The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.
After a decade of justice delayed for Tina Anderson, her rapist, Ernie Willis, has been found guilty on all four counts of rape brought against him. Finally, there is not only vindication for Tina and her supporters but also encouragement for other victims who have suffered under the hands of abusers who have taken a cowardly refuge behind a corrupt religious system. Bravo, Tina. Bravo.
I’m sure that we’ll hear much in the coming days from fundamentalists who seek to spin this story and question the facts. They’ll either be forced to do so or left to admit that their own system harbored a rapist for years and did not help his victim to find justice. Prepare yourselves to see character assassination and mudslinging on an epic scale.
But whatever they do to malign and tear down this verdict, they cannot change the facts. They cannot change the truth not matter what tales their cowardice compels them to concoct.
My heartfelt thanks goes out to Tina Anderson for being willing to face down her attacker and those who defended him. Thank you, Tina, from the bottom of my heart. This world is a better place with brave people like you in it.
WOOOHOOO!
Now what? Will someone prosecute Chuck Phelps or the church in some way?
I doubt that very much. They appear to have maintained the letter of the law while smashing the ethics of it to tiny bits.
Woe to those who call good evil and evil good, who accuse innocence and excuse wickedness, who expel the helpless and shelter the perpetrators, who hide behind the letter of the law while destroying the spirit of the law.
Amen.
Thankful today for evil being recognized and sentenced and for the wicked deeds of darkness being exposed to the light.
I too appreciate Tina’s bravery in facing hurtful memories, scornful criticism, and false accusations.
Oh, for those hard-hearted people who maligned her to have their hearts broken by God, to humbly confess and repent that God might plough deep into the hard soil of the hearts so that love and compassion can grow there instead of arrogance and judgmentalism.
Amen, indeed.
I cannot cheer the verdict without feeling like I am cheering the crime.
Pursuing justice justly is one of the highest and most important commandments.
Micah 6-8 seems pertinent: “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the L~rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your G~d.”
If Fundyland attempts to spin the verdict, ask them which part of this they are fulfilling.
I think it’s more of a “when” than and “if.”
They will counter with something along the lines of “Where is the justice and mercy for Ernie Willis?”
I think he was reveling in “mercy” (aka, that church’s characterization of his raping a minor as adultery which once announced to the church was forgetten). Now comes the day of reckoning and of justice long delayed.
Thank God.
No, thank the American justice system. god had nothing to do with this.
It is humbling to realize that the religious network you grew up with offered neither healing nor justice to one of its most vulnerable members. Tina received no comfort or assistance from any of the people she had been taught to look up to all her life. One wonders how many other Tinas are out there.
I am married to one. Others are so numerous it boggles the mind.
Have any of us who got hit with trolls over this heard any apologies yet? I know I haven’t, but I was wondering if someone more righteous or in the loop has.
I doubt if you will. They will probably say that Tina’s story was believed by a secular court system, hence it was not objective or reliable.
Have often wondered how many more hurt and damaged individuals are waiting for someone to listen to them, then believe and then help them.
Just wow! and sad.