Heritage of Covering Up Child Abuse

These survivors of abuse are to be commended for their courage and bravery for speaking out. Just as in all cases of abuse, a molester/abuser does not harm every single child he or she comes in contact with. So naturally there will be members of the Homestead community who will always have favorable memories of their life there who were not harmed. While abuse may not have happened for one, this does not mean that abuse could not have happened or be happening currently to others.

Alex Hannaford at The Texas Observer and Brett Shipp at WFAA are doing important work of shining the light of truth and exposing abuse, which will hopefully protect other kids, and help those abused heal. The same cannot be said of mega-church pastors like Jack Graham who have failed to report child sexual abuse by former Prestonwood ministers, John Langworthy being one of them, whom Brett Shipp helped expose.

Under Texas law, ministers and clergy are required to report any suspected child abuse ― sexual or otherwise ― to authorities within 48 hours of being told, otherwise they too are committing a criminal offense. A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18.

Thanks to the story Brett Shipp did, airing my interview and the statements from victims, several more victims in MS came forward. Langworthy’s criminal trial is set for July 30, 2012 for 8 counts/5 victims of felony gratification of lust, boys between the ages of 8-12.

This horrible story of secrecy and abuse at Homestead tragically mirrors the dangerous and disturbing pattern of other churches, large and small, that handle reports of abuse internally and don’t obey the law of mandated reporting to law enforcement of any knowledge or suspicion of abuse of kids. This pattern endangers kids and enables predators.

If you have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes or abuse at Homestead Heritage or elsewhere, please come forward, *report these crimes to law enforcement, get help, start healing, and protect others. Keeping silent only hurts.

Reporting child abuse in TX:

*Call 911
*Texas Department of Family and Protective Services 1-800 252-5400

National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors, for kids, adult and professionals.

In addition to the above numbers, in the Waco area, you can call or go to the Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, serving the central Texas community:

Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children

2323 Columbus Avenue Waco, TX 76701

Crisis Hotline (254) 752-7233 or toll free (888) 867-7233

(254) 752-9330 office

Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

SNAP urges investigation of “secrecy-obsessed” commune