Abuse section cover Humane Society and their laws protecting animals The justification for trying the case under Humane Society laws was that the child — as a living creature and in that sense an animal — also deserved protection like other animals are protected After the state was successful in removing the girl from her home new laws were subsequently added to New York law From Clergy need to be informed To help aid clergy better deal with child sexual abuse local social service agencies have compiled the following list: $ Ask youth especially girls during interviews if they have been or are being “touched inappropriately” by members of their family or someone else or The words “molested” “abused” might be more appropriate with teenagers Inquire more specifically during interviews with suspected adult members about inappropriate family conduct — ie sex abuse of children spouse and self Believe any child or teenager who tells you he or she has been or is being sexually molested Listen carefully to what the victim says Be careful not to attack or demean the offender in the eyes of the abused child A victim often has feelings of love and loyalty toward the offender Help each child to share their feelings of fear guilt and anger Be careful not to gloss over or rescue the child from these feelings Assure the child that he or she is not to blame for the offender’s actions Give the victim credit for how his or her disclosure will ultimately benefit the offender and other family members Contact the family and encourage the victim other family members or someone other than yourself to report the sex abuse to the child protective services or police It’s hope this will leave you in a position of support to the family Involve the child protective services police and other appropriate resources to assure the abuse is stopped immediately It may mean the removal of the abuser from the home or area by proper authorities Confront the offender and persuade hint to make a full disclosure and to cooperate with the civil authorities Urge any offender to turn himself in to the authorities if he voluntarily confesses to you April 19 1986 — and eventually nationwide — protecting children from abuse But the irony is that protection of animals occurred long before laws were made for the protection of children she said During her presentation and in handouts Sandberg mentioned specific signs and symptoms of physical abuse clergy should look for on children including bruises welts and cuts — especially to the face Other signs are or apprehension wariness around adults fear or tension around parents withdrawal ag ‘As Christian churches we need to tell and show God is love for the abused and the abuser It is a healing love of forgiveness and hope God offers and the Christian church must make that love known’ — David Wettstein Bill Crowhurst Pastor Church of Calvary ous children and preoccupation with sex as expressed in language or behavior Ogden “To answer the question biblically God does not catalog on a scale of one to 10 asks punishment according to the degree of sin God does not Sin to God is sin Sin according to God is not merely what we do but what we are There is sin in our race and in our nature To be redeemed from sin I have to accept Jesus as my savior He died at Calvary as my representative My only hope is his substitutionary atonement for he bore my sin ‘in his own body on the tree’” a Children are often more subtle however in the signs they give concerning abuse Refusing to be alone with certain adults for example may be a sign Unless members of the clergy talk specifically with children regarding possible abuse “they’re not likely to come forward" she said Sandberg said the most difficult kind of abuse to spot is emotional such as a case involving an unwanted child in a home who is physically cared for but is otherwise ignored She gave an example of a baby who was Child whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea’ abuse Thomas J — Matthew Kaiser Davis Regional Representative for the LDS Church Pastor of What role do you believe the church can best play in helping victims and offenders of child abuse? Do you agree with the new Utah law that exempts clergy from reporting child abuse if “Child abuse is a heinous crime and sin We are responsible to protect and help to heal the victims We must also counsel and deal with the transgressors Parents should be alert and diligent in watching over their children to protect them against neglect and abuse The officers of the church and the teachers of the youth are encouraged to do the same Reporting incidents of child abuse should be a protection to the child and perhaps to other potential victims More people need to be aware of the teachings of the 'Savior in Matthew chapter 8 verse 6: ‘But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea’ As the shepherd of the flock the bishop is responsible to help reform offenders and to preserve family relationships wherever possible” r wymmn St Joesph 's Church Ogden the offender freely confesses to you? “Yes strapped in an infant scat and locked in a house closet during the day while the parents worked Sandberg said those children who are abused are most likely the ones that people generally have the most difficulty liking “It’s those children you need to help” she said adding that just because they have been molested it does not mean they no longer yearn to be touched She said victims of abuse more than most children need physical contact such as hugging ‘But Q&A Bart Wolthuis Baptist As a sin where do you rank child abuse? sin as Society gression poor concentration or day dreaming loss of appetite depressed mood poor performance in school delinquency and running away Signs and symptoms of sexual abuse include many of the physical abuse symptoms as well as a' child who is “acting out sexually” a child who displays experor a ience sophisticated knowledge of sex overly affectionate seductive or promiscu- I was very uncomfortable with the first because it didn’t protect my right as a priest who hears what the people have to say I was obliged by law to inform the authorities about things that were committed to me in confidence The new law protects me from divulging secrets that are committed to me in confessional” law 18:6 David Wettstein Pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church Ogden What can the church do to help prevent child abuse? “Because the issue of child abuse is deeply emotional perceived as a family matter and generally hidden the church has a key role to play in educating its members and the community as to its causes and possible solutions One step Christian ministry can perform is to open church buildings as a place for ‘parents time out’ Once a week churches could provide child care for parents who feel they need some time away to ease the initial tension that can lead to child abuse In addition the church can also be a place where parents could be ministered to through counseling about some of their difficulties in parenting By calling upon resources of the church and community maybe some of these problems could be worked out As Christian churches we need to tell and show God is love for the abused and the abuser It is a healing love of forgiveness and hope God offers and the Christian church must make that love known" i'Wi Wf"" Mb Ogden r Church News §