World Catholic Abuse Survivors Day
For over a decade, victims and survivors of sexual and other abuse within the Roman Catholic Church have been struggling for justice and reform. Grassroots organizations, such as SNAP and the former Linkup and other have led the long, hard fight for recognition, compensation, and safegaurds for future generations.
It’s been a difficult and thankless struggle and a great deal of work needs to be done. Yet, the strides made have been great. The public is now aware of the problems within the Church as never before. Despite a great deal of denial, the hierarchy has acknowledged the evil has been done. Many victims have won handsome settlements. And the laity has been aroused and many are asking questions.
Maybe it’s time to change tactics. Maybe it’s time to celebrate our accomplishments — and in so doing, take the movement to a whole new level.
World Catholic Abuse Survivors Day is a proposal for such an event, put on by survivors and supporters around the world. It’s a simple idea, but it embodies a revolutionary new strategy of engaging the Church.
To make it come about would require the support of survivors everywhere. So to see if there is any kind of interest out there, a site has been set up to describe how the event would work.
It is my sincere hope that this could be a spectacular and enjoyable event, one that would lift the status of survivors forever. Even if the event itself never materializes, I believe the protest strategy behind it, if used, would force the Roman Church to treat the problem of clergy sexual abuse and its victims with far greater respect.
Comments have been specially enabled on this posting. There is a poll on the sidebar to help guage responses, ending on January 31, 2007. Please read the appeal carefully before voting.
Thanks for your consideration. Remember, we have nothing to lose but our shame.
Comments are open now. I apologize for the delay — technical glitch.
I haven’t allowed comments before for the same reason I hesitate opening the door on a Sunday morning. One never knows what’s on the other side — Jehovah’s Witnesses, salesmen, or some worthy cause wanting money.
But this is different. To make this thing work, it’s going to need a lot of people talking about it. For the moment, then, this is the place.
So, please, come in and say your piece. All I ask is that it be kept somewhat civil.
Jay
i think it is a good idea as it keeps the issues out in the open. plus it sounds like we will be looking at how much we have accomplished instead of how trashed and used we all are..
however.. i have been out on street corners ALONE in California and experienced the humiliation that comes from being a voice for what people do not want to hear.. so i have bad feelings about repeating my past attempts here in the islands
have had way too much publicity and media attention in santa barbara (none of it wanted) and am thinking if i do do something with the world day.. it might be in private as am very tired and very empty
A coordinated concerted worldwide effort to broadcast this issue would be a great help.
No more altered boys, girls or vunerable adults.
Let the games begin!
Hi Jay,
Love the website. It does do a number with pop-ups though. I don’t do so well with those. Like to crash and all.
LOL
Take care
I’m sure we can gather many on the east coast. We should go for it.
Hi Jay:
I’m in!! I think I can get a few tough Canadians willing to weather whatever the weather might bring.
I also like the idea of celebrating our successes and having some FUN for a change. That balance is so necessary, so I say, “Let the party begin!”
I think this is positively one of the greatest attempts at voicing a real approach to survival. as a survivor myself carrying the scars and wounds of everything that entails I hope that someday we will have a day of demonstration that will be an annual event world wide as a reminder of what happened and a reminder of sadly what is happenening everyday due to the catholic churches continued failure to deal with this issue of abuse and abusing clergy and religious.
Best wishes, and heres hoping.
A SURVIVOR.
Startling new evidence reveals that child abuse in the vatican was orchestrated and kept secret by official order
The poll is now closed. I left it going far longer than I had intended, in the hopes that anyone who voted against it, might explain a bit.
Thanks to everyone who participated. At this juncture, I doubt if WCASD will ever happen. But I will leave it up, for the principles behind it of treating the Roman Catholic Church just as any other mulinational corporation are still valid.
But for us survivors, every day we celebrate life, every day we can breathe deeply and enjoy just being alive and free, it is WCASD.
Peace, but not at any price,
Jay