Thursday, April 16, 2015
Thu, 16 Apr 2015
Dave Thompson
Hundreds of pinwheels lined the front lawn Friday morning at Liberty University School of Law, in honor of victims of child abuse.
Child Abuse Awareness Week at the School of Law provided an opportunity for child advocates, future attorneys, academics and prosecutors to provide valuable insight into the dark world of abuse.
“I’ve always felt a pull toward the vulnerable, toward the voiceless,” said Robert Peters, a third-year student at the law school.
Peters, a victim of abuse himself, didn’t always connect his passion for the vulnerable with his own background.
The week’s events provided Peters an opportunity to address fellow students and others about his history and passion, at a special chapel service on Wednesday.
Peters spoke in an interview on Friday about his goals in changing the culture of child abuse, particularly the way churches and Christian institutions handle the matter.
“I want to see a reflection of Christ in how we approach this issue,” he said, referencing recent scandals in church environments in which abuse was covered up or not handled properly.
“A lot of it’s just being vocal about issues,” Peters said, adding that education isn’t the main goal, but change has to start with education.
“It’s about continually prioritizing the issue, continually discussing it.”
Cristy Horsley, the Court Appointed Special Advocate manager for Lynchburg and Campbell County spoke Friday morning to a small group that gathered by the pinwheels on the lawn.
Horsley said her goal is to create strong communities that rally around their most vulnerable and create places of healing.
Abuse often occurs when individuals have a poor support network, but a strong community can prevent children from becoming just another statistic, Horsley said in an interview after the ceremony.
The law school also hosted a symposium Friday afternoon, and a panel discussion afterward.
Bedford County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance addressed criminal issues regarding abuse and its investigation, as well as ways in which child witnesses need to be treated differently than adult witnesses.
“I am blessed to work in an environment where I can help to protect children,” Nance said. “This is a roomful of people that care about that same thing.”
Psychologist and author Diane Langberg spoke from the mentality of a trauma survivor.
“If you do not grasp the insanity of child sexual abuse or the courage it takes to speak about it, you will not serve victims well,” she said.
Peters said though education and awareness are necessary goals to the end, they can’t culminate with a good feeling and a few posts on social media.
“The problem is if you stop there, it’s almost like it absolves you of further responsibility,” Peters said of a prevalent mentality in spreading awareness.
He said the issue should be a critical one for lawyers attempting to love the world practically.
“Given our focus on a Christ-centered worldview as we approach the legal profession, this should be a top priority,” he said.
Third-year student Molly-Catherine Goodson, who organized the event along with the first-annual event last year, said her motivation was to help bridge the gap between the various different professionals who will work with child victims.
“Abuse is wrapped up in secrecy, shame, guilt and pain – physical, psychological, spiritual and emotional. In order to help these children in a way that fights for justice and helps them find healing, it is important that we all work together to find an approach that helps each aspect of a child’s life,” Goodson said.
“Every child is worth fighting for. We can show them their value by teaming together; fighting with, and for, them; and ultimately showing them Christ’s love.”