From the foreword:
“Fighting sexual crime should be a collaborative effort. We all need each other in this fight. Evil has been winning for far too long. It’s time to restore the innocence of our children and protect them from dangerous predators within the church.
Jimmy Hinton, MDiv”
If we are going to affect clergy coverup, we need to know the aspects of how it takes place. I address several techniques in my latest work, “Clergy Cover-up Does it Work?” Let’s shed some light on them in this and following posts. Casting shadows and misdirecting answers to questions turns the interest from the one perpetrating the cover-up onto the one questioning the behavior.
“Presenting a problem makes you the problem in the abuser’s eyes. He then targets you. He doesn’t have to solve the issue; he just has to correct you. He doesn’t need to take responsibility, repent, withdraw or apologize, because he shifted the blame to you. He pushes the fact of his error or misbehavior into the shadows and highlights you negatively for exposing them. He sets his supporters against you until you question your own judgment. The reaction to based criticism of those in ‘authority’ explodes all over the one questioning actions or decisions. The intense pressure to maintain power and protect an image overtakes the person challenging the status quo to a point that leaves one wondering if the original experience brought to light actually happened as they first thought. The abuser casts shadows of doubt and misdirects comments to avoid answering the question.” (Taylor, Joy S., Clergy Cover-up Does it Work?, Lily of the Valley Publishing, 2024, p. 19.)
It’s about the children. Aren’t we supposed to protect and honor them? It’s about victims and survivors. Aren’t we supposed to hear them and help them recover? Royalties from sales go to Safe Connections a non-profit helping abuse victims in St. Louis, MO.
“Clergy Cover-up Does it Work?” is available on Amazon
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