Dear Friends,
The time has come to take this blog down, and so I will be doing that in the next few days.
When I began it, I had thought that the problems at the UUA were less serious than in fact they are. I had hopes that things were turning a corner – that there was about to be dialog and progress on addressing clergy misconduct.
Unfortunately, almost every month I get more bad news. It puts me in a position where I can only be adversarial, and that was never my intent. I’m glad to help if those who have power want to listen, but I don’t want to fight.
If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this blog, it’s an understanding of how dangerous the current process is for those who have already been hurt by a UU minister. Please spread the word as you are able.
I wish it weren’t so, but for the foreseeable future, I would strongly recommend that victims of sexual misconduct not file a complaint with the UUA. Instead, I would suggest contacting the Rev. Marie Fortune’s Faith Trust Institute. [8/18 update: the Institute can no longer assist individuals. Please see the Postscript for more information.]
Finally, I wanted to say thank you to the many people who have been supportive of this blog, this very difficult work and me. I am grateful beyond words.
My life is a happy one. I’m very lucky and I know it. I pray that some day things will improve for other victims of UU clergy misconduct. And may all of you find wonderful, healthy congregations and ministers, and may your religious lives flourish.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
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5 comments:
Please don't take this important blog down uugrrl. Let it stand as a witness to the UUA's abject failure, if not outright refusal. . . to honour it's "pledge" that it's failure to provide genuine justice, equity and compassion to victims of clergy sexual misconduct committed by U*U ministers would be remedied and that the UUA would "bend towards justice" in its formal apology to past victims of U*U clergy misconduct in 2000. If you no longer want to manage this blog just turn off the comment function and it let it remain available online in its current state as a warning and a resource to anyone who may share your concerns about UUA mishandling of clergy misconduct complaints.
Wow; I can't say I know much - if anything - about clergy misconduct within the UU community. I've only been a member of one church and only for five/six years. But I agree with Robin that you don't need to take the site down (unless you want to).
Also, it's alarming to me that you are saying the current process for addressing these issues is so flawed. Not sure what I can do about it, but thanks for raising awareness about it.
I agree with Robin. It would seem a shame to take it down, as opposed to just shutting down.
The MFC has issues, no doubt. I also think they function as more of a Star Chamber and lack the sort of direct accountability that they should have. For example why should the decision of the MFC in regards to a case disposition be kept secret from the accuser? The system is currently geared towards protection of the fellowship and not those being served by those in fellowship.
If you no longer feel compelled to update here I wish you the best in whatever efforts you are making, but for others working on fixing issues with the MFC I think this could be a valuable resource and I would hate to see it disappear.
Thanks, all. I"m amazed to get this feedback, and deeply grateful. I at least won't be hasty in taking it down.
I totally agree with the others. :)
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