I represent a man who now lives in Clearwater. As a young boy, he was molested by a Catholic priest in Boston. As a Catholic, he was seeking guidance, spiritual support, and truth from a Catholic priest. Instead, what he received was sexual abuse that affected him throughout his life. Unfortunately, he carried this with him. It tormented him and led him to a life of alcohol, drugs, and a life with no hope.
As a young adult, unable to deal with the sexual abuse, he abused another person, a member of his family. After being incarcerated, he's changed his life and is now living a respectable life. Yet, his crimes still haunt him. He's on the registered sexual offenders list and must report to law enforcement. He hired me recently to have some of his restriction lifted. I was successful in lifting some of his restrictions. Yet, the stigma of sexual abuse hovers over him like a dark cloud. He is gainfully employed, married, and a member of a local church. He takes full responsibility for his past actions. However, I am convinced the sexual abuse he suffered as a young boy colored and influenced the direction of his adult life. Even though he's a convicted felon, he is a victim of a priest's abuse. He can't live a normal life. He's a sexual offender and he'll live with that the rest of his life.
This is a man who has taken responsibility for his actions. He has law enforcement officials advocating for him, counselors fighting for him, yet he can't have his lfie back due to the effects of one priest who abused him when he was a vulnerable child. There's something wrong with this picture. In a very real sense, he's paying for the crimes of a priest who's living free of criminal prosecution. Sure, the priest is no longer able to serve in ministry. But he ruined many young lives, including the life of my client. Where's the justice? Where's the outrage?
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