Fuming.....

Last Friday, the world stopped and everyone was glued to the TV as the BK/CB-F hearing commenced.  

Some women relived their own horrific sexual assault events; others scoffed.

Some men scoffed; others stood behind the women who were yelling 'Crucify him!"

"It's hard to be a man these days..."

A friend of mine posted the following thought-provoking statement:

"I need parenting advice.

Am I supposed to tell my stepdaughters that if they go to a party, drink alcohol, and pass out they are signing a theoretical waiver stating they accept the consequences of anyone taking advantage of them? And if they don’t call the authorities directly after they are acknowledging no harm, no foul?
Also, am I supposed to tell them that at any point they can accuse someone of wrongdoing and expect swift consequences without question, proof or due process?

Am I to tell my sons and stepsons that any girl who shows up to a party and partakes in drugs and alcohol is fair game for their sexual desires? And if she doesn’t immediately turn them in they’ve obviously done nothing wrong and can continue with how they treat women at parties??
Also, do I tell them they are obviously guilty of any and all accusations against them without proof or due process?

While the case at hand is sparking the comments I’m seeing from both men and women, these comments are nothing new to see. “IF it happened, she had it coming.” “IF it didn’t, all victims who come forward are obviously liars who want money and attention.”
Victims can be men and women.
There’s such a thing as compassion without judgement until evidence is produced, or a non-biased decision is made. We all have our assumptions of who is true and who is a liar. The comment sections though..... 😞

Other victims are watching.

Your kids are watching, too."

What's MY position?  

On the one hand, I cannot believe anyone would seriously accuse someone of something that happened over 30 years ago, where it cannot be investigated, and people named say they have no knowledge of it....even if they were supposedly in the room!

I was mildly attacked in high school.  Yes, it traumatized me for a few days, but now, 30 years later, I spoke to the classmate who did it, and he apologized for the way he'd treated me.  There is no animosity between us.  Just because it is now 'okay' to rake him over the coals, will I do it?  No; he's not in the public eye and he's been through his own private hell.  No need to dredge that up.

Another FB friend posted, saying he apologizes if he ever acted inappropriately or touched anyone inappropriately in HS.  I teased him about the Band Camp incident my junior year, when he was dating my best friend.  Again, I've not forgotten it, but we were young and stupid, and he's been forgiven.

Are today's teenagers going to grow up, holding onto past hurts and grudges?  How can anyone grow?  BK's not the same person he was 37 years ago.....and neither am I nor either of the men mentioned!

On the other hand.....

I think D. F., the senator who had been given the information to begin with, ought to be the one ousted from her job.  This was supposed to be an ANONYMOUS report, and made with only the 'here's what happens; do you really want him on the bench?' kind of note attached.....and she's turned it into a political 3-ring circus.

This brings back to mind the C.T/A.H crap back in the 90s, and he was confirmed.  So my other question is, who in their right minds would ever run for public office if their HS yearbooks, childish pranks, and questionable teenage behavior can now be put under the microscope and be raked over the coals for it?

I fear we're heading into Stepfordville....God forbid anyone disagree with their neighbors; express an unpopular decision; get caught on social media smoking anything illegal.

Is that the kind of society you want?

For myself, I just pray that God puts the right people in power to save our country from ourselves.

Or the Rapture occurs and takes me away before WW3 or another civil war.

So This Just Happened.....

Forget Roy Moore.  This post is about a proposed Supreme Court Justice, BK, who has been under attack this week for something that happened when he was 17.

Woman claims she attended a HS party and he was drunk.  He pinned her to the bed and attempted to rape her.  ATTEMPTED.  At SEVENTEEN.  He's HOW OLD now???????

Forgive me.....where the hell was she with her accusations when he passed the bar?  Became a prominent lawyer?  Became a judge? 

Oh wait.....what was I thinking?  Now it's perfectly fine to paint yourself a victim if your attacker FORTY YEARS AGO is now running for public office......and has different political views.

