CLERGY ABUSE SURVIVOR RESPONDS TO THE CONVICTION OF REV. PAUL SHANLEY

CLERGY ABUSE SURVIVOR RESPONDS TO THE CONVICTION OF REV. PAUL SHANLEY.

The conviction of Rev. Paul Shanley on all counts today in Boston should serve as notice that no person, regardless of his position or the institution he represents is immune to prosecution for abusing a child.

The painful door which survivors of childhood sexual abuse have opened has allowed society to begin to shed light on the horrific abuse which children have endured for decades. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse continue to hope that society will have the courage to walk through that door.

I take this opportunity to ask judicial leaders throughout the United States to strengthen the existing child endangerment laws and to make the necessary changes in the statute of limitations laws. This change would allow all victims of childhood sexual abuse an opportunity to find justice.

Today’s conviction should also stand as a reminder to society that no person or organization is more powerful than one person having the courage to stand up and tell the truth.

Gary M. Bergeron
Boston MA
garymbergeron@gmail.com

Gary Bergeron, a survivor of clergy abuse from the Boston area, is also the author of “Don’t Call Me a Victim, Faith, Hope & Sexual Abuse in The Catholic Church”.

Clergy Abuse Survivor Responds

Clergy Abuse Survivor Responds to the Conviction of Rev. Paul Shanley
Market Wire, February, 2005

The conviction of Rev. Paul Shanley on all counts today in Boston should serve as notice that no person, regardless of his position or the institution he represents, is immune to prosecution for abusing a child.

The painful door which survivors of childhood sexual abuse have opened has allowed society to begin to shed light on the horrific abuse which children have endured for decades. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse continue to hope that society will have the courage to walk through that door.

I take this opportunity to ask judicial leaders throughout the United States to strengthen the existing child endangerment laws and to make the necessary changes in the statute of limitations laws. This change would allow all victims of childhood sexual abuse an opportunity to find justice.

Gary Bergeron, a survivor of clergy abuse from the Boston area is also the author of "Don't Call Me a Victim, Faith, Hope & Sexual Abuse in The Catholic Church."

Gary M. Bergeron