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| Ritual Abuse, MPD and the Church By Gregory Reid It may seem to some as if I "have it in" for certain people, as I keep referring negatively to the same people and groups: Bob and Gretchen Passantino, Cornerstone, CRI, Ralph Underwager, and Gordon Melton. If I do, it is for three reasons: 1) They all claim to be Christian. 2) As Christians, they should be accountable for what they do and say, and they haven't been. 3) The damage they have inflicted on suffering victims of ritual abuse and MPD has been incalculable. Instead of prayer, support and healing, these victims have been ridiculed and humiliated with a degree of arrogance, unconcern and flippancy I have never encountered in the secular world. If Christian survivors are turning to the secular world for counseling, it is largely because we have rejected them, and the above-mentioned people and groups stand guilty before God for treating as unimportant this command: "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."(Heb. 12:12-13) And, "accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters." (Romans 14:1) Ritual abuse and MPD may be a disputable matter; the command to accept hurting people is not. How deep is the damage? As the Christian hymn says, "deep and wide." One example: a family, whose small boy had been severely abused. He was so young, and it was so bad, that details only came out in violent outpourings, or in fragments. He's now 13 and has spent years in a treatment center. The parents counted on, and were deeply grateful for, the prayers and loving support of their church. Then, one day, the pastor called to inquire about the boy. "Have the doctors changed his diagnosis?", he asked. "No, why should they?", the mother asked back. "Haven't you read Christianity Today's article on ritual abuse? It's all false memories." Suddenly the parents' world of support and prayers collapsed. They counted on them. They needed them! I don't fault the pastor as much as Christianity Today, who succeeded in painting a broad brush stroke of "false memories" on ritual abuse without the slightest regard to who it would hurt, or the facts. The damage doesn't appear on the editorial page of slick corporate Christian magazines. It appears through the tears on Bible pages of those who are afraid God has abandoned them, because we did. That ritual abuse is real, and that MPD is real, is not an issue for me. I don't have the luxury of high-minded "investigative journalists" who can treat survivors with ridicule and contempt without ever getting their hands dirty, or looking at the facts. I survived brutal ritual abuse. I viewed the indescribably horrible murder slides of young 18 year old Carmen Krohn, butchered by a Satanist. I went to the funeral of Shane, 16, and Sally, 15, murdered by a satanic coven. I sat at the trial of the El Paso daycare case and watched as a precious, devastated young boy told graphic details of his abuse. More, I have helped nurture MPD victims and other survivors into God's healing love. I find it ironic, almost criminal that there is no interest on the part of others journalists in the knowable facts. It's almost as if they're saying, "It's made up. Now go away. Don't confuse us with the facts." In Acts, the Bereans didn't just accept Paul's words. They were "fair-minded", and they "searched the scriptures daily to see if it was true." (Acts 17:11) They loved truth. And finding truth means testing all known facts. Issues such as MPD and ritual abuse are so traumatic that they demand a complete hearing in the name of truth and compassion. We have failed to do so. The issue to these folks is whether ritual abuse is provable, or MPD real. Well, that's missing the point for Christians. Most ritual abuse victims won't be able to prove what happened. And there will always be people who claim MPD victims are making it up to get attention. The point is: What does God demand we do? On this, the scriptures couldn't be plainer: "We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not please ourselves."(Romans 15:1) Of all the people I've ever known, ritual abuse victims and MPD strugglers are in more need of healing and hope than almost anyone. Their- our- nightmare is beyond comprehension. Imagine a heart so wounded, a life so tormented, that every relationship is unsafe, every sight, smell and sound can trigger terror and panic, and every moment seems like death. Maybe we won't be able to accept everything victims remember as true, but you know what? We're not required to. We're required to pray for them, love them, accept them and believe God for their healing. You may not be able to believe it all. But you can, at the least, suspend judgment on the awful memories that this child of God is reliving. Can't you? But, you say, what if they're deceived? Where is your faith? Can't you stand by them and help them know the truth of God's word, which is able, in time, to break any possible error? Your place is not to sort out what happened; that is God's, and the person's task. Yours is to pour on the oil and wine of God's unconditional love. You can do that, can't you? We can never forget that besides telling the good news of Jesus, one of our most important responsibilities is to "bind the broken heart."