Hermenuetics

Comments

Thank you for speaking up and out.

As long as we have prayer we have a powerful way to support our suffering sisters, wherever they may be. And you have provided other methods beyond prayer to reach out.

Posted By: Sheila | September 8, 2010 8:03 PM

Amen, preach on, sister!

I just went and googled this topic. The images of these women and children are heart wrenching. It's not only the physical brutality inflicted upon their bodies. It's the despair I see in their eyes.

I want to send these images through on my Facebook newsfeed just so my friends can see what other women go through. But I fear that it would be ignored; the reality of this systematic rape of hundreds of women is so horrifying to deal with that most people would rather shove it aside.

But I don't want to stand by and see innocent people ripped of their dignity. As a Christian, I CAN'T ignore it. I want to help clothe them with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Posted By: Laura K. Droege | September 8, 2010 8:29 PM

What is happening to these woman is terrible, and wrong. And everything that can be done should be done to help them. The problem is often the people with the power to stop this turn a blind eye.

As a mother though, my biggest concern after reading a related article was the fact that these "Soldiers" were rapping little baby boys. Some as young as one month old, the oldest being 18 months. I doubt whether the parents of these children have the medical facilities or councling facilities to properly help these poor little babies. What I want to know is how can I help in this respect?

My heart breaks for the mothers of these little boys, to love a child and to be able to do nothing to prevent someone from hurting them must be torture, I want to help these children!

Posted By: lynn | September 9, 2010 6:39 AM

@ Lynn- I agree that we've got to do something.

I've been praying for these women and children since I read this article yesterday, and I feel compelled to do SOMETHING. I'm going to write to my Congressmen, though I doubt that social justice is high on their priority list, frankly. I'm going to check out the Congo Initiative. Are there other places to donate money or supplies to?

Posted By: Laura Droege | September 9, 2010 11:04 AM

More horror, every day, horror piled upon horror.

A bitter thought to add to the discussion: as the U.S. experience in Beirut, Lebanon; the Balkans; and Somalia has shown, when people want to kill each other, when people want to rape each other, there is very little outsiders (Americans, the United Nations, any political entity) can do to stop them.

In light of this, how do we respond to the tragedy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Les Nordman

Posted By: Les Nordman | September 9, 2010 9:07 PM

Every Child Ministries (ecmafrica.org) is helping in Zaire in tangible ways. They are on Facebook also. They have helped release women and children enslaved to priests who hold them captive and use them for work and sexual purposes. Currently these women are being retrained so they can earn money honestly. They have built a home for street children also.

Posted By: Susan Frost | September 11, 2010 2:09 PM

World Vision is doing great work in DR Congo. After reading the above article, I chose to sponsor a child there. It seems like such a small offering, but I couldn't remain paralyzed by the overwhelming and horrific injustices in DR Congo. Thank you, Davita, for bringing awareness to this issue. May God have mercy on us all.

Posted By: Krista | September 13, 2010 4:45 PM

This is nothing new, what about the Sudan, it is still going on, and when we give, we usually they never see any of what we give for so many ministries are wolves in sheep's clothing, in this day and age, as our SAVIOR warned us. We must KNOW the ministry and KNOW its integrity so our money is not used in vain. We are to be good stewards of our money to make sure those we are wanting to help are truly being helped!!!!! Look at what is happening in our own nation, in our own neighborhoods? How many of us even know our neighbors? Our neighbors are molesting their own children? There are molesters right on our own streets lurking around waiting to grab our own children or our neighbors children. It IS insane, and what we can TRULY do to change the world is PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, FAST, and PLEAD the BLOOD of OUR SAVIOUR over our neighborhoods, the world and our children before they walk out our doors. How many of us do this today?????? We are Spiritually lethargic. Now if you do these things do not become offended at what I am saying, but if you are not doing these things, do not become offended but start doing that which the LORD commanded us to do. We are to be the ARMY of the LORD and we wonder why the world is the way it is. It is because we are NOT doing what we should be doing. I know I could be doing more than what I am doing. I am as guilty as anyone. I do a lot but I can do MORE!!!!! The LORD did not say, "IF the world that is called by MY NAME would humble themselves, but HE said, "IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME!!!!" would humble themselves and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then I would hear from Heaven and forgiven their sins and HEAL their land!" WE ARE THE PROBLEM Brothers and Sisters! Oh we want to blame everything on the world, but it is NOT the world that is the problem, it is the Body of Christ who is the problem. JESUS told us because HE was going to the ABBA and sending us the HOLY SPIRIT, what we saw Him doing we would do GREATER THINGS! What is wrong with this picture????? Was JESUS a Liar? I don't believe so!!!!! So tell me what is the problem????? Nothing is going to change anywhere in the world if it doesn't start within OUR OWN BORN AGAIN hearts and minds. Sending all the money in the world won't change anything. Not saying we should not help financially, but unless our hearts and minds aren't changed and we don't start doing it in the SPIRIT, you cannot fight spirit with flesh we will never see a change anywhere in the world. It will only continue to get worse.

