FACING OUR FATHER

Many, many years ago I got caught smoking ciggies at school and was made to phone my parents to tell them I was being suspended.  I feared having to go home later and face my father, but first I had to deal with hearing the sorrow and disappointment in my mother’s voice.   

Sorrow and disappointment are what I feel regards the latest sex abuser, Daniel Taylor, who plead guilty last week to nine representative charges of sexual abuse against five boys, one under the age of twelve. 

Sorrow for those boys and their families who came forward as early as 2007 and reported what he was doing to them.  But instead of being encouraged and supported to go to the police, they weren’t believed and were fobbed off.  Sorrow for those whom he subsequently went on to abuse, and for their families who weren’t warned earlier by those who knew he was struggling with sexual deviancy towards male children.

Sorrow for those who could have helped stop him offending against more children, but who instead either didn’t discern his lies or who, even after they had been clearly warned, still chose to allow him more access to children.  Sorrow for the whistleblowers who also weren’t believed but were instead either marginalised and vilified, or pressured and threatened into backing down.

Sorrow for his supporters who were duped by his lies into either directly or indirectly pressuring his victims to recant their truths.  Sorrow for his family who must have struggled to differentiate between their love for him and their fears over him.

Can anything good come of this latest case of abuse?  Yes, if we make sure the following things happen. 

When abuse is reported to us we must treat it as a crime and report it to the police.  All suspected or known abusers must not be permitted unsupervised access to children.  All alleged abusers must be kept in jail until their case has been heard.  All known victims must be reassured that they did nothing wrong.  All suspected victims must be given sanction and support to come forth so they too can begin healing.  All institutions like schools, churches, CYFS and whānau must be made accountable for how they deal with abusers in their midst.

In putting their sexual wants before the needs of children in their care and power, abusers like Taylor and Parker are monsters who broke the laws of man.  However, in my book they are also sons of deity who have sinned.
 

Inasmuch as they are able to repent of that sin, they must do so fully.  Because one day, just like I had to over my youthful breaking of school rules, they will have to face their Father.  We all will.