In context, this choice of words is offensive and wrong. One confesses a sin. The childhood victim of sexual abuse so often feels like the one committing the sin that many choose not to live long enough to become survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Second, in one paper a local law enforcement official was quoted as saying, “But if pedophile priests are out there, their victims must step forward…the abuser may have current victims.”
I personally applaud, and will stand behind any survivor of abuse who wishes to participate in disclosing and/or prosecuting their abuser. A victim should tell someone they trust about the abuse so it will stop for them.
However, it is never the responsibility of the victim to come forward to warn others. A victim always has the right to remain silent.
The call must be made, loudly and clearly, to all sexual abusers of children to stop their abuse by admitting that their actions are wrong and harmful, by getting whatever help they need to stop their actions, to apologize to their victims and to reassure their victims that it is never that victim’s fault.
Please keep in mind that almost every sexual abuser of children has his or herself been the victim of childhood sexual abuse. No, that does not mean that all abuse victims become abusers.
Thank you, Senator Cruz, for speaking out; and thank you, Marianas Variety, for allowing me this opportunity to be heard. Like so many survivors, I didn’t speak out until I was well into adulthood and my abuser was dead.
CAROL FITHC BAULOS
Tumon, Guam
