Page 11 - Phonebox Magazine November 2014

Eli Ward Speaks to Phonebox Magazine
Iworked out that this weekend would have been my 22nd move in my lifetime. I have had 16 different jobs, 24 different cars and more than enough failed
relationships that I didn’t even want to try and count them. This is pretty much a normal pattern of life for those unfortunate enough to have been subjected to a childhood of sexual abuse. The instability, erratic and undulated lifestyle rivers through a victims life. Sadly, as mine nearly did, many cannot overcome the permanent question of why this is so. For many, the guilt and self-doubt proves too much, the abuser ensuring the victim asks more questions of themselves than of the abuser. This is a self protect mechanism instilled and groomed by the abuser. It is an extremely clever process and my belief is that it has been taught and passed down from generation to generation of abusers. Abuse is heavily documented in the media, more than it ever has and none of us seem to be shocked any more by the revelations being unearthed at almost every tier of society. What is not clear to the public is how extremely well protected and secret the whole subject is. Whether it is a mentality to protect and cover up, lose paperwork or have bungled police investigations, there is no denying that it is all extremely odd. The reporting to the police by members of society in positions where you would expect them to do the right thing is simply not happening. My case is a typical example. Here we had an Oxbridge and Dullwich school educated Dean, a former headmaster, once head of the Oratory of the good shepherd and advisor to education on religious matters abusing over five decades. As his CV became stronger, so did the number of victims he engulfed. There were several victims over the years who put in phone calls to the church to inform them that they had been abused. Robert Waddington was still abusing when he was confronted by the former Archbishop of York about the allegations. Nothing happened. The police were not informed and the victims were not consulted or even told about one another. Robert Waddington was allowed to ruin lives and yet escaped conviction, let alone be interviewed by the police. Despite courageous victims coming forward to speak about their abuse, no help was offered to them, and it would appear that a self policed farce took place instead. Surely, I thought, that this is not a standard procedure for a church? Well actually it was and had been for many years. There are procedures in place now thankfully, and they are being improved
all the time. For the former archbishop, now Lord of Thorns, he managed to fail on 19 different accounts in relation to safeguarding and policy. This included a potential perverting the course of justice should the police have been notified. The report into Robert Waddington as launched by the current Archbishop of York is excellent and if anybody wants a copy, then they should contact the Phonebox Magazine. It is a 164 page document which details the extent of the inquiry including many recommendations as to how to prevent such behaviour happening again. The recommendations indicate how a central separate body should be utilised to deal with allegations and cases of childhood abuse. It will be interesting to see if these and other recommendations are actioned by the church. The story therefore still continues, and I will do what I can to ensure that children are kept safer and that it becomes nigh on impossible for abusers to survive.
I have joined MACSAS, an organisation which deals with all matters relating to church childhood abuse. If anyone knows of anybody who wants to discuss more about this subject to contact MACSAS in the strictest of confidence. By speaking out and not being afraid, if nothing else, I have made the church take a good long look at itself. We are not to blame and the victim should always come first.
As Edmund Burke once said:
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, child abuse is evil and it must not triumph.
I am speaking out to let you know that something can be done.
LATEST NEWS Confessional Change Planned
The Church of England is to examine historic records of the personal files of thousands of clergymen and women dating back since the 1950s, with a view to seeing if there were further cases of child abuse in the Church that had been covered up.
A significant move also was to look at the role of the confessional and what may have been kept confidential in the past. The current Church of England understanding is that the confessional is confidential and may not be revealed by a priest.
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, had looked at a change and has now overturned a 900 year old policy. The Seal of the Confessional. Paedophiles who confess of their crimes (in private) will no longer have this escape.
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