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This is an update to the podcast episode Reporting Abuse, Church Helpline, & the Bishop | An Interview with Jennifer Roach.
UPDATE: Reporting Abuse, Church Helpline, & the Bishop | An Interview with Jennifer Roach
Hi Kurt,
I love your podcast, I really enjoy listening to your speakers. I work as a Police officer, I have been involved in a number of these types of investigations. I tell people I am not a legal expert but I know how these types of investigations are conducted. I can tell you right off the bat the Bishop was wrong for not reporting it. It was also wrong for any teacher, or adult or any person regardless of their standing in the community for not reporting this kind of abuse to the Police. It saddens me a member of my faith for whatever reason failed to do what is right for this victim. So what would happen now. As an investigator we would gather as much evidence from the victim and the family. If the victim mentioned the fact they spoke to a teacher, relative or Bishop we would speak to them. The reason this is so important is, it corroborates the victim story. Believe it or not this strengthens the statement of the victim. If it transpires the Bishop, teacher or relative knew about the abuse and failed to report this abuse, they may find themselves being scrutinised by the Police for that. One aspect would be, when the Bishop teacher or relative knew about the abuse and failed to report it, did the abuse continue. If it did then there is an offence in my country for this. I’m not sure what way it works in the U.S this is a global church. All I can say is I hope these types of offences are reported here. This hasn’t hurt my testimony at all. I hope the victim in this case gets all the help needed. I hope this shines a light on a policy that may need to be tightened. Keep up the great work Kurt. Love what you do brother
I still don’t understand that the bishops never reported. If they excommunicated him, that implies they knew it continued. It defeats the argument that they thought it had stopped. I just want to know how to explain that part to people struggling with this.