Child Abuse Allegations Plague Hasidic Community

[umsami]

Saw this today in Newsweek....trigger warning for those who may be survivors.  Article talks about child sexual abuse and child physical abuse within the Hasidic community....how abusers are shuffled from school to school, people won't speak out because of being ostracized....and then includes this:

 

"Despite all the physical, sexual and emotional abuse they have witnessed or endured, most of the former Hasidic yeshiva students Newsweek spoke to insist that what people outside their community really need to be alarmed about is the dismal education offered by these schools. They are angry that when they reached 18 and finally moved out of their parents’ home, they realized for the first time that they hadn’t been given the tools needed to navigate the real world. (The New York City Department of Education is investigating at least three dozen yeshivas to determine if they are providing adequate secular education.)"

 

It's amazing how similar all fundy religious organizations are....be they Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. 

[nastyhobbitses]

3 minutes ago, umsami said:

Saw this today in Newsweek....trigger warning for those who may be survivors.  Article talks about child sexual abuse and child physical abuse within the Hasidic community....how abusers are shuffled from school to school, people won't speak out because of being ostracized....and then includes this:

 

"Despite all the physical, sexual and emotional abuse they have witnessed or endured, most of the former Hasidic yeshiva students Newsweek spoke to insist that what people outside their community really need to be alarmed about is the dismal education offered by these schools. They are angry that when they reached 18 and finally moved out of their parents’ home, they realized for the first time that they hadn’t been given the tools needed to navigate the real world. (The New York City Department of Education is investigating at least three dozen yeshivas to determine if they are providing adequate secular education.)"

 

It's amazing how similar all fundy religious organizations are....be they Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. 

I think once these religious groups reach a certain level of zealotry/craziness, they're pretty much indistinguishable from one another.

[QuiverDance]

I don't think it's limited to fundie religions.  There is a ton of abuse going on in churches of all denominations.  Organized religion is not a place for free-thinkers, and it is often a place where vulnerable people turn.  There are so many opportunities for predatory behavior in that kind of situation.  

[sparkles]

 

Quote

For almost a decade, Assemblywoman Margaret Markey, from Queens, has been trying to pass a bill that would eliminate the statute of limitations on both criminal and civil cases of sex crimes against children. But she has faced fierce opposition from two political powerhouses: the New York State Catholic Conference and Agudath Israel of America.

Gee, what a surprise. Representatives of two groups that have pretty much institutionalized abuse. 

[laPapessaGiovanna]

13 minutes ago, sparkles said:

 

Gee, what a surprise. Representatives of two groups that have pretty much institutionalized abuse. 

I'd like to know what sort of reasons they give to back up their position. 

[DaisyD]

Seems strange that a church would be against getting justice for children. 

[lascuba]

Child abuse exist everywhere, but the default assumption assumption is that it's rampant in communities that make it a point to live separate from the rest of society. 

[roddma]

while it is true child abuse is rampant in any community, an isolated belief system makes it harder to get noticed. ANd extreme beliefs like the Fundies often create the mindset it's ok you just pray and go to pretend Bible counseling. I feel bad for the kids in any community who endure this.
The statue of limitations has been needed eliminating a long time.

[Ungodly Grandma]

17 hours ago, QuiverDance said:

I don't think it's limited to fundie religions.  There is a ton of abuse going on in churches of all denominations.  Organized religion is not a place for free-thinkers, and it is often a place where vulnerable people turn.  There are so many opportunities for predatory behavior in that kind of situation.  

Yes, but the more authoritarian the religion is, the more likely they will get away with it. In less restrictive groups the victim or the family may be more likely to contact the police in a case of abuse.

[Mercer]

Children in isolated or separated communities have less contact with mandated reporters who don't have a stake in upholding the reputation of the religious group. Mandated reporting isn't foolproof and abuse cases are still going to fly under the radar... but it sure does help.