Posted By: Barbara | September 15, 2010 5:10 PM

Sexual abuse is a social cancer not only in Africa, but also in Europe. The difference is in the fact, in Europe, that issue continues to be unreported.
The situation is very sensitive in Romanian Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Let me give you some data:

I initiated the website www.reinviesperanta.com for Romanian-speaking people. This website is primarily focused on helping the victims of sexual abuse and on raising awareness regarding that crime.
What I found by my correspondence with the victims is heart-breaking.
The abusers are embraced in our Romanian church and the victims are punished.
Let’s start with the abusers:
By the end of 2008 many Romanian Adventist victims informed me about their tragedies through my website. I found out about two pedophiles in our church: one of them is a pastor, another one is an independent evangelist. The evangelist has victims in Romania and outside of Romania. He is an international traveler, enjoying his “mission”.
I tried to help the victims: I informed on that time (2008) the leadership of the Romanian Seventh Day Adventist Church about these two cases. By the way, shortly after, I discover that these cases were known by the Romanian Union since 1996, when some victims brought their written testimony. The abuses were not reported to the civil authorities on that time. Also, I informed the police and some Nongovernmental Organizations: Holt International Foundation and Save the Children Romania.
In the beginning of 2009 I asked the victims to report to the police and to the same organizations.
From the president of Holt International Foundation, I understood that there were 20 victims of the evangelist who send their testimonies. This is just the tip of the iceberg…..The real number is not evaluated.
I reported that situation to the GC Risk Management, GC Family Ministry Department and I was advised to send the same report to the Euro-Africa Division Family Ministry Department.
In very sensitive matter like this, the local church has the authority to decide what to be done. Because the social context, with no education in the area of child abuse for members and pastors, with no special legislation in this regard, the church is embracing the abusers. The evangelist was excluded from his local church in 2009 and after one year, in 2010 was re-baptized. He is traveling freely in Romania and wherever he is invited. Recently, he visited Spain. Also, he attended the General Conference Session in Atlanta, GA.
The pedophile pastor retired from his position.

In Romania, there are problems with the legislation, which states that if the crime of abuse was committed more than 8 years ago, the abuser is not accountable. The population is not informed about the risk a pedophile represents for his community. There are not lists of sex-offenders issued by the police in order to assure a safe environment for potential victims and there are no programs to recuperate the abusers.
The victims are not offered special help; they are not encouraged to talk. Instead, the advice is to forget and forgive.
No help was received from the Euro- Africa Division and GC. Probably, I should send my appeal to the Women’s Ministry Department, in order to get help. I wonder how in a situation like this, people can stay quiet and do nothing. From my own experience, as a Medical Doctor, I know that when I encounter something beyond my area, I refer the case to other people in order to help the patient get well.
I just don’t understand how people in high positions at different departments of GC and Division level share their concern in helping the church members who are in desperate needs.
What should I say about victims?

I have a special case right now: GM, a high school student (SDA member), abused by her teacher (non-SDA member), three years ago. The victim’s mother reported the case to the police two years ago.
No action was taken against the lady-abuser because there are not proofs, nor witnesses.
I asked help in her behalf to the Romanian Union, in order to recommend her an Adventist lawyer who would present the case in the court. The student received the visit from an anti-abuse committee from the Union and told her experience: sadness, depression, medications, discouragement. The conclusion was that there are not proofs and nothing can be done in her case. Because the student was admitted in the hospital for depression, it was said that something could be wrong in her mind.
In fact, the website www.reinviesperanta.com was considered by pastors as something like rumors, nothing being taken seriously. It was promoted the idea that victims suffered from schizophrenia, one of the professor from the Theological Adventist Institute said.
GM has the initiative to present her case in the media (national TV station), action which was praised by the people who are aware of child sexual abuse and condemned by Adventist members. This was the reason GM was victimized by the attitude her church manifested toward her. The whole family was blamed because of her action toward social justice.
I visited Romania this past spring and I was surprised to see how uneducated and insensitive people react in situation like this. The same surprise I had when I found that people from her conference and Union let the local church to deal with issues beyond its competence.

One month ago, right after the closing of the GC session, the local church had the authority to decide what to do in her case: she was put under the church discipline for one year, her mother for six months.
.

Here we assist to unusual case of abuse of power combined with ignorance, and absence of involvement and guidance from the Romanian Union.
Looking around the Romania and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, I found great encouragement from our Catholic brothers. Sexual misconduct by clergy is no more a secret in their church. Victims from this church talk loudly and advocate for social justice and human rights. Catholic abusers resigned and Pope apologized for these crimes.
Praise God because the truth is uncovered: victims are on the way back to dignity, healing and happiness; abusers have the opportunity to face the real life and repent.
What about the Romanian Seventh Day Adventist Church who is called to share God’s love in a former communist country, where sex trafficking is a terrible issue (first place in Europe, together with Ukraine, Moldova and Russia)?
Looks like that with an attitude of punishing the victims and embracing the abusers, the Romanian Union is anti social justice, while presenting the Bible prophesies, a healthy lifestyle, the Sabbath and other very important truths.
Should I go ahead and ask for help from Catholic Church? I am just wondering….
With great confidence that God is watching over that situation and use His people to advocate for social justice,
Dr. MargiAnne Isaia, MD, MPH
Survivor of child sexual abuse

Posted By: Anonymous | September 18, 2010 5:21 PM

If somebody can help with any idea regarding how to move forward in advocating for appropriate legislation in the area of child sexual abuse for Romania, I would appreciate very much.

Posted By: MargiAnne Isaia | September 18, 2010 5:29 PM

dear sister, may i encourage you to begin small. First with the passion in your heart and to seek first, the Lord Jesus leading and word. Look to Him

1. Set aside a weekend or three days by yourself with your bible and pray, fast and read Nehemiah, then Ezra. Keep a journal of your time spent with the Lord and the principles He shows through His word.

2. Watch for who the Lord will connect you to, who have the same passion as you do, for the Lord will gather to you those He has called / is calling to do this particular work.

3. Do not rush, this will be done not by might, nor by power but by His Spirit says the Lord.

With love in Christ Jesus... marcia

Posted By: marcia | September 21, 2011 2:02 PM