Harassment is a Gateway Drug – April 26, 2018

Today – April 26 – is the annual Day of Prayer in Atonement and for Healing of All Those Harmed by Sexual Abuse.  Bishop Johnston established this day of atonement and healing in 2016 in response to the horrendous sin of clergy sexual abuse of children and the systematic cover-up by bishops.  The Catholic Church in our Diocese, in the US, and around the world has been rocked by this crisis.  I am grateful for Bishop Johnston’s earnest commitment to the truth, to outreach, to healing, to reconciliation.  The work of the diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection is something of which we can all be proud.

Today was also the annual MOCSA Community Luncheon.  The Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault does amazing work:  24-hour support for victim/survivors of sexual assault and rape, counseling for children and adults, and prevention and education.  Our keynote speaker was actress Mira Sorvino.  She was introduced as “one of the earliest and most prominent women in Hollywood to confront Harvey Weinstein’s years of predatory behavior….[she] helped empower a cascade of more that 90 silence breakers to come forward while also linking the #MeToo movement to the larger struggle of women worldwide.”

I cried as Ms. Sorvino spoke of “the culture where sexual harassment and assault are expected and accepted.”  She described harassment as a “gateway drug” to assault and rape.  She congratulated MOCSA on the good work they are doing to change the culture – and challenged us all to do more.

We know that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before age 18.  We know that one in six women have been the victim of an attempted or complete rape.  We know that 11% of perpetrators are strangers, 29% of perpetrators are biologically related family members, and 60% of perpetrators are people known and trusted by the victim.

Our homes, our schools, our churches, our workplaces are not safe. 

But.  Today was also the day that Bill Cosby, “America’s dad,” was found guilty on all three counts in his aggravated indecent assault trial.  The jury believed the victim. 

The sun is shining.  There is hope.