(Is 61:1-4) If the man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead in the Jericho road were MPD and ritually abused, and it was today, we would more often than not be either the priest that "passed on by to the other side" ("I don't want to get involved...") or a new Levite who didn't only pass by, but before he did, bent down and said, "How can you prove you were robbed. There's no robbers in Jericho! Why don't you just trust God and forget about what you say happened?" And then, having done our duty to "truth", trot off, leaving the victim bleeding still. Before we criticize those who pursue secular therapy, you better get the point of this story, sir. The priest and the Levite were God's chosen people. They had the ability to do something. They did nothing! The Samaritan, on the other hand, was a "secular" guy, despised by the "righteous." Yet he did what they should have - he took care of the wounded, helpless man! "Which of these men was the real neighbor to the robbed man?", Jesus asked. Their reply: "The one who had mercy on him." "Then do the same", Jesus said. Anyone can debate ritual abuse. Show me someone who cares and prays and goes the distance with the victims, and I'll show you someone who is doing the will of God and not just making a name off people's grief in the guise of "investigative Christian journalism" or "defending truth." It is costly, heartbreaking and difficult to care for those suffering from MPD and ritual abuse. Maybe that's why it's easier to deny it. Out of sight, out of mind. We'd rather not get coffee spilled on our rug. In so doing, we deny the hurting their place of dignity and healing in God's Home and we deny his Kingdom the miracle of watching a crushed flower bloom into a glory of radiant and multifaceted grace and purpose beyond description. Folks, if the good news of Jesus bypasses them, because we'd rather debate than do, be a critic rather than a caring Christian, our faith, as James said, is dead. (James 2:20,26) Obviously not everyone will meet someone from this displaced community of spiritual orphans, and I believe many would care, if they did, or if they knew how. But until some Christian publication, media ministry or bookseller has the guts to take a stand and say, "let's find out about this. Let's find a way to extend our care to the victims", then the majority of Christians will continue to think there is no problem, there are no ritual abuse or MPD victims, because unchallenged experts have buried the voices that cry out for healing under half-truths, blanket statements, and misplaced priorities. If my experience with victims is indicative of the big picture, then victims of ritual abuse and MPD are in the multi-thousands, and they have been in our midst. Many have left, knowing they would not be accepted, much less believed. Many stay, in silence- terrified of being rejected. They ask for little. Time. Love. Listening. Belonging. Acceptance. That we must bring Jesus' healing to them is unquestionable. The question is, will we? "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40)Ritual Abuse, MPD and the Church It may seem to some as if I "have it in" for certain people, as I keep referring negatively to the same people and groups: Bob and Gretchen Passantino, Cornerstone, CRI, Ralph Underwager, and Gordon Melton. If I do, it is for three reasons: 1) They all claim to be Christian. 2) As Christians, they should be accountable for what they do and say, and they haven't been. 3) The damage they have inflicted on suffering victims of ritual abuse and MPD has been incalculable. Instead of prayer, support and healing, these victims have been ridiculed and humiliated with a degree of arrogance, unconcern and flippancy I have never encountered in the secular world. If Christian survivors are turning to the secular world for counseling, it is largely because we have rejected them, and the above-mentioned people and groups stand guilty before God for treating as unimportant this command: "Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."(Heb. 12:12-13) And, "accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters." (Romans 14:1) Ritual abuse and MPD may be a disputable matter; the command to accept hurting people is not. How deep is the damage? As the Christian hymn says, "deep and wide." One example: a family, whose small boy had been severely abused. He was so young, and it was so bad, that details only came out in violent outpourings, or in fragments. He's now 13 and has spent years in a treatment center. The parents counted on, and were deeply grateful for, the prayers and loving support of their church. Then, one day, the pastor called to inquire about the boy. "Have the doctors changed his diagnosis?", he asked. "No, why should they?", the mother asked back. "Haven't you read Christianity Today's article on ritual abuse? It's all false memories." Suddenly the parents' world of support and prayers collapsed. They counted on them. They needed them! I don't fault the pastor as much as Christianity Today, who succeeded in painting a broad brush stroke of "false memories" on ritual abuse without the slightest regard to who it would hurt, or the facts. The damage doesn't appear on the editorial page of slick corporate Christian magazines. It appears through the tears on Bible pages of those who are afraid God has abandoned them, because we did. That ritual abuse is real, and that MPD is real, is not an issue for me. I don't have the luxury of high-minded "investigative journalists" who can treat survivors with ridicule and contempt without ever getting their hands dirty, or looking at the facts. I survived brutal ritual abuse. I viewed the indescribably horrible murder slides of young 18 year old Carmen Krohn, butchered by a Satanist. I went to the funeral of Shane, 16, and Sally, 15, murdered by a satanic coven. I sat at the trial of the El Paso daycare case and watched