Lawyers for Clergy Abuse & Sexually Abused Child | Law Offices of Betti & Associates Attorneys for sexual assult in California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois, Florida, Hawaii

Physical and Child Sexual Abuse in Ireland was endemic between 1940 and the late 1970s

July 27, 2009: A report released May 20 by the Irish State Commission of Inquiry reveals child sexual abuse was rampant in Ireland

By MICHELE BETTI | b&f opinions July 27, 2009

The Irish government established an independent commission in 2000 to hear evidence from anyone alleged to have suffered child abuse at institutions since 1940. These institutions, funded by the state, but often run by Catholic religious orders, included schools, orphanages, hospitals, children’s homes or any other institutions where children were in the care of non-family members.

As you read excerpts from the report below you will see ten similarities that often occur in child sexual abuse cases today. They include:

1. When confronted with evidence of sexual abuse, the response of the religious authorities was to transfer the offender to another location where, in many instances, he was free to abuse again.
2. Abusers were moved, but nothing was done about the harm done to the child.
3. Authoritarian management systems prevented disclosures by staff and served to perpetuate abuse.
4. Lack of transparency in how the matter of sexual abuse was dealt with between the Congregations, dioceses and the Department.
5. Men with histories of sexual abuse when they were members of religious Orders continued their teaching careers as lay teachers in State schools.
6. The Department of Education dealt inadequately with complaints about sexual abuse.

These complaints were generally dismissed or ignored. Continue Reading

Michele Betti of Betti & Associates will attend The 2009 SNAP National Conference in Washington, DC August 7, 8 and 9.

SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the nation’s largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).

Ms. Betti will meet with leaders from across the nation.
Some of the issues she will be discussing with them are new strategies to fight against child sexual abuse, uncover and identify predators and create stronger legislation to protect children.  Some of the sessions Ms. Betti will attend include: Continue Reading

June 23, 2009: Michele Betti Goes To Oakland, California To Support Sexually Exploited Patient
By MICHELE BETTI | b&f opinions June 23, 2009

Michele Betti goes to Oakland, California to support SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, and one of its survivors who was manipulated and exploited by her Oakland psychologist John R. LoRé, Ph.D. repeatedly during therapy for several years. SNAP set up the event in order to warn everyone about this predator and to bring awareness to the community. Continue Reading

April 20, 2009:Posts

Michele Betti of Betti & Associates to Attend Rally in New York State Capital in Albany to Protect New York’s Children and Support the Window to Reveal Child Predators
By MICHELE BETTI  | b&A opinions April 20, 2009

New York State Lawmakers are currently considering two different civil bills relating to expired child sexual abuse claims (A2596/S2568 (the “Markey Bill”) introduced to the NY Assembly by Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, D-Queens and A5708/S3107 (the “Lopez Bill”) introduced to the NY Assembly by Assemblyman Vito Lopez, D-Brooklyn.)

Halting The Hiding Behind Statutes

California and Delaware enacted legislation that revealed almost 400 new predators to date.  There is a proven method to identify hidden child predators and halt the ability of predators and their enablers from using the technicality of the statute of limitations to block meritorious child sex abuse cases.

For one year, give child sex abuse claims a window to go forward even if they are now time- barred.  When the victims name the adults who made the abuse happen, and courts order the release of evidence and documents that have shielded the ugly truth from the people, New Yorkers can finally protect children from the dangerous and the callous.  It is time for New York to spotlight its fugitive perpetrators and give victims justice.

When faced with a proposed change to any state’s statute of limitations involving childhood sexual abuse, survivors and advocates should ask themselves whether or not the proposed law a) serves the important purpose of uncovering secret documents about the pedophile; b) prohibits confidentiality agreements; and c) promotes survivors’ healing.

Purpose Is To Provide Justice To Victims Of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

The central purpose of these types of civil statutes should be to provide justice to survivors of childhood sexual abuse who for years have remained silent about their childhood trauma.  Ultimately, every survivor, advocate and our firm Betti & Franks believes no state should have a statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse cases (like in the case of murder).

While Markey’s bill does not do away with a statute of limitations time period, it raises the age to which a victim may file a claim to 28 years old, and allows for the widespread dissemination and identification of possibly thousands of child predators.

We expect, like California, under Markey’s bill, literally thousands of pedophiles and the institutions that covered up the abuse will be revealed.  Survivors will get a chance to name their predators right now and the public learns who is endangering — and has endangered — their children.

The Markey Bill should be labeled the “The Predator Identity Act.”
Copyright 2009, b&Aopinions.