Thank you for writing about this topic. I’ve been reposting the NEW arrest mugshots of at least 2 Evangelical pastors, counselors, youth pastors, Christian school teachers, a few Christian (in their bios) law enforcement, etc. EACH DAY People like Beks, Christa Brown, Julie Roy’s, Kristen McKnight post the mugshots I repost them. The mugshots still make me sick to my stomach. As a k-12 public school teacher/administrator I am a trained mandated reporter. I know in my state, and in my profession, discovered predators are arrested, usually convicted, must register as sex offenders, and are forbidden from being around children ( their prey) again.
The lack of understanding of the devastation and incurability of many sexual predators has been ignored in many conservative Christian spaces. Instead, I read about terms like restoration for predators and I want to shout “NO”. Ignorant church congregants are not God.
Similarly, there is extreme ignorance in trauma informed care in many conservative traditions. This is when I want to shout “When you treat survivors so badly you demonstrate you are NOT pro- life. Ugh”
On X just this week, I read conversations from women talking about wanting to see their daughters marry young. More saliently however, I read comments about male youth pastors being “good catches” for their youth group daughters. I’m realizing that it’s not just the predators, but the “groomed” congregants who believe that this type of behavior is acceptable.
In the world I inhabit, this behavior is called sexual and emotional abuse. Predators would be arrested, convicted, and forbidden from continued contact. The abuse is not only sexual, but more importantly it is power abuse, emotional abuse, and spiritual abuse.
To ANYONE who believes they are pro-life, but believes this behavior is okay, I ask them to reread the words attributed specifically to Jesus in the Gospels
You and Rachel have done much good exposing the ugly consequences of covering up and perpetuating abuses in many institutional spheres.
Rather than accepting at face value that Simone had the courage to protect life and limb, which is a hard earned milestone in her road to recovery, Vance’s comments, at best, belie a wilful ignorance of Simone’s history of abuse in order to take cheap shots at what he perceives as an orchestrated agenda by the media. He’d rather selfishly promote that this should be defined as her weakest moment.
Thank you much for holding a sensitive issue to the light. Simone is a bit like Taylor Swift in that the far right loves to criticize them. Don’t ask why, it is a bit weird. Looking back after the Nasser story was done the victims had another fight on their hands besides healing the wounds. Michigan State University Regents as you may know hired a former governor who already had a reputation for being a bad ass, some say a bully.. John Engler, took over the payout distribution to the Nasser victims. Unfortunately, in my observation, as true to his nature he couldn’t help but bring more pain to the situation. It turns out Engler approach of labeling some of the women as greedy and just looking for a payout was not too successful. The MSU regents fired him. That was a few years ago, sadly I don’t think much has changed since this problem of toxic masculinity still appears alive and well regarded in the party of Lincoln. Yes I know there are exceptions. Guess we’ll find out this November whether American will have men and sometimes women of similar character or lack there of. Till then we have the joyful memories of Olympic hero’s like Simone.
Beautifully written Kristin. The Mandela quote reminded me of the thousands of migrant children Trump and MAGA deliberately tortured and the tens of thousands they hope to torture in the future.
My daughter was violently raped 6 years ago. She had a head injury and couldn't remember what happened to her for 9 months. Then the flashes happened and gradually the story was stitched together. The trauma never goes away. I watched this fine video about trauma with a T and t today which was suggested by my counselor. You might enjoy it.
"In America, every 9 minutes a child is victim of sexual assault." RAINN.org/statistics
October 12, 2024 there is a prayer meeting planned, A Million Women, at Capitol Mall, Washington DC. Mothers Against Pornography and Pedophilia. https://amillionwomen.org/
I've followed Rachel Dennhollander postings since Larry Nassar was found guilty. It is extremely disappointing how so little has been done to protect girls, children, since. Rachel is an amazing woman. Simone is an amazing woman. BUT . . the power of evil is so STRONG it is going to take fasting, praying and ACTIONS of millions of mothers, fathers, family and friends to impact the system. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
There are over 433,000 cases of sexual assault or rape annually in the U.S. among people ages 12 and older, according to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Every 68 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted, RAINN data shows.Mar 29, 2024
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. When you are sitting in church Sunday, if 60 women are in the room 10 have experienced this violence. And most won't tell. Learn and understand about trauma. Be ready to listen when the talking begins.
