earned the heartache because of the heartache their abusive clergy have caused.
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It is a bad, difficult time for everyone who has any dealings with clergy sexual abuse. It is with heavy heart that we see that situation wi...
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At the request of the Nashville media, I am going to briefly summarize the issues that surround the accused pedophile priest, Paul St. Charl...
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I am so sick to death of these arrogant, self-righteous adults! Here is the picture of a molester of young boys. Dan DuPree. AKA Father Da...