CAM Molestation Issue

[Ms. Izzie]

If the leaders on leave from CAM are taking full responsibility, why are there no publicly released apologies? I'm sure there is a reason for it. And also a reason why only some people have seen it. Does anybody know why?

Also, I am sure somebody reading this post knows if they are still leaders at their churches. Are they?

The kind of leaders we have tells a lot about what kind of people we are. I would like to know what kind of people they are/were leading.

[Ernie]

Well I think this is the point, if you want your courses recommended for transfer and want them evaluated and approved by a given institution, you are then beholden to the criteria of the said institution and shouldn't push back too hard on their expectations. And if pressure is put on for certain qualifications, from said institution from which you want credit approval for courses, then one would of course need to comply with said institutions criteria =).

FB is not pushing back against anyone that I am aware of. They are simply saying that they don't want society to tell them what to do, but rather look at matters from the biblical/church perspective. There is a good historical basis for this.
That is the only point I was trying to make.

[barbara10]

I'm sure their attorneys do not want them to say anything until the investigation is over.

[Ms. Izzie]

I thought of that, Barbara10, but didn't want to assume it if there was some other good reason.

Maybe I will just have to assume it.

[Ernie]

All one needs is the leadership and ability to recognize that an international serial child abuse/rape case is something that needs immediate, priority and messaging.

I think you have made your case well about this the last month.
I am asking why. Not because I am an employee, but because I never could understand humans who feel a need to know things right now and can't give those who are intensely working on the situation, time to do their job in the order they think is best.
Do you feel this is a moral obligation, a corporate obligation, or what is the basis for this universal right/wrong?

I will only add that judging from the conversations I have had among the mission community and the more moderate supporters of CAM that I know (Beachy, Mid-Atlantic, Moderate Unaffiliated, BMA, German Baptist, etc.) the "go slow and trust us" approach is not flying all that well.

I'm not in touch with the people you are I guess. I've heard requests for more information, but graciousness being extended for what must be a complex situation.
The plea from those working on the situation at the beginning was, "I'm sure you have questions but the most helpful thing you can do for us at this point is to pray, pray, pray. We will update you as we are able." Some of us were fine with doing just that. Others feel a need to know more than what they are given.
Now that CAM has moved beyond the initial emergencies, they are welcoming reasonable calls from associates and supporters.

[Ms. Izzie]

Ernie, in your original post about the men on leave you told us about what kind of men they are. You obviously know them personally.
I asked three questions. You answered one. Thank you for doing that. I think you might know the answers for the other two. I don't want to get into a discussion about their characters. It would be nice to know the answers to the questions though. Do you know the answers to other two?
Are they still leaders at their churches?
Where can I read their written apologies?
(Or you can tell me you don't want to answer them. That would work too. I don't seem to be getting the hint very quickly.)

[Ernie]

If the leaders on leave from CAM are taking full responsibility, why are there no publicly released apologies? I'm sure there is a reason for it. And also a reason why only some people have seen it. Does anybody know why?

The apology was written to fellow missionaries. It was not a public statement from CAM.

Also, I am sure somebody reading this post knows if they are still leaders at their churches. Are they?

I have not heard one way or the other.

The kind of leaders we have tells a lot about what kind of people we are. I would like to know what kind of people they are/were leading.

I don't know the answer to this question.

[temporal1]

I'm sure their attorneys do not want them to say anything until the investigation is over.

I thought of that, Barbara10, but didn't want to assume it if there was some other good reason.
Maybe I will just have to assume it.

followng attorneys’ counsel in the thick of litigation can make getting answers seem very peculiar, mysterious, even deceptive. it is not normal life. often, there is silence without any explanation that silence is required by the court!

this happened to me with friends, late 1980’s.
our children were in school together, i did some work for their small business once weekly.
i saw the most awful reports in local news. i could not believe what i read in newspapers!
their store was vandalized by some local feminists.
it was ugly. i believed nothing. from what i knew and saw, there was NO indication of wrong doing.
they were an ideal family with an ideal little shop, a local family business, probably of 100 years.
i was sure it would all be smoothed over in court.

this went on for a few years. absolute silence, they did not speak. i did not ask. i did not question.

unknown to me, the case ended.

one day, Mr. asked me into his office.
there he told me he wanted to apologize for what he put me through. i was puzzled. i had been through nothing. i spoke and assured him, i never believed what i’d read, it was no problem.

what he next said left me dumbfounded.
he said, “everything you read was true, and more.”

he then went on to describe the awful things he, and several local businessmen, and police, had done.
my heart sank. the double lives was “crazy.” right under everyone’s noses, including his beautiful wife and daughter.

in truth, considering what he was accused of, guilty or not, i was surprised his family stayed together. they did. they remain together.

he gave 100% credit to his wife and her longsuffering faith.
he described a long, hard battle he walked with her and their church, to remove himself from these sins. (his carnal sins and crimes did not involve minors.)

i left, both rattled by and impressed with what i was told.
in that experience i learned about just how deceitful people can be. about how outward appearances can mean so little. and, about how faith can eventually overcome. the pain of betrayal involved must have been tremendous.

about moral battles.
and, a little about how strange courts of human law can be.

[Ms. Izzie]

Thanks, Ernie, I appreciate you answering them!

[queserasera_2]

Ernie, I think we are friends, so that's how I'm responding here...

The reason I feel the need for information before 6 months is because #1, it doesn't take that long to get it, #2, they've shown a little too much fondness for legal slipperiness instead of forthrightness thus far, and #3, my money is still flowing into their accounts monthly.
In the world, "administrative leave" is code for "just give people time to forget about things and all will be well." Is it the same here? If someone on here hadn't said they have an assigned investigator, I wouldn't have known. Out there, "investigation ongoing" is code for "stop asking hard questions and we'll look only as far as we want to." Is it the same here? You see, the problem is, I trusted CAM's leadership and never questioned it. But now, a travesty has occurred under their watch. That trust has been broken. Many good men have handled things poorly in the past. Just because they're good men does not mean enough.
I AM praying, and I haven't pulled my donations, and, as a result, CAM owes me accountability. I help pay their salaries. I don't need every little detail, I don't need a PR committee. A regular short statement would suffice. But up until now, the greatest grief and brokenness has been expressed by those who are the least culpable.