as a precious, devastated young boy told graphic details of his abuse. More, I have helped nurture MPD victims and other survivors into God's healing love. I find it ironic, almost criminal that there is no interest on the part of others journalists in the knowable facts. It's almost as if they're saying, "It's made up. Now go away. Don't confuse us with the facts." In Acts, the Bereans didn't just accept Paul's words. They were "fair-minded", and they "searched the scriptures daily to see if it was true." (Acts 17:11) They loved truth. And finding truth means testing all known facts. Issues such as MPD and ritual abuse are so traumatic that they demand a complete hearing in the name of truth and compassion. We have failed to do so. The issue to these folks is whether ritual abuse is provable, or MPD real. Well, that's missing the point for Christians. Most ritual abuse victims won't be able to prove what happened. And there will always be people who claim MPD victims are making it up to get attention. The point is: What does God demand we do? On this, the scriptures couldn't be plainer: "We who are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not please ourselves."(Romans 15:1) Of all the people I've ever known, ritual abuse victims and MPD strugglers are in more need of healing and hope than almost anyone. Their- our- nightmare is beyond comprehension. Imagine a heart so wounded, a life so tormented, that every relationship is unsafe, every sight, smell and sound can trigger terror and panic, and every moment seems like death. Maybe we won't be able to accept everything victims remember as true, but you know what? We're not required to. We're required to pray for them, love them, accept them and believe God for their healing. You may not be able to believe it all. But you can, at the least, suspend judgment on the awful memories that this child of God is reliving. Can't you? But, you say, what if they're deceived? Where is your faith? Can't you stand by them and help them know the truth of God's word, which is able, in time, to break any possible error? Your place is not to sort out what happened; that is God's, and the person's task. Yours is to pour on the oil and wine of God's unconditional love. You can do that, can't you? We can never forget that besides telling the good news of Jesus, one of our most important responsibilities is to "bind the broken heart."(Is 61:1-4) If the man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead in the Jericho road were MPD and ritually abused, and it was today, we would more often than not be either the priest that "passed on by to the other side" ("I don't want to get involved...") or a new Levite who didn't only pass by, but before he did, bent down and said, "How can you prove you were robbed. There's no robbers in Jericho! Why don't you just trust God and forget about what you say happened?" And then, having done our duty to "truth", trot off, leaving the victim bleeding still. Before we criticize those who pursue secular therapy, you better get the point of this story, sir. The priest and the Levite were God's chosen people. They had the ability to do something. They did nothing! The Samaritan, on the other hand, was a "secular" guy, despised by the "righteous." Yet he did what they should have - he took care of the wounded, helpless man! "Which of these men was the real neighbor to the robbed man?", Jesus asked. Their reply: "The one who had mercy on him." "Then do the same", Jesus said. Anyone can debate ritual abuse. Show me someone who cares and prays and goes the distance with the victims, and I'll show you someone who is doing the will of God and not just making a name off people's grief in the guise of "investigative Christian journalism" or "defending truth." It is costly, heartbreaking and difficult to care for those suffering from MPD and ritual abuse. Maybe that's why it's easier to deny it. Out of sight, out of mind. We'd rather not get coffee spilled on our rug. In so doing, we deny the hurting their place of dignity and healing in God's Home and we deny his Kingdom the miracle of watching a crushed flower bloom into a glory of radiant and multifaceted grace and purpose beyond description. Folks, if the good news of Jesus bypasses them, because we'd rather debate than do, be a critic rather than a caring Christian, our faith, as James said, is dead. (James 2:20,26) Obviously not everyone will meet someone from this displaced community of spiritual orphans, and I believe many would care, if they did, or if they knew how. But until some Christian publication, media ministry or bookseller has the guts to take a stand and say, "let's find out about this. Let's find a way to extend our care to the victims", then the majority of Christians will continue to think there is no problem, there are no ritual abuse or MPD victims, because unchallenged experts have buried the voices that cry out for healing under half-truths, blanket statements, and misplaced priorities. If my experience with victims is indicative of the big picture, then victims of ritual abuse and MPD are in the multi-thousands, and they have been in our midst. Many have left, knowing they would not be accepted, much less believed. Many stay, in silence- terrified of being rejected. They ask for little. Time. Love. Listening. Belonging. Acceptance. That we must bring Jesus' healing to them is unquestionable. The question is, will we? "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40) Used by permission Copyright
Gregory Reid http://gregoryreid.com
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