Really bothered by a blog I was sent by a friend… A story about a very unscrupulous man who falsely accused  four different priests of sexual abuse.  That is unconscionable and akin to woman crying rape when it did not happen…it calls into question, (wrongly), any other woman who was raped and reported it.  The story was not what bothered me, there were comments that bothered me.

So in contrast to those comments, (which seemed to be downplaying clergy sexual abuse), I offer this.  I am a priest who was sexually abused by a priest as a youngster.  I have/had no reason to come forth with this fact except to get well myself and hopefully help others.  I didn’t get money or even ask for any money.  There is a former priest I was in the seminary with, (since laicized), who did sexually abused the under aged daughter of a parishioner.  The proof… … …an illegitimate child.

It is beyond horrible if/when false accusations are made against anyone.  It ruins lives or at least it could ruin lives.  That is evil.  It is just as evil to downplay the horrors suffered by those who have been abused.

I have met many people, mostly men, through Grief to Grace Ministries who have suffered their whole lives with the results of the abuse that they endured.   These include but are not limited to flash backs, depression, deep seeded anger, mistrust of others, self-medication via drugs, alcohol, gambling, excessive shopping, over-eating and pornography.  These are documented negative effects for most of the people who have suffered abuse of any kind.  It is a disservice to people who have been abused to falsely claim abuse and it is a disservice to those that have suffered abuse in the Church to down-play or minimalize that abuse.