“What people have to understand, is the sexual abuse of a child, especially a very young child, is one of the most damaging injuries you can inflict on a human being. It has latent consequence. We know and studies, multiple studies, have shown it impacts the brain, and brain function, especially the frontal lobe functions, our executive functions, such that they grow up without a clear understanding of boundaries. They have internalized the anger and the shame and the humiliation. It causes them in their younger lives to act out and to get themselves into trouble and anti social behaviors. They end up, most of them, being substance abusers because that’s how they cope with the internal pain they feel constantly and the angst. They have post traumatic stress disorder, most of them. They visit, they see images of this at different times in their lives. They have difficulties committing to personal relationships because of lack of trust and a sense of betrayal. I mean, what happens to kids when they are sexually abuse is unconscionable, it is unconscionable, and for anyone to think that dollars, even millions of dollars, somehow is a “windfall” in exchange for what they suffered, has no concept of the harm that’s been done.”
Irwin Zalkin- Clergy Abuse Attorney:
In response to those who think Watchtower sex abuse survivors are looking for money.