"Only 25 out of every 1000 perpetrators will end up in prison." RAINN
Thank you for writing about this topic. I’ve been reposting the NEW arrest mugshots of at least 2 Evangelical pastors, counselors, youth pastors, Christian school teachers, a few Christian (in their bios) law enforcement, etc. EACH DAY People like Beks, Christa Brown, Julie Roy’s, Kristen McKnight post the mugshots I repost them. The mugshots still make me sick to my stomach. As a k-12 public school teacher/administrator I am a trained mandated reporter. I know in my state, and in my profession, discovered predators are arrested, usually convicted, must register as sex offenders, and are forbidden from being around children ( their prey) again.
The lack of understanding of the devastation and incurability of many sexual predators has been ignored in many conservative Christian spaces. Instead, I read about terms like restoration for predators and I want to shout “NO”. Ignorant church congregants are not God.
Similarly, there is extreme ignorance in trauma informed care in many conservative traditions. This is when I want to shout “When you treat survivors so badly you demonstrate you are NOT pro- life. Ugh”
On X just this week, I read conversations from women talking about wanting to see their daughters marry young. More saliently however, I read comments about male youth pastors being “good catches” for their youth group daughters. I’m realizing that it’s not just the predators, but the “groomed” congregants who believe that this type of behavior is acceptable.
In the world I inhabit, this behavior is called sexual and emotional abuse. Predators would be arrested, convicted, and forbidden from continued contact. The abuse is not only sexual, but more importantly it is power abuse, emotional abuse, and spiritual abuse.
To ANYONE who believes they are pro-life, but believes this behavior is okay, I ask them to reread the words attributed specifically to Jesus in the Gospels
I’m reposting at least 2 NEW mugshots EACH day
Spot on.
You and Rachel have done much good exposing the ugly consequences of covering up and perpetuating abuses in many institutional spheres.
Rather than accepting at face value that Simone had the courage to protect life and limb, which is a hard earned milestone in her road to recovery, Vance’s comments, at best, belie a wilful ignorance of Simone’s history of abuse in order to take cheap shots at what he perceives as an orchestrated agenda by the media. He’d rather selfishly promote that this should be defined as her weakest moment.
The audacity.
Thank you much for holding a sensitive issue to the light. Simone is a bit like Taylor Swift in that the far right loves to criticize them. Don’t ask why, it is a bit weird. Looking back after the Nasser story was done the victims had another fight on their hands besides healing the wounds. Michigan State University Regents as you may know hired a former governor who already had a reputation for being a bad ass, some say a bully.. John Engler, took over the payout distribution to the Nasser victims. Unfortunately, in my observation, as true to his nature he couldn’t help but bring more pain to the situation. It turns out Engler approach of labeling some of the women as greedy and just looking for a payout was not too successful. The MSU regents fired him. That was a few years ago, sadly I don’t think much has changed since this problem of toxic masculinity still appears alive and well regarded in the party of Lincoln. Yes I know there are exceptions. Guess we’ll find out this November whether American will have men and sometimes women of similar character or lack there of. Till then we have the joyful memories of Olympic hero’s like Simone.
Yes, I followed the Engler story because Rachael regularly posted about it and fought back.
Beautifully written Kristin. The Mandela quote reminded me of the thousands of migrant children Trump and MAGA deliberately tortured and the tens of thousands they hope to torture in the future.
My daughter was violently raped 6 years ago. She had a head injury and couldn't remember what happened to her for 9 months. Then the flashes happened and gradually the story was stitched together. The trauma never goes away. I watched this fine video about trauma with a T and t today which was suggested by my counselor. You might enjoy it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCa-dTuwOBM
I'm so very sorry that happened to your daughter.
Thank you for sharing this resource with us.
"In America, every 9 minutes a child is victim of sexual assault." RAINN.org/statistics
October 12, 2024 there is a prayer meeting planned, A Million Women, at Capitol Mall, Washington DC. Mothers Against Pornography and Pedophilia. https://amillionwomen.org/
Jenny Donnelly, Her Voice MVMT https://www.hervoicemvmt.com/
I've followed Rachel Dennhollander postings since Larry Nassar was found guilty. It is extremely disappointing how so little has been done to protect girls, children, since. Rachel is an amazing woman. Simone is an amazing woman. BUT . . the power of evil is so STRONG it is going to take fasting, praying and ACTIONS of millions of mothers, fathers, family and friends to impact the system. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
There are over 433,000 cases of sexual assault or rape annually in the U.S. among people ages 12 and older, according to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Every 68 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted, RAINN data shows.Mar 29, 2024
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. When you are sitting in church Sunday, if 60 women are in the room 10 have experienced this violence. And most won't tell. Learn and understand about trauma. Be ready to listen when the talking begins.
"Only 25 out of every 1000 perpetrators will end up in prison." RAINN
PRAY
"That's what greatness looks like". Thanks so much for sharing Simone's video and portions of her testimony...