Second Run – The Unbreakable Child

I’ve blogged before about my friend, Kim Michele Richardson’s book, The Unbreakable Child, but now it’s in its second run. This is a memoir about her abuse behind the walls of a Catholic orphanage in Kentucky. Kim wasn’t the only one who endured such abuse—there were plenty others including her sisters, all of which she has dedicated this book. Her accounts of the abuse are an agonizing journey, and sometimes left me wondering how these little soldiers of God could physically or mentally move on.

Unfortunately, some were unable to fight the demons that followed them through life. Each one of us has our limits, but Kim—the unbreakable child recovered and prospered after her abuses. It is only now when Kim decided to voice her ordeals to get the word out that none of us should tolerate abuse no matter where it occurs. Abuse happens everywhere. No one is out of reach from punishment, or exempt from taking the first step with apologies. We are human, we make mistakes, yet humans should never make some mistakes. If you click on “Search inside this book” under the cover of The Unbreakable Child, you will find Kim’s ‘Letter of Apology Request’ to the Pope and the response from the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.

Betrayal is universal. Forgiveness takes rare character—something Kim Michele Richardson possesses. Go out to your nearest book store or order online to read about this ‘unbreakable child’.

Sunday Sermon

My friend, Kim Michele Richardson has overcome her abuses inflicted by Catholic nuns and priests experienced at an orphanage when she was a child.  She wrote about such ordeals in her book, The Unbreakable Child.  Kimmi reveals the horrific acts the nuns and priests’ conducted on a daily basis.

On her blog, The Unbreakable Child, Kimmi wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI reaching out for an apology and assistance in helping with those still struggling over these abuses along with prevention.  If you get a chance, please stop by Kimmi’s site and leave a comment whether it’s to support her request, or to just say hello.   Abuse and silence isn’t a part of God’s teachings, but in truth this isn’t about religion, it’s about moral neglect. 

Abuse is Everywhere

"Ireland unveils long-awaited report on Catholic child abuse"

Last weekend, Kim Michele Richardson was in town for the American Library Association (ALA) Conference where she got down to business talking to others about her book. I met Kimmi and her husband for dinner and we both brought up the recent article regarding 50-years of sexual abuse by the Irish Catholic schools and orphanages in Ireland. It’s astounding how far these horrific acts have traveled and gone ignored.

Kimmi’s book, The Unbreakable Child, describes her abuses in a Catholic orphanage in Kentucky, far from Ireland, but the terrifying and damaging memories are similar. Kimmi was one of many involved in the first successful lawsuit in U.S. history to receive monetary restitution for abuse. Their attorney, William F. McMurry led them in the fight and win.

The Unbreakable Child is a reminder, as is now declared in Ireland, that the Catholic Church needs to take a stand against these horrendous activities. I was raised Catholic, although I’m not a practicing one. These declarations in Ireland and in The Unbreakable Child are an embarrassment to Catholics, or any organized religion that feels they’re outside the law. There is no separation of Church and State when it comes to abuse, and anyone connected to a religious order isn’t exempt from prosecution.

What angers me the most though is that the Roman Catholic Church hasn’t taken ownership for these abuses. This isn’t to say all Catholic nuns and priests are sexual abusers, BUT the abuse came from this religion, therefore holding all past, present and future orders responsible in dealing with the situation. They should apologize for past and present abuses, take action against those performing such acts, take measures in avoiding future abuse, and open a line of communication with the abused. An acknowledgment and willingness to let the abused speak of their horrors could go a long way. I feel it is the responsibility of the Roman Catholic Church to take the lead and setup help lines for those seeking help to lend a hand to some who are broken.

Let me end this blog post by saying, and repeating after Kimmi, abuse isn’t a religious issue, it’s a human issue. ANYONE involved in abuse activity should be punished. I say with much sadness, as humans we need to reprogram ourselves to appreciate the true value of a human life. It seems violence and abuse is becoming more common than caring and love. It’s a learning process, but I already started with myself in showing and treating people with understanding and care, and I hope this train of thought spreads like wild fire.