MK forum

Sigh!

Sherpa, I love reading your writing and am sorry that this is causing you pain. Would you be able to take a deep breath and allow some grace for my friend? I too, had to learn a painful lesson at one point, that sarcasm was neither becoming nor effective for me. I'm glad that my friends and family stayed with me during that time . . .this is not an all or nothing forum. But do what you need to do to stay healthy . . .

Bonnie wasn't advertising for a lawyer. If you remember people were unhappy about how long it was taking ntm to get around to the next set of investigations. People were also unhappy about not having the investigations conducted by GRACE. She offered a solution to their problem. As I go back and read the other suggestions about how to deal with their problem I can't find any. If I include the idea to simply let God handle it then we have two. I will not get into the benefits and short comings of the two solutions, but I have to ask if anyone has come up with a third solution yet. Bonnie suggested one and Sherpa has suggested one. In my line of work, I always say that there are at least five solutions if you look. To move this discussion away from useless restating of both sides, does anyone have third, fourth, and fifth idea?

Here are some quotes about forgiveness and justice from a book that I found helpful after our ordeal and resignation from NTM.

“Unforgiveness should not be confused with healthy responses to loss. The quest for justice, for example, reflects our belief in the moral nature of the universe. When wrong is done, we believe the wrongdoer should be punished. Anger, in turn, is a legitimate emotional response to suffering. When someone has done something hurtful to us, we want to strike back and hurt them. And grief is a natural condition that follows on the heels of loss. When we feel the absence of someone or something we lost, our soul cries out in anguish. These responses indicate that a normal person has just suffered loss and has begun the healthy but painful process of healing.”

“But forgiveness is costly. Forgiving people must give up the right to get even, a right that is not so easy to relinquish. They must show mercy when their human sensibilities tell them to punish. Not that a desire for justice is wrong. A person can both forgive and strive for justice. Wrong that is forgiven is still wrong done and must be punished. Mercy does not abrogate justice; it transcends it.”

“Though forgiveness may not have an ending, it has a beginning. It begins when victims identify the wrong done to them and feel the anger that naturally rises in the soul. They realize that what happened to them was inexcusable and should not have happened. Before victims can show mercy, in other words, they must claim justice. Before they can forgive, they must accuse.

Anything short of holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions is an insult to the wrongdoers themselves. It reduces them to something less than human, for one of the primary characteristics of being human is knowing what constitutes right and wrong and what it means to be responsible, whether one chooses to be or not. We do not have to forgive animals for killing other animals because they kill by instinct and for food. We do have to forgive people for killing other people because they kill by choice. To dismiss wrong done because it was done out of ignorance or sickness or a bad background is to violate the wrongdoer’s humanity. The starting point of forgiveness, then, is a recognition that the person or persons who did the wrong were in fact wrong. They knew better and could have – even should have – done otherwise.” Jerry Sittser, A Grace Disguised

What do you think about his statement that a person can both forgive and strive for justice? Is it possible? What might that look like?

In response to Clark, there are several different problems identified here, two of which are past child abuse and related continued coverup. Regarding the first problem, I really don't think there is any real solution...and that is part of the struggle here. Not all problems have solutions or can be "resolved". Perhaps we can mitigate some ongoing psychological harm by giving victims some affirmation and respect by standing up for them and attempting to force NTM to come clean. Perhaps we can mitigate some financial impacts by forcing NTM to assist financially. As we do not have any authority to "force" NTM to do anything, we encourage such behavior by (1) appealing to NTM to do what is right; (2) continuing to raise hell; (3) turning the court of public opinion against inaction. But, none of this will "resolve" the problem - only mitigate some of the harm.

Regarding continued coverup, this is something that can be solved by putting pressure on NTM to uncover what is wrongfully covered...pressure can be asserted by (1) appealing to NTM to do what is right; (2) continuing to raise hell; (3) turning the court of public opinion against the coverup.

This forum is one means to do all of these things - appeal to NTM, raise hell, turn court of public opinion against inaction/coverup. We have successfully raised some hell. Our ability to "appeal" to NTM or turn the court of public opinion in our favor may require an adjustment in the way we react to NTM and each other on this forum, lest we lose our credibility.

The alternative that has been proposed, "court", would be another way to achieve these things as well...except that, in cases of long-past abuse, all relevant statutes of limitations or statutes of repose have likely long-since lapsed as has been explained elsewhere in these forums. Recent modifications of laws extending various statutes of limitations run into some constitutional problems when applied retroactively. For more recent abuse, I do not dismiss court as a viable option to mitigate some harm or force some uncovering. Having said that, I do respect the view that taking a "brother" to court is not Bibilical. I don't agree with that view because I think the passage is more narrow in scope and largely inapplicable to most facts...but I also recognize the possibility that the passage means exactly what is says with broad application. Reasonable minds can differ as to interpretation. So, let's stick to discussing the issues in a respectful, non-abusive manner, and not chase our tails lest our heads end up where we don't want them. Discuss the issues rather than attacking the person. Be passionate, yes. But, we are all human here, and our skin is only so thick.

MEDIA ALERT

Child Sex Abuse and Coverup Lawsuit Filed Against New Tribes Mission, A Worldwide Organization Based in Orlando Area

Suit Says that Young Girl was Sexually Abused in Dorm Run by Mission in Philippines

Attorney to Hold TWO News Conferences to Announce New Suit

WHAT

TWO news conferences to announce the filing of a child sexual abuse and coverup lawsuit against NEW TRIBES MISSION, a worldwide missionary organization based in Sanford, Florida

WHEN/WHERE

Conference 1: 11:00am, public sidewalk in front of New Tribes Mission HQ at 1000 E. First St. in SANFORD

Conference 2: 1:30pm, on the steps of the Orange County Courthouse, 425 N. Orange. Ave., in ORLANDO

DETAILS

JEFFERY HERMAN, a nationally-recognized attorney for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, announces the filing of a new lawsuit against the Sanford-based NEW TRIBES MISSION (NTM) for the sexual abuse of a young girl in a school dorm owned and operated by the Mission.

According to the lawsuit, the girl, whose parents were missionaries in the organization, was repeatedly sexually abused by the man who ran the dorm she lived in as a youngster, LESLIE EMORY. The abuse is alleged to have occurred in ARITAO, Philippines, between 1984 and 1993, beginning when the child was only 9 years old.

The lawsuit also says that when confronted by NTM leaders with allegations that he molested children in his care, EMORY confessed to molesting at least 23 children. He has never faced criminal charges.

In August, 2010, NTM released a report concluding that dozens of children were sexually, physically, and emotionally abused in a dormitory in Africa.

Jane Doe No. 7 v. New Tribes Mission, Inc. was filed early Monday morning in Seminole County Circuit Court. Copies of the Complaint, as well as a written statement from the Plaintiff, will be available at the news conferences.

CONTACT: JEFF HERMAN 305 409 7371 cell, jherman@hermanlaw.com; or JESSICA ARBOUR 305 931 2200 , jarbour@hermanlaw.com





Jessica D. Arbour, Esq.

Herman, Mermelstein & Horowitz, P.A.

18205 Biscayne Blvd.

Suite 2218

Miami, FL 33160

(305) 931-2200

www.hermanlaw.com

Anyone who is able and wants to show up for either press conference is more than welcome. Not to say a word, even, but to simply show your support for a fellow mk.