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

February 29, 2012:

By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions

Assemblywoman Margaret Markey held a press conference on February 28, 2012 in support of her Child Victims Act. At the conference she unveiled her plan to bring the Child Victims Act legislation before the Albany floor later this year. Her bill would open up a one year “window” to allow victims of child sexual abuse to obtain justice against the perpetrators who have abused them, and employers who sanctioned such abuse.  Right now under the current NY statute a victim has until their 18 birthday + 3 years to bring a claim for negligence torts and/or Third-Party negligence.

Markey invited two of the alleged victims of coach Bernie Fine, former ball boys at the University of Syracuse, to speak at the press conference. Markey is counting on her colleagues to support the bill after hearing the stories of these abused men. She hopes hearing their stories will help draw support for the bill and encourage her colleagues to pass the one year “window.”

It is important for victims of child sexual abuse to speak out and share their stories. It not only helps with their healing process, but also encourages others who are being abused or were abused in the past to come forward.

The effects of child sexual abuse on young people is staggering. The horror, embarrassment, humiliation stays with an abuse victim for his or her entire life. Most of the time, the abuse suffered causes strain in a victim’s personal and professional life. Pedophile perpetrators steal a childhood away from their victim and usually don’t look back because they are too busy looking for the next child to manipulate and abuse.

Lifting the statute of limitations is important because victims of childhood abuse often cannot address the emotional damage they’ve suffered until decades later when they are well into their adulthood.

It is Markey’s hope to draw attention to abuse occurring in youth sports as well as keeping scrutiny on religious organizations where much abuse occurs. Many religious organizations have tried to block the “window” legislation from coming to the Albany floor, especially the Catholic Church.

It is our obligation as advocates for victims of clergy and non-clergy sex crimes to be protective stewards of children. We must keep up the pressure on organizations to make sure they are diligently protecting youth so that they do not become victims of child sexual abuse.

Copyright 2012, b&a opinions.

The Catholic Church will stop at nothing to harass its victims of child sexual abuse and the support groups that assist these victims.

By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions

As a Catholic, it is disgusting to see how ruthless the Catholic Church is toward victims. The Catholic Church has sanctioned for decades the systematic abuse of children under its clergy. Men mostly hiding behind priestly black garb and white colors are responsible for raping, molesting, sexually assaulting, humiliating, and torturing young children all across the globe.

Unable to win in the bedrock of public opinion, the Church has turned its pincers and poisonous sting on advocacy groups that have long supported victims of pedophile priests. Read the full story

IN THE WAKE OF PENN STATE AND NOW SYRACUSE, NEW YORK CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TURNS TO THE SECULAR ARENA

By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions

With the news of Penn State and now Syracuse University, child sexual abuse has become mainstream USA. It is no longer just a “religious” issue.

You readily hear horrific stories from Survivors from all walks of life and all backgrounds accounting their heinous crimes of abuse. In the case of Penn State and Syracuse, team icons are alleged to have committed the abuse. These are not young men doing the abuse, but seasoned adults who are prominent professionals in the sports world.

It has taken a lot of courage for these young men to come forward regarding their sexual abuse. And this should not go unnoticed.

Why the Markey Bill In New York Should Be Passed Read the full story

If I am not for the children, then how can I argue I am not for the predators?

By MICHELE BETTI | b&a opinions October 13, 2009

Stand up for child justice

What the Roman Polanski arrest and the Mackenzie Phillips allegations of abuse by her father bring to the forefront is that all children are susceptible to abuse, not just children associated with religious organizations, schools, youth organizations, etc. Child sexual abuse has no specific boundary or description. It can occur regardless of a child’s age, country, wealth or poverty level. It can happen any time any place where children are involved.

Laws that afford a victim the time and opportunity to come forward and expose their predator prevent the next child from becoming a victim of that very same predator.

Shouldn’t the goal for all children be to allow them an opportunity to grow up without the harms inflicted upon them by adult predators? There is nothing more precious than an innocent child, with its whole life ahead of it, to grow up unscathed. Certainly, each one of us cannot argue against such a noble concept. Protecting children from predators and exposing organizations that cover up the abuse is an easy concept to embrace.

How we accomplish this goal is another story entirely.

Laws are making it very difficult, and in many cases impossible for those abused children who have grown into adults to come forward and identify their predators. We can help those who were victimized as children by speaking out against child sexual abuse, by verbalizing a zero tolerance policy against entities that cover up the abuse, and by supporting legislation that allows victims to come forward, tell their story, expose their predators, and protect the children of tomorrow.

Ask yourself, and challenge others to ask themselves this question:

If I am for children, then how can I argue against Child Victims Laws? If I am for children, then how can I support entities that cover up the abuse? If I am for children, then how can I argue against delayed discovery rules or window legislation that allows survivors of sexual abuse to litigate their cases? If I am for children, then how can I argue for imposing a statute of limitation on child sexual abuse when there is none on murder? Isn’t the sexual abuse of an innocent child a murder of that child’s soul?

And finally ask yourself this: If I am not for the children, then how can I argue I am not for the predators?

Copyright 2009, b&f opinions.

Article:

Historical bad day in Illinois For Sexual Abuse Survivor Rites –

Statute law 2003 and Father Roberts vs John Doe, Illinois Supreme Court sides with the clock vs. victim.

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. Read the full story

Mikvah and Child Sexual Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Community in New York.
April 20, 2009:   By MICHELE BETTI of BETTI AND ASSOCIATES | b&a opinions April 20, 2009

Studies have found Orthodox Jews account for as much as 10% of Jews nationwide, and a far greater share in parts of the New York metro area. Some 37% of the more than 516,000 Jews in Brooklyn are Orthodox, according to the UJA-Federation of New York, a Jewish social-service group.

Orthodox Mikvah Ritual Leads To Opportunist Molesters To Victimize Young Boys. Read the full story