I am not one to presume that the Bishop Eddie Long was guilty of harming any of the young men in his care over the past several years. But I am also not one to look past the fact that many young men are accusing Long of wrong-doing. We also must notice that although Bishop Long said he was going to fight against the allegations, he never came out and said “I’m innocent.”
We know for a fact that sexual abuse occurs all throughout our society. We’ve had scores of church leaders, politicians, teachers and scout masters admit to abuse in the past. Someone’s child is likely being abused right this second. The psychological damage lasts a lifetime, and once it’s happened, the effects are irreversible.
According to the United States Department of Justice, 67 percent of sexual abuse victims are under the age of 18. Also, 34 percent of victims are under the age of 12, and one-seventh of all victims are less than six years old. Predators take advantage of those who are most vulnerable, and if parents are not on our jobs, our kids become the biggest targets.
Here are some tips on how to protect your children, both young and old, from possible sexual abuse. The information was gathered from a round up of tips I’ve received from psychologists, police and child protection experts. Please make sure you apply these ideas when taking care of your little ones, for it will make all the difference in the world.
1) Make sure you know where your children are at all times. They can slip away in a second. For teens, make sure you know the friends they are spending time with, as well as the nature of their interaction with various adults.
2) Follow your instincts. If you don’t feel something is right, then don’t allow your child to participate in it.
3) Listen to your kids. If you communicate with them, they might be willing to tell you what’s going on. Let them know they can tell you anything. These doors of communication must be opened early and kept open during their teenage years.
4) For young children, make sure they know the difference between a good touch and a bad one. For teens, let them know that any adult who interacts with them in a sexual way is breaking the law.
5) Make sure you know who is living in your community. There are child sex offender registries in every city that you can access to get this information.
6) Don’t assume that because someone is a religious figure or important person in community that they are less likely to harm your child. Your child is most vulnerable when you’ve chosen to let your guard down.
7) Teach your children early about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Many sexual assaults occur when the victim is under the influence. This is especially true on college campuses, where binge drinking is a popular activity.
If you do all you can to protect your child, you will probably find that it makes a difference. Most importantly, you must also teach your child to protect herself/himself. Predators are unfortunately in every corner of the globe, and it takes a village for us to fight them.
