80% of the child abuse cases within the Boy Scouts of America between 1970 and 1991 went unreported. Churches (Catholic and Protestant and other faiths) have hidden cases involving their clergy, youth leaders, and other members of their staffs. School administrations have quietly moved accused offenders to other schools and positions. Coaches of youth teams carry on abuse in locker rooms while others look the other way. The perpetrators are not strangers. In fact, more than 90% of the children who suffer sexual abuse know their abusers.
A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. What about all the other, unreported instances?
Why do so many people feel it’s okay to harm our vulnerable children? Apparently, many people do feel this way, because there are so many abusers and so many people and organizations that cover it up. When we hear about it, we act shocked, shake our heads in dismay, then go on with our lives. In effect, those of us who do nothing to stop it are helping to perpetuate it.
Has this national shame become a national pastime, simply another tolerated violence like boxing and hunting? I hope not.