Victims of abuse now have a lifeline
Pope Francis himself made it clear just four months ago. No more clerical cover-ups. There can be few better reminders of how religious leaders can today no longer turn a blind eye and hide behind a veneer of the sacrosanct image of the church when it comes to sexual abuse on their watch. While Francis may have specifically been addressing systematic abuse of children after it was found Roman Catholic leaders in Pennsylvania had covered up the abuse of more than 1,000 minors by 300 priests over a period of 70 years, his condemnation is universal.
It is a telling indication of the extent of the scourge in SA that already more than 30 people – men and women – have alleged such abuse by religious leaders since Cheryl Zondi launched her foundation little more than two weeks ago.
Zondi earlier in 2018 became the salient voice of victims of alleged abuse by those in powerful deistic positions at the sex crimes trial in Port Elizabeth of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso.
Zondi said she started the foundation because people lacked awareness and while they might be warned not to go out at night, they were not necessarily warned when going to a church‚ a sacred or ancestral space, or any other kind of religious setting.
The nationwide initiative by the resolute campaigner means a number of young individuals reporting abuse are already receiving help and being protected from any intimidation by the alleged perpetrator.
Importantly, what the foundation is also paying particular attention to is ensuring male victims – who suffer the huge stigma attached to sexual abuse of men – get the help they need from the system and the police.
As is so often the case when the alleged abuse takes place in what is deemed by the victim to be a “safe space” at the hands of a trusted, older person, a complex web of confusion, feelings of guilt and a sense of helplessness are so overwhelming they may suffer in silence for years.
Zondi and those in her foundation are now ensuring they have a lifeline.