The statistics on child abuse in the US are staggering and horrifying. There is no way to sugarcoat the hard reality that in our country more than four children die every day as a result of child abuse (www.childhelp.org). How can this happen? We are a country founded on the declaration that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yet, the most vulnerable in our society are being neglected and mistreated by the very ones who are called to love and protect them. What can be done to help these children? Is it solely the job of the State to care for these forgotten children?
Can the epidemic of child abuse and neglect be tackled by any one program or agency? Father Steve Anderson, priest at Holy Redeemer in Flint, Michigan believes that we all must play an active part in putting an end to the abuse. “It broke my heart to see that we have children on a daily basis going through this. …It’s time to step up as a community, and reach out for these children that don’t have a voice. You’re going to have to step up and help raise these children. We have to do something about it. … We’re not going to change in one day. We’re not. But we have to do our part. We have to do our part because these kids don’t have a voice” (www.mlive.com The Flint Journal).
We all have a different role to play in the war against abuse. The personal responsibility of all of us is to find the role that fits.
Could you be a forever family for a child?
Could you be a mentor to a child in foster care?
Could you be a donor?
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke
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