Doctors argue that depression 'should not be seen as a disease'
Irish Independent Wednesday November 30th 2005
Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

DEPRESSION should be viewed as an emotion rather than a disease, according to the authors of a controversial new book.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Michael Corry of Clane General Hospital and Dublin psychotherapist Dr Aine Tubridy question the widespread use of drugs to treat depression, saying it is more "band-aid" than cure.

News Release:
Government of Canada announces agreement in principle toward a fair and lasting resolution of the legacy of Indian residential schools
“The Government’s Representative, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci, has reached an Agreement in Principle with the Assembly of First Nations, legal representatives of former students of Indian residential schools and representatives of the Churches involved in running those schools. The parties to Mr. Iacobucci’s discussions are in agreement on the ways to recognize the common Indian residential school experience of former students” said Deputy Prime Minister McLellan.

Sexual abuse forum offers stunning facts, but hopeful message
By Brendan Berube
Correspondent
BOXFORD — Imagine, for a moment, that one in four American women and one in six men were afflicted with a disease that started in childhood and pursued them throughout their lives.
According to Boxford resident Jetta Bernier, that disease exists, and it has a name: child sexual abuse. (A)

US victims may sue Irish training dioceses
Seán O'Driscoll and Patsy McGarry
Lawyers representing US clerical child sex abuse victims have indicated they may initiate multi-million-dollar lawsuits against Irish dioceses that trained paedophile priests.

A LIFE WORTH SAVING
By Ushanda
...they didn’t realize that those threats don’t help when a person is craving suicide. In fact, such added pressure may worsen the situation. The well-meaning people might not know that, for some of us, the THOUGHT of suicide may be the only comfort that can prevent the ACTION of suicide, at that time.

The Episcopal diocese protects one parishioner who preyed on its flock and excommunicates another who tried to protect it.
CHARLESTON, SC: Breaking Faith
By Adam Ferrell
Charleston City Paper
November 3, 2005
It's not just Catholic churches that harbor pedophiles and sex offenders. Churches of any kind can unwittingly provide predators access to children in trusting environments, as a controversial case with a Folly Road Episcopal church parishioner shows. (A33)

Abuse victim seeks change in law
She urges repeal of statute of limitations, expanded right to sue
By TOM HEINEN
A former Beaver Dam woman who just settled a sexual abuse lawsuit in South Dakota against the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Diocese of Sioux Falls was in Milwaukee on Thursday to urge legislators to pass a bill allowing clergy abuse victims to sue churches in Wisconsin no matter when the abuse occurred.

The Origins of Homosexuality: Insights From The Deep Feeling Psychotherapies
by John A. Speyrer
What do the thousands of experiences of clients undergoing deep regressive psychotherapies teach us about the origins of homosexuality? The writings of its three major theoreticians, Frank Lake, Stanislav Grof and Arthur Janov, are examined in this article. All agree that female homosexuality is a much milder type of sexual alignment than is the male gendre. This article will concentrate on male homosexuality.

What About the Boys? Sexually Abused Boys Likely to Face Problems as Adults
by Richard B. Gartner, Ph.D.
Now that Michael Jackson has gone to find a new Neverland and renegade priests are yesterday's news, the public may mistakenly assume the problem of childhood sexual abuse has vanished as well.
But what about the boys? By age 16, as many as one in six boys in America has had unwanted sex with an adult or older child. And what about the millions of men, abused as children, who continue to live with the debilitating effects of shattered trust?

Pope seeks immunity in Texas abuse case
August 17, 2005
VATICAN CITY -- Lawyers for Pope Benedict XVI have asked President Bush to declare the pontiff immune from liability in a lawsuit that accuses him of conspiring to cover up the molestation of three boys by a seminarian in Texas, court records show.
The Vatican's embassy in Washington sent a diplomatic memo to the State Department on May 20 requesting the U.S. government grant the pope immunity because he is a head of state, according to a May 26 motion submitted by the pope's lawyers in U.S. District Court for the Southern Division of Texas in Houston.
Joseph Ratzinger is named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit. Now Benedict XVI, he's accused of conspiring with the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to cover up the abuse during the mid-1990s.
Read the article: http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pope17.html

Catholic priests' 40 years of abuse
From "The Australian": By David Sharrock in Dublin October 27, 2005

TWENTY-ONE Irish Catholic priests sexually assaulted young boys and girls in parishes across southeast Ireland over a period of 40 years, a damning report into clerical abuse has revealed.
The Irish Government said yesterday it would take immediate action to implement the recommendations of the report into County Wexford's Diocese of Ferns, which is now regarded as the world's worst diocese for sexual abuse by clerics.
The 271-page report catalogues 100 complaints of abuse, with one priest responsible for 26 assaults.
The Ferns Report, which investigated allegations dating back to 1966, concluded that church authorities, the medical profession and society in general failed to appreciate the horrendous damage the sexual abuse of children caused....
Read the article: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17044726-38200,00.html

Bishop built wall of silence against howls of abused children
REVELATION: Journalist Veronica Guerin, who revealed that Bishop Brendan Comiskey knew about the activities of Fr Sean Fortune. Right, Bishop Comiskey with Fr Fortune in Co Wexford in 1985.
The journalist wrote in the Sunday Independent that gardai had begun investigating a priest in Wexford for abusing boys in the dioceses. The complaint, it later transpired, was lodged by a former altar boy.

