Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse (FACSA) Statement Regarding the Formation of a National Commission on Child Sex Abuse

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2015
Contact: John Salveson at 215-870-0680   salveson@abolishsexabuse.org

Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse (FACSA) Statement Regarding the Formation of a National Commission on Child Sex Abuse

 

BRYN MAWR, PA – John Salveson, President of FACSA (Foundation to Abolish Child Sex Abuse) released the following statement regarding the formation of a National Commission to investigate the sexual abuse of children in the United States in public, private (including the family), secular, and religious institutions.

“Two months ago our nation’s capital rolled out the red carpet for the leader of an institution about which the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child made the following statement last year:

“The committee is gravely concerned that the Holy See has not acknowledged the extent of the crimes committed, has not taken the necessary measures to address cases of child sexual abuse and to protect children, and has adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of the abuse by, and the impunity of, the perpetrators.”

Although we live in a society of laws, they often don’t apply when children are sexually abused.  In other parts of our society, people and institutions who break the law suffer severe consequences.  Ask people from Enron, BP Oil and WorldCom.  Ask them if their organizations were given the option of fixing their problems themselves rather than being held accountable by the government and criminal justice systems.

But somehow institutions which have enabled the sexual abuse of children and protected predators for decades operate above the law.  We are here today to say with one loud voice that it is time for the federal government to answer this simple question – ‘Why have all of the components of our society which are supposed to protect children – the courts, legislatures, civil and criminal justice systems – failed miserably when it comes to the sexual abuse of children perpetrated by institutions?’

We join our fellow advocates today in calling on the President to create a National Commission to investigate the sexual abuse of children in the United States in public, private (including the family), secular, and religious institutions.  The time for action is long overdue.”