This edition of 20/20 focuses on the story of Tina Anderson. Tina was only 16 when she claims she was forced to stand terrified before her entire church congregation to confess her “sin.” She had become pregnant, but she says she wasn’t allowed to tell the group that the pregnancy was the result of being raped by a fellow congregant, a man twice her age.

READ MORE HERE:

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2020-recap-pregnant-rape-victim-forced-confess-church-04-09-2011

Not too many persons who were abused as a child can find the strength to face their past, live with the hurt and then find the strength to come public with their story. At 30, Akil Johnson is speaking up. He has given a face and a voice to an issue that speaks to the very heart of every community – the protection of children.

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http://preview.bviplatinum.com/news.php?module=news&page=Article&articleID=1302886564

One convicted child-abuse offender said his selfish behavior led him to molest his daughter

MUNCIE — “Forgiveness is something I would like,” said Daniel, who was convicted five years ago of molesting his 10-year-old daughter.The man — whose last name is not being used because doing so would identify his victim — hastily added that he hoped his family forgave him “more for their sake than mine,” noting that lingering anger and bitterness can cause not only problems for maintaining relationships but also illnesses.

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http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20110417/ABUSE/104170336

As soon as her mother’s car pulled away, Cathy Harper Lee always counted the blades of grass on the lawn.  She hoped to reach a high number.  That meant a few moments alone before her step-father ordered her inside.Cathy’s abuse began when she was just five-years-old. It was then that her step-father began what would become years of abuse, in which her step-father would molest and rape her, telling her over and over that he loved her.  He would touch her sometimes, and hold a gun to her head, pulling the trigger.  She never knew if the revolver was loaded but eventually she began to hope that it was.  Today, she doesn’t know why she never told her mother or anyone else what was going on at home.  Maybe she was too frightened.  Maybe she thought no one would believe her.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.thesurvivorsclub.org/survivor-stories/family/overcoming-child-abuse

ASHLEY Judd has opened up about her horrific childhood. In her new book All That Is Bitter & Sweet, the actress reveals that she was raped repeatedly and suffered through a horrific, abuse-filled childhood that left her with deep psychological scars. In the tome, Judd says her upbringing was so torturous that the only way she could think to make the ache in her heart lessen was to die.

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http://www.showbizspy.com/article/229813/ashley-judd-was-raped-as-a-child.html

Social worker uncovered the horrors faced by children shipped to far-flung corners of the Empire

Sitting in a screening room last week, I watched my life portrayed by someone else. A stranger played my husband and there were different children in my house. My daughter Rachel, son Ben and husband Mervyn had swapped jokes for months about what this moment might be like. Now we were nervous. On screen, actress Emily Watson appeared as a social worker coaxing a distraught teenage mother into surrendering her baby. I held my breath. A vignette from my life had transported me back 25 years.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370261/How-letter-let-expose-Britains-worst-abuse-scandal.html#ixzz1Hp5JDsf5

The upcoming death penalty trial of crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano may bring to light the gangster’s darkest secret – he was the victim of child abuse. Basciano’s lawyers have informed federal prosecutors of plans to raise the issue as a mitigating factor against executing the former boss of the Bonanno crime family if he’s convicted of ordering a murder.

A woman who was molested as a child, and later confronted her sexually abusive step father on harrowing camping trip has forgiven him, it was revealed today. Tracy Ross, who was eight when her stepfather Donnie Lee first molested her, suffered years of abuse at his hands – yet now visits him several times a year. But in a shocking interview, Tracy revealed how she still finds it hard to forgive her mother who remains with Donnie to this day.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366930/Abused-stepfather-Donnie-Lee-ignored-mother-Doris-Ross-Author-Tracy-Ross-writes-forgave-both.html#ixzz1GoxSqFde

According to Jefferson Parish authorities, 40-year-old Janella Lewis claimed that she’d just been giving her 2-year-old grandson your standard, run-of-the-mill whuppin. Apparently, he’d been getting out of line. Two-year-olds are so willful, so full of fight, so strapping and wild that really, the only way to control them is to break them. Otherwise, they might grow up not knowing the importance of minding their elders.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2011/03/childs_body_had_disturbing_sig.html

Sen. Scott Brown reveals he was sexually abused as a child several times by a camp counselor in a “60 Minutes” interview with Lesley Stahl. The Massachusetts Republican also talks to Stahl about physical abuse suffered at the hands of stepfathers, in one case saying he would like to have purchased the house where it occurred just so he could “burn it down.’

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/16/60minutes/main20032276.shtml?tag=currentVideoInfo;segmentTitle

I was born at home after putting my mother through 57 hours of all natural labor 26 years ago. My incredible story of my birth is just the beginning of this life I have been given. I believe every one is born with a purpose and I found my purpose through the events that have taken place in my life. I decided at a young age to take a stand against evil and instead expose it to put a silent epidemic in the spotlight. I turned my childhood diary into a book Stolen Innocence and self-published it when I was a senior in high school. It was republished by Health Communications Inc. in January 2005. I began flying the country telling my story of the sexual abuse I endured as a child. A story I am not ashamed of but instead inspired to put a face and voice on sexual abuse. My mission is to take the stigma and shame off of sexual abuse survivors and give them a reason to speak. To educate the public that children are being abused right now in your own communities and our own backyards. I am at war against this silent evil that is lurking in the shadows.

My media appearances have included Oprah Winfrey Show October 2010, Montel Williams in April 2006, Good Morning America in May 2006, I was apart of another Montel Williams show on most memorable guest update in July 2006. In October 2008 I was apart of a slide show on Oprah about superwomen. I have appeared in many local news station programs after speaking at an event. I have also taken part in numerous radio interviews. I appeared in a commercial for the National Children’s Alliance that began airing in July 2010. In December 2010 I was named Newsmaker of the year for the Daily Herald after I received the most votes against 9 others including American Idol winner Lee DeWyze.

READ MORE ABOUT ERIN & THE BOOKS SHE’S WRITTEN HERE:

http://www.erinmerryn.net/

Kansas Child Abuse Survivors Share Their Rescue Story Next Week on “Oprah”

SHAWNEE, KANSAS (February 4, 2011) Kellie and Kathie Henderson first spoke of surviving years of sexual abuse by several family members in The Wichita Eagle’s series, “Promise Not to Tell.” Now their story and that of family and professionals who vowed to rescue them will find a national stage on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Viewers will hear the disturbing story of the girls’ sexual abuse starting at ages 3 and 4. The show features the many heroes who helped end the abuse: the girls themselves, for disclosing their abuse and ending the secrecy; their neighbors, for believing the girls and taking action; and the response team, law enforcement, social workers and others who protected the girls and hold their offenders accountable.

READ MORE HERE:

http://pressreleases.kcstar.com/?q=node/50649