Currents News Staff
What began as a silent demonstration, quickly turned into an audible push for zero tolerance.
As the end of the first day of the Summit on Sexual Abuse, victims and activists are raising their voice at Castel Sant’Angelo to combat a major problem they say exists surrounding the abuse scandal: silence.
What began as a silent demonstration and twilight vigil, quickly turned into a push for zero tolerance with survivor testimonies.
“We demand change. We demand zero tolerance for child abuse,” said ECA Founder Pete Saunders.
The demand becomes even more real though, when told through the traumatic stories of abuse.
Peter Isely was 13 in a Franciscan seminary when he was asked to perform acts he said he had never even heard of. He used his voice to say no, but was tortured until he gave in.
“This is torture. Torture taking place by our priests. Again he makes that order. Again sobbing. Collapsing, I try to say no. What I’m not going to tell you is what happened after that. Because you can guess what eventually happened after that. There’s only so much – a limit- a child can take,” he said.
Some believed they were alone, until they heard other victims speaking up, sharing their stories.
“For many years, I carried the shame. I carried it alone. I didn’t tell anybody about it. I was 10 years old when it happened to me,” said Evelyn Korkmaz
“I thought I was alone. Fourteen years I covered it up, because I was guilty. I felt shameful. I was afraid. Here we are, are being together, united, speaking in one voice for all those who can’t speak for themselves,” said Buchanan.
Now they support each other in more ways than one, seeking healing and justice so the crisis of abuse ends completely.