The cycles and signs of domestic violence
BY PAULA M. FELIPE/Public Safety Reporter
What are the cycles or patterns in an abusive relationship?
On average, a person attempts to leave an abusive relationship seven times before they finally decide to end the relationship, Hilgemen explained. There are many reasons why people stay. "Sometimes people think I care about this person and maybe he or she will change' or they engage in self-blame and think if I change my own behavior, maybe my partner will change.' Statistics show that 25 percent of intimate partnerships are abusive," she added and explained, "This statistic comes from reported cases to the police, but many go unreported."
Read the artikle: http://www.orovillemr.com/Stories/0,1413,157%257E26686%257E3104966,00.html
(Stats15)

Living poor in America
IndyStar.com October 23, 2005 http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051023/OPINION/510230360/1002/OPINION

Typically, they are single mothers who have grown up poor, often been abused or neglected, have been in and out of foster care, did not do well in school, have been victims of family violence as adults, have low-skill jobs and are living on the edge, struggling to get by. They may have one or two children, suffer from depression and self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. (archive: statis14)
Read also: Open Letter to Governor Richardson http://www.aaacworld.org/publication/art_open_govNM.htm

Memories of abuse, inconsolable anger
Tom Hennessy, Staff Columnist

It had been years since she heard his voice.
But now, to Mary Grant's surprise, John Lenihan was talking. Over the phone, he recalled some of what had happened in 1977. Mary, then 14, had been homesick. Lenihan then Father John Lenihan, 32, of St. Norbert's parish, Anaheim had come to visit.(archive: St 22)

Physically abused boys may be more likely to commit domestic violence as adults
A history of childhood physical abuse may be common in men from urban settings, and these men with physical abuse histories may be more likely to commit domestic violence. (A35)

Abuse worst when unreported
By:Bob Berry, Crime prevention columnist

Sexual abuse of a child or elderly person is probably the most secretive and the hardest type of abuse to detect. It most often occurs within a family setting with the suspect usually being a parent, relative or caretaker. This type of abuse sometimes can be sheltered for decades until something prompts the victim to reveal his or her story. In more cases than we would like to believe, someone else within or close to the family is aware of the abuse.
I would venture to guess that we all know someone or know of someone's family who has been touched by emotional, physical or sexual abuse. How do we stop the abuse? We have to break the cycle. Children who are abused often grow up to be parents who abuse their children.
(Archive A 34)
Read: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1574&dept_id=532215&newsid=15399587&PAG=461&rfi=9

Legal deadline in Ireland spurs outreach to abused
They're spreading the word about an effort to provide compensation for children who were abused at Catholic orphanages and reform schools back in Ireland -- children who may later have moved to America and settled in Boston.
Advocates for those abused believe the Irish government has done too little to let those living abroad know about the compensation available, so they are dropping off fliers and talking to Irish natives themselves. (23)

Abuse Victims Still Suffer Decades Later
ktla 5 - Los Angeles,CA,USA
... were very close." But by the time they were adults, they saw ... know that from the first moment they were abused as boys ... He won't let anyone baby-sit his children. ...
See all stories on this topic

Breaking the Silence:
Children's Stories, a powerful 60-minute PBS documentary Premiering on Thursday, October 20 at 10 p.m.
MKACF has underwritten the cost of Breaking the Silence: Children's
Stories, a powerful 60-minute PBS documentary that chronicles the
impact of domestic violence on children. Premiering on Thursday,
October 20 at 10 p.m. (EDT) on PBS stations nationwide, the
documentary features poignant interviews with children and adults who survived childhood violence.
read details: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-05-2005/0004160496&EDATE=

Effects of child abuse impact adulthood
Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:48 PM CDT - The Edmond Sun
http://www.edmondsun.com/articles/2005/10/01/news/news02.txt

On the surface, Stella's mother and grandfather were recognized for their compassion by people outside her family.
"People loved them - thought they were the most wonderful people in the world. And in that external world they were," said Stella, who asked that her real name not be used in this article.
"They'd do anything for you - loving and kind. But inside the family was this raging inferno of anger and control and abusive behaviors, abusive language to keep you in your place." (33)

Great information about childhood trauma is available by Dr. Michael Corry.
Sexual Abuse & Hatred of the Self
http://www.depressiondialogues.ie/custom12/

Extensions of the Criminal & Civil Statutes of Limitations in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Most states have laws limiting the time during which crimes other than murder may be prosecuted. All states have time limitations for bringing a lawsuit to recover money for damages from the wrongdoing of another -- a civil action. In recent years, many states have adopted extensions to their criminal and civil statutes of limitation for cases of child sexual abuse and in certain other sexual assault cases. The length of the extension varies greatly between the states.

