[Vision2020] (no subject)

[keely emerinemix]

Taro Tanaka blathers on and on about how incredibly difficult keeping news 
of Sitler's crimes from the public was for Douglas Wilson.  Michael responds 
with what he senses of Wilson's character and response to the issue, and 
Wilson's blog assures that he, Wilson, told all of the heads of households, 
who then, presumably, were to tell their wives and talk with their children.

Wilson wants us to believe that he told the parents immediately to contact 
the police at once, that he told the HOHs all that he knew when he knew it 
(and more when he came to know it), and that he is horrified by the crimes, 
the magnitude of the sin, and the destruction to the families involved (in 
this case, Sitler's crimes, sin and destruction, although Wilson attributes 
sin and destruction also to those in the community who see this as one more 
example of bad behavior on Wilson's part).

I would make a few points here, in ascending order of importance.  One, I 
wasn't at the HOH meeting(s) where Sitler's crimes were discussed and he was 
identified by name.  Obviously, it's because I don't go to Christ Church; 
less obviously, I have a husband, so I couldn't have gone even if I were a 
Kirker.  Here's the point -- there's evidently a belief that there's no need 
for the wives to be entrusted with that information directly from the 
pastor, even though they likely have more contact with their young children 
than their husbands and could piece together what they'd need to know.

Two, I'd like to know if the HOHs were instructed to gently talk with their 
children and review with their wives any past contact they might have had 
with Sitler, or if there was more emphasis in "future protection. "

Third, I would love to hear from someone who was at the meeting.  Was the 
information presented as Wilson says it was?  Was there an emphasis on 
active, proactive, open and fearless cooperation with the police?  Does 
Wilson's blog describe the steps everyone else remembers, as they remember 
it?

Fourth, why wasn't the rest of the community notified, if not by the Kirk 
(where Sitler, an NSA student and Kirk-family boarder, did worship on 
several occasions) then by the police?  If the police knew all of this had 
happened, he would have been arrested and jailed.  Clearly there was a time 
when the police did not know, or else it would be difficult to believe that 
Sitler would have been free to offend again.  Was there an interval between 
Wilson's discovery of even one molestation and the police discovery of same? 
  If so, then why?    Did Wilson know things before the police, and was 
there enough time for Sitler to hurt another child between Wilson's 
discovery and the police department's discovery?  Or did Wilson come across 
the horror of a hundred or so instances of molestation just right before the 
police did --  because he, Wilson, urged the reporting of Sitler's crimes to 
the police?

Fifth, and most important, I think it's necessary to point out that the 
horror that Wilson sees from those he thinks are against him isn't based on 
any glee we take because there's a new Kirk problem.  I don't know of anyone 
who isn't profoundly saddened and angered that children of any age have been 
sexually molested, and as a Christian, I think it's, if possible, even 
sadder that the abuse came from a professing Christian.  The emotional, 
physical, spiritual trauma is incalculable.  My heart breaks for the 
children and my prayers are with them and their families.

Wilson does himself a disservice if he thinks he is sufficiently important 
that everything, everywhere, truly is about him.  It isn't.  It isn't 
ultimately about Sitler, either.  It's about scores of kids who've been 
hurt, and the righteous anger on the part of those who have, perhaps, cause 
to believe that those in charge of protecting them didn't.  Failure to 
protect children from a known threat is an evil worthy of censure from the 
community and a millstone 'round the neck and a toss into the sea from God, 
and I think it's important that the elders be exonerated if they did, in 
fact, do all they could do to notify everyone who could reasonably be 
involved, while pressing for full involvement from the civil authorities.

And so like everyone else, I'd like to see some answers to the questions 
above.  How 'bout it, elders?  The apostles and martyrs of the faith 
defended themselves and others against publicly raised crimes, sins, and 
misdeeds that they believed to be false, but, having nothing to hide, they 
gladly answered charges before a hostile crowd.  Can you do the same?

(And, for the record, I do not want to see Steve Sitler executed, I do 
believe he can be forgiven, and I do not believe he can ever be 
rehabilitated -- ever -- on this side of eternity, and I despair that he'll 
ever be let out).

keely

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