Nun Page

Most of the media attention on the sexual abuse
issue in the Catholic Church has been focused on
priests sexually abusing young boys. Another
media highlight has been the cover up of the abuse
by the bishops. The media has been the hero in
bringing this crisis to light.

An area that has gotten little media attention is the
sexual abuse perpetrated on children, teens, and
vulnerable adults by nuns. It is my belief there are as
many victims of nun sexual abuse as there are
victims of priest sexual abuse.

The nuns are able to stay under the radar of
knowledge of this abuse because nun orders are
not located within a geographic area therefore a
newspaper with local interests will not cover a story
such as the Boston Globe did regarding the priest
abuse in the Boston archdiocese.

The lives of nun sexual abuse victims have been
aborted as surely as a fetus is aborted by a
surgeon’s knife. The fetus and the victim’s life have
been thrown into the trash can.

It is time this criminal sexual abuse by nuns comes
into the light of truth.

Dan Dunford

My Refuge

winter is coming again
this time darker and more final
a defeat,
a defeat over a timorous spring,
a hesitant summer, and an autumn
which had brief splotches of color but
the leaves fell before the trees
felt certain of their role
as winter decends
I feel I have not lived in my life
this past year
the year is gone
like a day when you don't bother to dress-
guilt, sadness, an inexpressible loss,
a concern that something's been left undone
all leave a taste in your mouth
elicit resolutions for tomorrow
worse-
as winter decends
I am sick, worn, ill-prepared
for months of cold, of dark skies, of frozen
roads
I was never really able
to allow spring to occur,
to attend the summer-
and autumn may have blazed longer
were I really present
but winter,
this winter,
I fear
will totally engage me
psyche
soul
the summit of my senses
all focused,
transmitting endless wind and snow

Mary C. Dunford

To The Wounded Among Us

Text: composed by Josephine A. Diedrich
Melody: Set to "The Last Rose of Summer," key of "C"

May the balm of His endless mercy
Be upon us, God's children, today.
May the darkness that may surround us,
To the warming of God-Light give way.

May the sinful be ever humbled,
May God's dear ones not know the shame.
May the Church bring us to this healing,
That the wounded might never be blamed.

Verse II
When the horror and fright engulf us,
May His bright beaming light our way.
May we pray for all those lost dear ones,
That their memory not fade away.

May we shed light upon injustice,
May we shine hope along the way.
May we feel God's warm hands around us.
May He hold us in love, always.
Copyright: January, 2007