To whomever posted this Anonymous comment on Rape and the Holy Man:
"The reports have been made, all those who need contacting have been informed. Nothing is going to be rushed. This will take time to sort out."
What reports have been made? Who has been contacted and informed? It is this kind of cryptic tid-bit of information that contributes to the accusation of cover-up and subterfuge. If this commenter is one who has authority, then say so with a name and with all transparency. Let these hurting people know that their leaders are not going to sweep this under the carpet...again.
Rush? Take time? ROCOR has had almost 20 years in regard to Matthew Williams. Do you want another 20? No. You will not be able to wait this one out and hope things die down. Not this time. Be sure your sins have found you out. Admit your failures and redemption will be found. Train all of your clergy in your own requirements in dealing with Sexual Abuse in the Church. Then defrock any clergy who fails to follow your own guidelines. Continue to cover up and obfuscate and you will see ROCOR diminish.
Know this for certain, this former Orthodox Reader and former CBS local news producer will not go away until those of the clergy who failed to protect your flock from this alleged rapist are held to account. If you have not already contacted each of them whose names you have known and whose photos are displayed in a prior post, then your promise that "all those who need contacting have been informed" is false and your words
ROCOR! Clean your house, rather, the House of God. If you don't, HE will. It may be time for good whipping.
None wants you to be silent, no one wants this to be swept away. No one is hiding anything now. We do need to put plans in place to help those who have been so very damaged. That is the time I was referring to in my post. Not time to hide thing.
ReplyDeleteWe need to create an environment where people who have had their souls crushed by this man feel safe enough to come forward. The BURN IT DOWN mentally will drive those of us who need help underground.
So all state and federal agencies have been contacted.. they are investigating. Please let the process work in the light now. And by all means hold everyone accountable and shine light on the failure of the ROCOR Hierarchy. But give his victims (including Matushka) a minute to process our lives crashing down around us.
When were they contacted? Now? Months after the fact? During her silence he was allowed to further harm.
DeleteYes people are trying to silence the Editor. The only difference is, is that he is far from St. Tikhon’s influence. I have watched and seen the culture of St. Tikhon be bred and manufactured to one of elitism and whether or not you’re in the “cool kids” club.
DeleteFrom the beginning I’ve had to hear about slanderous, disgusting things about people, THAT WERE VICTIMS. All for what? Because they wanted to speak? Because they did not want to toe the line like everyone else who were all so ready to cajole and console a woman who knew for months about the predator within the church? If a shepherd allowed a wolf to roam within her flock is she not guilty as well for putting them in danger?
“But the wolf mentally abused her!”
Is an argument that is grasping for straws. The woman knew for months, if not years. The reason authorities were so delayed is likely she didn’t want them to discover more evidence and past allegations that will also incriminate her.
You still did not say whether you ae speaking from a place of clerical authority or are a commenter with just another opinion. 'No one wants to be silent, no one wants this to be swept away?" Did you not read the three-part Rape and the Holy Man? The names and faces of those who wanted it to be silent and swept away are posted there. In fact, they did silence it and sweep it away causing your current dilemma allowing you to be "crushed." Trust has been broken with ROCOR. Back door underground investigation will not fly this time. 1 Tim 5:19 debunks the false Orthodox ethos that their parishioners cannot make accusations of their clergy. In fact, it gives the criteria in which the righteous of the church must do so. In this case it is not just Matthew Williams but the Hierarchy, who you say are investigating, that are the accused. I hear your heart, but unfortunately the victims will have to endure the fallout from the sinful and in some cases criminal failure of the clergy. The people who are speaking out about it are not to be condemned and certainly should not be expected to be silent. So far, I have not had to censure or refuse to post one comment made on this post. I have and will pray for both victims and perpetrators.
DeleteYou are absolutely right, and I am coming to terms with all of this, it is just information overload, and it is something that I will have to face in glaring light.
DeleteI absolutely need people like you and JTO, who are not directly involved to keep the light shining on the path. I need to know that their are people who are ready and willing to stand behind me when I go public.
This is all new, and very difficult to navigate when you truly do not know who to trust.
Amen
ReplyDeleteJust for clarity, matushka reported the the metropolitan within weeks of finding out. A trauma response is absolutely understandable in her situation. Hold him accountable, but her and her children are suffering alike because of him. And because of false accusers like these comments who say she is a perpetrator
ReplyDeleteDefinition of Perpetrator
Deletea person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act.
By definition she also is a perpetrator. She indirectly harmed other by not reporting to law enforcement in a timely and swift manner, her knowing about it for months and endangering other children is illegal, to cap it off she also had a moral duty to the church that she let everyone know immediately of the crime, she didn’t.
She is by definition a perpetrator.