The lack of follow-through on the part of NTM is so disheartening. This has happened not only with the recommendations for Vianopolis, but even in the case of Fanda. No one is making sure any of those recommendations from GRACE are being carried out long-term either. We expected a certain level of integrity on the part of NTM. It now becomes apparent that that expectation was not realistic.
The layers and implications of this are so vitally important for everyone to understand. It is abundantly clear that IHART is not really independent at all. That means the investigations into abuse in East Brazil, Panama and Bolivia are actually internal investigations, and the aim of those involved will be to protect the mission, not to support and validate MK survivors. The exercise of going through the motions of having a Recommendations Panel becomes pretty meaningless, if the recommendations made by them are not accepted, are modified, minimized, and even after all that, not actually carried out.
I do hope that if there is any more talk coming from NTM about a plan to investigate "historical" abuse on any of its other fields, people will understand that this is just going to be more of the same meaninglessness. I really just hate the way MK abuse victims, MK witnesses to abuse, parents of MKs and others have voluntarily subjected themselves to the emotionally grueling process of investigative interviews, and I hate all the time and the money spent -- money donated by well-meaning, sacrificial individuals and churches who thought they were contributing to world evangelization! -- on this farce, this sham, that a few attorneys and mission leaders knew all along would yield absolutely no significant results but to kick the can down the road a ways, during which more donations would come in, and more plans could be made for how to move assets and personnel off the sinking Titanic.
Hate is a strong word, but yes ... I do hate that this is what has been happening for the past five years, and what will continue to happen, until ... until ...
Until what? How do we make this craziness stop??
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