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.
