Fight against loveual abuse merits award
By Maria Vogel-Short Staff Writer The Observer-Tribune Thursday, December 1, 2005
Shocking Revelations 'Empower Kids'
Mendham - Virginia resident Mark Serrano, a former graduate of Mendham High School, said Monday there is a public safety crisis for abused children who must come out of the darkness into the light.
Serrano is a survivor of child loveual abuse who has become nationally known for his advocacy of abuse prevention.
He received the Voice of Courage award on Tuesday, Nov. 22, for speaking out. He was one of seven recipients who were honored for having spoken out about their own abuse.
The award was given by the South Carolina-based Darkness to Light organization, which is dedicated to protecting children and preventing abuse.
"Parents have to take it upon themselves to prevent abuse," said Serrano, a former resident of Mendham. "This award validates the importance of speaking out and encourages others who have been abused to come and go forward, because it's the right thing to do."
Serrano, 41, broke a confidentiality agreement with the Paterson Diocese and the Catholic Church in 2002 when he publicly talked about how he had been loveually abused by James T. Hanley, a former priest at St. Joseph Church in Mendham.
After settling a civil lawsuit against James T. Hanley, Serrano spoke on national television about the abuse he received from the priest that began when he was 9 years old.
"Since the law is deficient, and Catholic bishops are pbuttive about the issue, parents have to be their own advocates. There is no cure for child molesters and it's hard to stop them. We need to focus on prevention and that's what Darkness to Light does," Serrano said.
Another award recipient is Marilyn Van DerBer, a former Miss America who has described the child love abuse she received from her father.
Farewell to EuropeI tend to agree, This generation is as you describe for sure. But *people* are not...
America's Most Wanted John Walsh and actress Anne Heche are also past winners of the award.
Anne Lee, president and chief executive officer of Darkness to Light, said in a statement that the award recognizes people and organizations who have the heart to step forward.
The common trait is "giving courage and voice to victims who battle their shame and guilt alone," said Lee. "Their inspiring stories helped other victims to speak out, bringing them from darkness to light."
For Serrano, the cause is more important than the award.
"It's not about me, it's more about an important topic, to protect kids," Serrano said.
"There is a certain pathology among these perpetrators," said Serrano. "We need to empower child care workers and parents to empower their kids. Children need to listen to instincts. Kids need to know what good touch, bad touch, is. Be aware of what's going on. We tend to deal with these things in private and we shouldn't."
Serrano has been involved with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), and has fought to change the way the church deals with such abuse.
Serrano said church leaders helped perpetrators, such as Hanley, evade prosecution,
"Perpetrators weren't criminally charged. Father Hanley has never been criminally charged. That stops perpetrators like Father Hanley from finding a new victim, which didn't happen. Hanley didn't lose his pension, and he's in church funded housing in Paterson. To me, that's just wrong," he said.
Serrano said being too careful or too cautious is a proactive way to be.
"Put me in the camp of being overprotective," said Serrano.
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"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send peace, but a sword. "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. - Matthew 10:34-36.
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