Posted on Jan 22, 2023
Kansas Group: Name priests in child sex abuse report and change the statute of limitations
280
3
1
2
2
0
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests backed legislation from a Johnson County lawmaker aimed at holding more people accountable when clergy abuse children.
The road to reporting persistent sexual abuse by her gymnastics coach in 1998 was a long and difficult one for Kim Bergman of Shawnee.
She says at 12 years old she began dealing with the memories of her coach’s hands inside her swimsuit and under her shirt by writing letters to another coach.
“It was almost like a diary-type thing,” she said. “I held onto the letters for a while before sending them.”
Her mother came across the letters, though, and quickly got Kim into therapy, but the therapist wanted to wait until Kim could come to better terms before reporting to the police, she said.
The road to reporting persistent sexual abuse by her gymnastics coach in 1998 was a long and difficult one for Kim Bergman of Shawnee.
She says at 12 years old she began dealing with the memories of her coach’s hands inside her swimsuit and under her shirt by writing letters to another coach.
“It was almost like a diary-type thing,” she said. “I held onto the letters for a while before sending them.”
Her mother came across the letters, though, and quickly got Kim into therapy, but the therapist wanted to wait until Kim could come to better terms before reporting to the police, she said.
Kansas Group: Name priests in child sex abuse report and change the statute of limitations
Posted from kcur.org
Sexual Assault
Children
Religion
Christianity
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Group: release the names
The KBI report also has caught the attention of SNAP, the national organization for survivors of abuse by priests.
David Clohessy, former SNAP director, said the report, which was begun under former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, should have provided more information about the crimes and their alleged perpetrators.
Having that information would help heal survivors and keep kids safer, he said.
Clohessy asked through an open records request for the identification of all Catholic employees and volunteers who have been credibly accused of committing or concealing child sex crimes that were found in the KBI investigation.
“It’s especially important that these dangerous individuals are publicly exposed because as your predecessor’s report indicates, virtually all of them seem to have evaded criminal prosecution thanks in part to their complicit colleagues and supervisors and Kansas’ weak child protection laws,” said the organization’s letter to current Attorney General Kris Kobach.
Mike Foreman told reporters he was one of the survivors of abuse by a Catholic priest – an abuse he said happened when he was eleven but blocked out until he was 49 years old.
For some survivors, the chance to work toward change in the law has had a positive effect.
“For me it’s actually been incredibly healing,” said Bergman, now a social worker. “What happened to me is awful, but if I can use that to help someone else in the future, it’s all worth it.”
Her goal now is to protect children and find justice for survivors.
The perpetrator in Bergman’s case, David Byrd, pleaded guilty in 2009 to indecent liberties with a child and was sentenced to 30 months. But even though a lawsuit against him would probably cost more in legal fees than any award she might get, Bergman still intends to file one."
“It’s for the validation,” she said.
..."Group: release the names
The KBI report also has caught the attention of SNAP, the national organization for survivors of abuse by priests.
David Clohessy, former SNAP director, said the report, which was begun under former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, should have provided more information about the crimes and their alleged perpetrators.
Having that information would help heal survivors and keep kids safer, he said.
Clohessy asked through an open records request for the identification of all Catholic employees and volunteers who have been credibly accused of committing or concealing child sex crimes that were found in the KBI investigation.
“It’s especially important that these dangerous individuals are publicly exposed because as your predecessor’s report indicates, virtually all of them seem to have evaded criminal prosecution thanks in part to their complicit colleagues and supervisors and Kansas’ weak child protection laws,” said the organization’s letter to current Attorney General Kris Kobach.
Mike Foreman told reporters he was one of the survivors of abuse by a Catholic priest – an abuse he said happened when he was eleven but blocked out until he was 49 years old.
For some survivors, the chance to work toward change in the law has had a positive effect.
“For me it’s actually been incredibly healing,” said Bergman, now a social worker. “What happened to me is awful, but if I can use that to help someone else in the future, it’s all worth it.”
Her goal now is to protect children and find justice for survivors.
The perpetrator in Bergman’s case, David Byrd, pleaded guilty in 2009 to indecent liberties with a child and was sentenced to 30 months. But even though a lawsuit against him would probably cost more in legal fees than any award she might get, Bergman still intends to file one."
“It’s for the validation,” she said.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google