Blessed Arrows is a tubal ligation/vasectomy reversal ministry and a part of the "Quiverfull" birth-babies-for-Jesus-until-you-die movement. I've written about them on my blog, Jesus' General, a number of times.
I joined their mailing list a few years ago, hoping to use it for blog fodder. Until now, I've never posted anything from it, because the letter writers were all so desperate and earnest, I felt sorry for them. But today, I received an email asking me to pray for the family of a man who "touched at least one daughter in a less than fatherly way." Apparently, prayer is the best way to address child sexual abuse, because Jesus ain't no mandated reporter.
I tweeted about the message and received a lot of questions about it. Rather than answer each individually, I'll post the email, responses, and my reports to the relevant authorities.
The original email:
Someone very big prayer request. I'm trying to ask for prayer without gossiping and hopefully I succeed. Someone I am very close to is a Christian, but had been married to a non-Christian for around 16 years. The husband has a porn addiction and has had the entire time. He also may have touched at least one daughter in a less than fatherly way, I'm not sure to what extent. That daughter recently found texts to and from a woman who may be pregnant by this husband. The mother won't seek a divorce until finances are in order to do so. She hopes he will just leave, but won't ask him to leave because she's afraid of not being able to afford the private school, house they live in, etc... Please, please join us in prayer. If anyone of you have wisdom in this situation, please share.
Love, Christa
Responses:
I am definitely praying for this family! It is such sad circumstances.
:*(
[JenJen]
...
praying! please, Jesus! :(<
[Gina]
My response:
If you think the daughter is being molested, you need to report it.
Christa answers:
It is in the past, when they were younger. If it's not happening currently (probably 10 years in the past), is there anything that can be done?
Christa
I reply:
My wife teaches a college course on abuse. If it happened once, it almost certainly continued and is continuing. Please report it, it it's beyond the statute of limitations, it still gives authorities a reason to check on recent abuse.
I did a little research to try to get a full name and location so I could report it but was unsuccessful. I eventually opted to write the police and Child Protective Services agency located in Durham, NC, home of Blessed Arrows. This is what I wrote:
The following was posted to an email list hosted by the Blessed Arrows Ministry in Durham. I contacted the author [email address redacted] urging her to report the abuse. She's reluctant, but seems certain at least one incident occurred. I don't have more info about her. Maybe Blessed Arrows can help http://www.blessedarrows.org/
----- Original Message -----
From: Christa
To: blessedarrows@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 12:38 PM
Subject: [blessedarrows] Huge Prayer Request
Someone very big prayer request. I'm trying to ask for prayer without gossiping and hopefully I succeed. Someone I am very close to is a Christian, but had been married to a non-Christian for around 16 years. The husband has a porn addiction and has had the entire time. He also may have touched at least one daughter in a less than fatherly way, I'm not sure to what extent. That daughter recently found texts to and from a woman who may be pregnant by this husband. The mother won't seek a divorce until finances are in order to do so. She hopes he will just leave, but won't ask him to leave because she's afraid of not being able to afford the private school, house they live in, etc... Please, please join us in prayer. If anyone of you have wisdom in this situation, please share.
Love, Christa
Update: From Durham Police:
Thank you for the referral. We will be reaching out to Christa.
Chief Jose Lopez Sr.
Durham Police Department