Affected by my enthusiasm, I thought that perhaps Maria and Peter were actually contemplating a major change in The Family so I took their announcement at face value. But once my excitement cool off I realized how superficial my reading had been. I noticed the hooks and nooks they set as they write to claim innocence or a way out in case they need it.
I doubt their concern and remorse in their words but in any case, it is a case of too little too late. It is insufficient. It should also include some form of action, and a serious look at the direct accusations presented to them. Saying that sexual abusers don’t belong to the group anymore won’t make the cut. To do it right, they must explicitly reverse and retract all the points they are saying are wrong, and their derivatives from all their books and doctrines.
We all were taught very well the meaning and the process of repentance. So, it is now their turn to show they can do what they preach.
Painful and sad, the hurt of the emotional abuse and abuse of authority they recognized now, and that was rampant during the initial years, are still with some of us but are nothing in comparison with the stories about the many forms of child abuse that they fostered through publications and example.
This is probably the single most destructive issue that emerged from The Family during the 40 years under the joint leadership of David’s Berg, Maria, and Peter.
Mo, Maria and Peter have dealt with this issue by quietly distancing from it paying no attention to the pleas of the children, for 40 years!!! Many of them are adults and ex-family members by now, and still easy to dismiss. But most of us, First Generation ex-members heard and support their cry not because we are enemies of The Family, its leadership or membership, but because it is the right thing to do.
Hopefully the current attitude of The Family’s leadership is to also do the right thing, go beyond this apology letter, and move towards justice. For God’s sake, they were little children!!!
You still have time to do something for them. We from the First Generation are nothing to you and so are your letters to us, but we all have the Word of God, and He has been very clear about hurting or helping little children. And you will have to answer to Him.
Repent, call your people to repent, have one year of repentance, public repentance, that He may have mercy on you and on your soul.
But I don’t think you have it in you. Until you mean it, go down to the valley and pray for the next seven years, at the end of the 49th year you will receive His promises. And I turn my back to you until you call me by my name.
Peace