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Submitted July 15, 2005
Editorial
regarding Agenda of Pokrov by Olga Petrova |
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Dear
Editor:
Please allow me to respond to the editorial
article written by Olga Petrova regarding the
work of Greta Larson, Melanie Sakoda, and Cappy
Larson, co-founders of the website Pokrov.org.
I am not sure if the phrase Ms. Petrova coins,
"self-professed watchdogs of abuse," is meant to
insult the women of Pokrov, but I can tell you
that I am glad for their public efforts. Had it
not been for the information contained on their
website, I would never have been in touch with
other Orthodox Christians who were abused by
priests. I would never have felt the support of
these caring and supportive women during times
of personal need. And I would never achieved the
level of healing that I now experience.
Greta, Melanie, and Cappy helped me grow beyond
my abuse by an Armenian priest. For their help
and support, I can never thank them enough or
repay them. I will be in their debt always. And
it's a debt I'm continuously happy to owe.
My story is available on Pokrov's website, and
the three women who run the site know I am
available to speak with anyone who wants insight
into my growth from victim to survivor to
eventually what I call "back to civilian." Had
Ms. Petrova challenged either the Larsons or Ms.
Sakoda as to their true intentions with Pokrov,
she might have been given my contact information
for deeper insight into the true nature and work
of Pokrov.
At that point, I would have shared with her how
all three women - over the course of years -
have taken whatever time was necessary to
support me through whatever tribulation I faced,
including flashbacks to my abuse, as well as
supporting me while my own Church placed my
abuser in a parish within my own Diocese.
These three women were also there when Armenian
parishioners, none who personally knew me or
knew the facts and established details of my
abuse, harassed me and my family because I spoke
out against this abusive priest. Pokrov was
available to me the entire time - day or night -
offering support, providing me with resources,
and putting me in touch with other women who
suffered just like me and could understand what
I was going through.
I healed because Pokrov was there. And now, when
I get the the call from Pokrov to support other
victims of clergy abuse, I am in a healthy
position to be able to support others while they
try to live through their own trauma of abuse.
Ms. Petrova failed to see the true work of
Pokrov. Instead of looking for facts, she uses
political issues like abortion or gay rights as
a smoke screen to divert people's attention away
from Pokrov's true mission, which is to help
clergy abuse victims and to publicly expose
documented abusers.
She further undermines the validity of her
claims by mentioning Bishop Tikhon of the OCA.
Bishop Tikhon has a long history of writing
abusive and immoral emails to the Orthodox
Christian section of the University of Indiana's
List Serve. The archive of this site is public
and should be examed by people who really want
to know the truth about Bishop Tikhon. I believe
she could not have chosen a more morally
bankrupt writer in order to prove her misguided
and uninformed opinions about Pokrov.
If anyone used a backdoor to find fault with an
group, it is Ms. Petrova. Desperate in her case
to sidetrack people's attention away from
Orthodox-like cults and corrupt clergymen, she
turns her poisonous fangs on the messengers. But
sometimes messengers come with wings and rise
above the fray. It is my prayer that Greta,
Melanie, and Cappy - angels of the abused and
forgotten - continue their work and stay focused
on those of us who need them, love them, and
appreciate their efforts.
In the Armenian Divine Liturgy, Christ says, "I
am the Light and the Life." Voices like Ms.
Petrova's come from dark places. Survivors of
clergy abuse reject those dark places, and look
for both light and life.
Sincerely,
Karen A. King
President
Monadnock Basket Company, Inc.
Peterborough, NH 03458
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