A video recently went viral when a victim of child sexual abuse confronted her alleged molester, videotaped the telephone conversation, and posted the video on YouTube. In the video, the obviously distraught former student asked a series of heart wrenching questions to her former teacher, seeking to understand why the teacher had sexually abused her. The former student stated that she felt the need to post the video because, among other things, there was nothing that could be done as the statute of limitations for sexual assault had run against the former teacher. This video is just one more disturbing example of a sexual abuse case where a person of power or influence sexually assaults a child. Stories like the Penn State saga with Jerry Sandusky, sexual abuse cases in the Catholic Church, and even the story about Charlottesville Boy Scout leader David Watkins, all demonstrate that these types of matters can occur in any organization where adolescents are present. After all, sexual abuse of children can occur when a person with power, such as a coach, teacher, organization leader, priest, boss, pastor, day care worker, or other person with authority and access to children, violates that trust in an unimaginable way. These stories are more common than just the high-profile cases reported in the media. There are unfortunately and undoubtedly many child victims of molestation who, like the former student in the video, have kept silent about their past abuse even after they reach adulthood.
Continue reading →