Child sex abuse victims protest
The males argue females receive disproportionate funding and attention.
By JOE BELANGER, SUN MEDIA
Male victims of child sexual abuse are outraged over funding and attention being given to female victims of a Chatham priest.
"I'd say their anger is closer to rage," said John Field, a London counsellor who specializes in male victims of childhood sexual assault.
"It's a re-injuring of them at a core level."
Last month, Ontario's Victim Services Secretariat approved $80,000 for a program in support of the 47 female victims of Charles Sylvestre when he was a priest in the Roman Catholic church's London diocese.
The diocese also is providing $44,000 and a private donor another $20,000 for the From Isolation to Action program (FITA) established by the woman abused by Sylvestre.
In comparison, male victims of childhood sexual abuse are getting $30,000 from the diocese to spend across Southwestern Ontario in Windsor Chatham-Kent and London for group counselling.
The funding for male survivors is a fraction of what is going to women, despite the fact experts estimate 75 per cent of the victims of sexual abuse by clergy are male.
That money and attention the women are getting has angered the men, says the counsellor hired to co-ordinate the diocese's funding.
"It's a further insult, a further indication their pain is not valid and, because of gender, they're not provided services," said Tom Wilken, of Hope and Healing Associates.
"If women hurt, society has to do something about it; if men hurt, they don't."
The male victims don't begrudge the funding to help the Sylvestre victims, said Field and Wilken. But they're tired of waiting for the government and church to do more.
"There has really been no recognition by the church, the community or senior governments of the need," Field said.
The province spends about $140 million a year on supports for abused women. In comparison, funding to help male victims of child sexual abuse totalled about $3 million over the last three years.
"Violence against anyone is unacceptable," said Brendan Crawley, spokesperson for Attorney General Michael Bryant.
"We recognize we can improve services for male and female victims and we're looking at ways to improve," he said.
Field said shame keeps men from seeking help for the abuse they suffered and the lack of supports further discourages them.
Instead, many male victims end up in prisons for violent or drug-related crimes, or hospitals for drug and alcohol abuse.
Regardless, Wilken and Field, who will provide counselling for men in London through the Silence to Hope and Healing project, were pleased with the funding "It's not a lot of money, but it's a start," said Wilken, author of the book Rebuilding Your House of Self-Respect: Men recovering in group from childhood sexual abuse.
"It's a step in the right direction (for the church) . . . But it's time the government stepped up to the plate as well."
Diocese spokesperson Ron Pickersgill said he's aware of the frustration of male victims.
"I think we can all agree it's never enough money," he said, adding the diocese does offer counselling for victims.
FOR MALE VICTIMS
What: The Silence to Hope and Healing project provides group counselling for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Where: London, Chatham-Kent and Windsor.
How to register: Contact Tom Wilken at Hope and Healing Associates, 519-676-7613 or toll-free, 1-877-676-7613, or by e-mail at silencetohope@hotmail.com. Londoners can contact John Field at 519-284-2263.
The males argue females receive disproportionate funding and attention.
By JOE BELANGER, SUN MEDIA
Male victims of child sexual abuse are outraged over funding and attention being given to female victims of a Chatham priest.
"I'd say their anger is closer to rage," said John Field, a London counsellor who specializes in male victims of childhood sexual assault.
"It's a re-injuring of them at a core level."
Last month, Ontario's Victim Services Secretariat approved $80,000 for a program in support of the 47 female victims of Charles Sylvestre when he was a priest in the Roman Catholic church's London diocese.
The diocese also is providing $44,000 and a private donor another $20,000 for the From Isolation to Action program (FITA) established by the woman abused by Sylvestre.
In comparison, male victims of childhood sexual abuse are getting $30,000 from the diocese to spend across Southwestern Ontario in Windsor Chatham-Kent and London for group counselling.
The funding for male survivors is a fraction of what is going to women, despite the fact experts estimate 75 per cent of the victims of sexual abuse by clergy are male.
That money and attention the women are getting has angered the men, says the counsellor hired to co-ordinate the diocese's funding.
"It's a further insult, a further indication their pain is not valid and, because of gender, they're not provided services," said Tom Wilken, of Hope and Healing Associates.
"If women hurt, society has to do something about it; if men hurt, they don't."
The male victims don't begrudge the funding to help the Sylvestre victims, said Field and Wilken. But they're tired of waiting for the government and church to do more.
"There has really been no recognition by the church, the community or senior governments of the need," Field said.
The province spends about $140 million a year on supports for abused women. In comparison, funding to help male victims of child sexual abuse totalled about $3 million over the last three years.
"Violence against anyone is unacceptable," said Brendan Crawley, spokesperson for Attorney General Michael Bryant.
"We recognize we can improve services for male and female victims and we're looking at ways to improve," he said.
Field said shame keeps men from seeking help for the abuse they suffered and the lack of supports further discourages them.
Instead, many male victims end up in prisons for violent or drug-related crimes, or hospitals for drug and alcohol abuse.
Regardless, Wilken and Field, who will provide counselling for men in London through the Silence to Hope and Healing project, were pleased with the funding "It's not a lot of money, but it's a start," said Wilken, author of the book Rebuilding Your House of Self-Respect: Men recovering in group from childhood sexual abuse.
"It's a step in the right direction (for the church) . . . But it's time the government stepped up to the plate as well."
Diocese spokesperson Ron Pickersgill said he's aware of the frustration of male victims.
"I think we can all agree it's never enough money," he said, adding the diocese does offer counselling for victims.
FOR MALE VICTIMS
What: The Silence to Hope and Healing project provides group counselling for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Where: London, Chatham-Kent and Windsor.
How to register: Contact Tom Wilken at Hope and Healing Associates, 519-676-7613 or toll-free, 1-877-676-7613, or by e-mail at silencetohope@hotmail.com. Londoners can contact John Field at 519-284-2263.
Kan de collecteschaal weer even door?
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