A Moral Emergency"Understanding sexuality in our society is difficult. Understanding the sexual abuse of children is even more difficult. This book presents a wealth of information-a history of sexual abuse, actual statistics, first person accounts from victims, legal issues, as well as theological reflections-all condensed into a concise handbook on what many will readily concede is a 'moral emergency.' More than merely informative, this book is practical. It includes concrete suggestions for ways that religious and other communities can make a real difference-by helping to prevent child abuse."--Back cover. |
Contents
The Prosecutor and the Ethicist A Metaphor for Societys Response to Child Sexual Abuse | 1 |
Child Sexual Abuse in Perspective Available Data and Statistics | 11 |
Myths and Realities How It Should Be How It Is | 25 |
A Sorrowful Road A History of Child Sexual Abuse | 53 |
Ministries in Action Responses by Religious Communities | 66 |
An Invitation to Speak to Hear to Act A Program for Prophetic Ministry | 92 |
God Works in Mysterious Ways Hope for Healing and Change | 109 |
Definitions | 116 |
Statistics | 118 |
Historical Timeline Excerpted from Chapter Four | 125 |
Denominational and Organizational Contacts | 128 |
Sample Sermons | 133 |
Endnotes | 151 |
| 165 | |
Common terms and phrases
abuse of children Abuse Prosecution Unit adult survivors Alice Miller behavior believe Boston Chapter chil Child Abuse Child Abuse Prosecution Child Abuse Report child molesters child sexual abuse child victims clergy abuse Code of Hammurabi County District Attorney's daughters David Finkelhor District Attorney District Attorney's Office domestic violence dren ethicist father Father-Daughter Incest feel forgive George Duckworth healing hear Ibid incest included interview by author issue of child justice system lives Lutheran Mary Massachusetts Middlesex County District Moral Emergency mother myths pain parents pastoral perpetrator prosecutor protect rape religious communities religious leaders Reporting Law response Reverend Roman Catholic Church Safe Kids sermon shared with author Silence Social Services society someone Somerville specific statistics survivors of child talk tell tion Unitarian Universalist Unitarian Universalist Association victims and survivors victims of child victims of victims women Written account shared wrong