Earlier, I posted a similar meme on my wall.....it had BK and his accuser in the background.  I noticed about 7pm that I had several notifications, and one blasted me for posting it.  Unfortunately, I cannot copy/paste the conversation, because the entire post has disappeared.  Basically, she said shame on me for offending sexual assault victims everywhere.

I apologized, then said I'd been sexually harassed in junior high and had been assaulted my junior year....but felt ZERO need to call out my attackers 40 years later.  I also said I would PM her later.

She chose to unfriend me.  I DID PM the other friend who disagreed, and she told me not to sweat it; she didn't feel slighted, and that we could still disagree and still be friends.

That's CLASS, folks.

Too Close To Home....

My heart breaks for my church, my parish, the people of my diocese today.

(Sept 8th)

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A priest with ties to the Wabash Valley has been placed on administrative leave, accused of sexual misconduct happening decades ago.

According to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, the claim was made against Father DF. (omission of name is mine, to protect SEO)

FD is prohibited from public ministry as the investigation continues but denies the claim. FD has served in several parishes, schools and missions in Vincenness, Montgomery and Bicknell.

According to Catholic Diocese of Evansville, FD has served in the following parishes, schools and missions:

- Rivet High School, Vincennes

- Sacred Heart, Vincennes

- Sts. Peter and Paul, Petersburg

- St. Peter, Montgomery

- St. Michael the Archangel and St. Patrick

- Blessed Sacrament, Oakland City

- St. Philip, Posey County

- St. John the Baptist, Vincennes

- St. Vincent de Paul, Vincennes

- St. Thomas, Vincennes

- St. Philip Neri, Bicknell

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. Francis Xavier, Vincennes

- St. Thomas the Apostle, Vincennes

- St. James, Haubstadt

Victims or anyone with information about cases of sexual misconduct are urged to contact police and the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 812-490-9565 or toll-free at 866-200-3004.

Today in church, the vicar of the Evansville diocese arrived to let our parish know about the claim.

What jumps out immediately are two things:  This happened DECADES ago.  Where was this person when all the attention about priests behaving inappropriately 18 years ago?  FD has been a beloved priest and established community member for at least 12 years (that's how long I'VE known him!).  Secondly,  Secondly, I've observed him around people of all ages, and NOT ONCE has he EVER been 'inappropriate' toward anyone.  If anything, he could use some 'people skills'.....though when Fr. Benny was around, I did see the man lighten up and actually laugh.  I've even got a picture of him in his bathing suit.  And no, he was not wearing his collar.....just thought I'd throw that in!

I'm praying this either took place before he took his vows, or as a young priest, made an overly friendly gesture which was simply misconstrued.  Or this is a false memory.

Look at the hulliballoo over AG and the bishop at a Certain Person's (AF) funeral last week (again, initials are used to protect SEO).  Inside Edition claimed he touched her breast, and she 'acted uncomfortable', and 'not wanting to cause a scene'....'every woman knows this feeling'.

BUT.....if you watch the ENTIRE clip, her uneasiness wasn't due to the fact his hand was high on her waist....it was because of the bad joke about her name!  And their size difference didn't help.....if the man had his hand on her waist, it would have caused him to stoop, and then everyone would be saying he was looking down her dress.

Stop and think about it the next time you hug someone who comes up to your armpit.  Put your arm around them and see where YOUR hand lies!

I'm in no way condoning this behavior.  If it turns out our beloved priest IS guilty, then I stand corrected.  Isn't there a statute of limitations on DECADES, though?  If the man has been a model citizen, shouldn't that account for something?  Let God be his judge.

It's my understanding that with other priests, this has been going on up until the time they were caught.  That's different, and they should be brought to justice.

In the meantime, I'm praying for answers, for the upheaval in my church family, and for parishoners where were visibly upset and had to leave the service briefly this morning.