The Roots of Pedophilia
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D.
Pedophiles are attracted to prepubescent children and act on their sexual fantasies. It is a startling fact that the etiology of this paraphilia is unknown. Pedophiles comes from all walks of life and have no common socio-economic background. Contrary to media-propagated myths, most of them had not been sexually abused in childhood and the vast majority of pedophiles are also drawn to adults of the opposite sex (are heterosexuals).

MISSION POSSIBLE: EMOTIONAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN
by Maja Zilih
Part 1 and part 2

Alarm Cult Abuse
Shocking PONCHATOULA, LA story finally in the media!
Cult Abuse?????
Come on Sieglinde, John said in 2003, you don’t really believe that such unspeakable things happen in our time and day. These are stories from the 1800’s.

My Therapeutic Journey
by Barbara Rogers
Author of "Screams from Childhood, http://www.screamsfromchildhood.com
My journey in therapy began, when I was 32 years old—today, I am 55 years old. I entered therapy during a family crisis, which I describe in the scream “don't tell the truth.”

Getting to Know my Self-Hatred—a Moving Conversation
by Barbara Rogers
Author of "Screams from Childhood", http://www.screamsfromchildhood.com
Introduction
I wrote this therapy when I struggled, for months, with a severe depression, marked by anxiety and sleeplessness. These well known symptoms had erupted for different reasons and were not silenced by drugs.

My experience at a Primal Seminar with Paul Vereshack M. D.
by Reinhold W. Rausch
The 8 day- seminar took place in Glencree, Ireland, April 2005.
Before I came to read Paul’s book, my own primal process, in which I had worked with two other primal therapists, had come to a halt. With them, I was able to work through much of my father related stuff. But regarding earlier and mom- related pain I was about to give myself up and to keep stuck in that old feeling of incapability and hopelessness. By reading his book, my weakening trust in the primal process was restored and I was ready to give it another try.

DO PEDOPHILS LOVE CHILDREN?
by Ushanda io Elima
The title of Sam Vaknin’s article, “The Roots of Pedophilia” http://psychology.plebius.org/article.php?article=767 chillingly reveals his slant. The word pedophilia comes from root words meaning the love of children. But the article is about those who sexually abuse the young. By using the term pedophilia, writer Vaknin subtly implies that the seduction and rape of children is committed out of love.

Early abuse may mean depression later
Women who were abused as children are more than twice as likely to get depressed as adults than women who reported no abuse, a new study shows.
Seeing or experiencing violence as a child may cause some kind of brain insult, which changes the brain's chemistry, the researchers suggest.

Need to halt domestic violence
12 March 2005
Domestic violence permeates our society, writes Emma Davies. It can be successfully addressed only when we challenge the social norms where it is condoned as a means of resolving conflicts.

France confronts child-sex shame
Charles Bremner, Paris
March 05, 2005
FRENCH newspapers are teaching children how to recognise and report sexual abuse by adults, as the trial of 66 men and women accused of involvement in child sex opens in the town of Angers.

The Trap of Forgiveness
by Barbara Rogers, 
author of "screams from childhood", http://www.screamsfromchildhood.com
The relationship between parents and their children is marked by the command to honor 
and forgive parents—while the main focus for treating children lays on the importance of discipline. 
Why do we think in these terms about this unique relationship, where one part has all the physical, 
emotional, and mental power, and also the responsibility to guide malleable, innocent children by 
being a meaningful role model—while the other part is dependent, powerless, vulnerable, and 
at his or her parents’ mercy?

On “Resistance”: 
A Response to Dr Paul Hannig’s Article 
Is There a Hole in Your Soul?
By Patricia Poulin, Ph.D. Candidate 

Is (primal) therapy all a victim of trauma need?
Sieglinde W. Alexander
Recent facts have brought me back full circle to an insight I had before I began writing about my childhood. 
At the time, I expressedmy thoughts by saying, (I’m paraphrasing) “…we must face the shadows 
of the past by feeling the pain one more time before we can begin unlearning the imprinted pattern of violence….