This week is the parole hearing. Last I heard, it was Wednesday the 16th. Definitely makes this a hard week. The first part of this week is going to be filled with unknowns and expectations. The second part of this week (if the outcome the prosecutor predicted comes to pass) will be an entirely different story. With the hearing this week, it makes it difficult not to be totally consumed by what is going to be happening on Wednesday. I had pretty much gotten to the point that I was able to forget (or at least manage) those many painful memories. Now they're dug back up.
I've also been thinking quite a bit about what happened (and is happening) at Penn State the last couple of weeks. I can't help but draw parallels between what happened at FBC Benton and what happened at Penn State.
One of the things that really strikes me is how odd it is for a completely secular state university to recognize the mishandling of this situation and to immediately address it from an HR standpoint. Yet, an institution (and man) charged with shepherding a flock allows a man to continue directly working with youth for months after allegations are made against him, and no public outcry is made, and no action taken by the Southern Baptist Convention. You can't imagine the message this sends to victims of not just David Pierce, but any kind of ministerial abuse. It makes it appear that Penn State was more concerned with protecting children, and FBC Benton more concerned with protecting itself.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling for anyone's termination or resignation from FBC Benton. I just want to make sure that people really understand what happened, and that they see the difference in how these situations are handled by different institutions. In initial newspaper reports, every statement from Rick said that David was terminated as soon as allegations were made. In subsequent articles (articles in which either victims were interviewed or police reports were consulted) this statement was not used. However, there were no subsequent statements from Rick or FBC clearing up the "misstatement" or explaining the delay in dealing with the allegations made against David. In Penn State's case, part of what got Joe Paterno terminated was the fact that he issued statements to the press saying that he was not aware of the allegations against Jerry Sandusky at the time. Quite a difference between FBC Benton and Penn State.
If you haven't already, please remember those of us that survived not only David Pierce, but FBC Benton this week. Leading up to the parole hearing will be difficult, and the time after the hearing may turn out to be even worse.
Monday, November 14, 2011
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4 comments:
Praying for you & all others.
Praying for you all.
Praying for you and all the other victims. YOU are innocent, you did not cause this. YOU are strong and GOD will help you, even thru this time you don't feel close to Him. He is still with you and loves you and hurts for you.
I just lost my post to you. Don't know if you received it or not so I will try to resend.
I've written to you before. My father was also a pedofile by the name of David.
My heart is hurting for you this morning. I wish I could make everything right for you. I really do.
I want you to know that as alone as you may feel today that you are not!! I pray for you continually.
I am long past the place where you are today, but I can tell you that I have had the insanity of injustice screaming out from my soul, the soul draining anguish, the anger, oh the anger! I have prayed for the "redo". I can tell you today that I am glad that I didn't have the ability or the power for a redo. I am a strong, independent, emotionally healthy, beautiful person. That history of abuse is not what defines me any longer but it is clearly a part of who I am and will always be. I've had the opportunity to help one other sexually abused survivor. I have no idea why she came to me or shared her story with me, but I believe God put me there in her life for that very reason. I was able to reach out and touch her soul and comfort her and help start her road toward recovery. I'm proud of that. I forwarded her your blog page. She has followed it and it has reached her. I watched her cry this morning when she told me that David was going to be released. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I do not have the faintest idea who you are, but I believe you have greatness in you. Greatness that you are probably unaware of at this time. You are clearly a very strong person. I do not know what your future holds, but I do believe in the scriptures..... "I know the plans I have made for you. To prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." What if you are the "John Walsh" in the world of pedofiles and reach thousands of survivors? What if you only reach one survivor and help them? Remember that the ripple effects of healing are just as powerful, if not more powerful, as the ripple effects of abuse.
Don't you dare let the wounds make you someone you are not and please don't give up on something as important as your story and your voice. There are a lot of people who need the next chapter! Who need the hope. Hold your head up and keep moving toward the future that God has for you. Your best days are coming, I know.
I love you, and I'm here for you if you need me!!
Tracey
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