AN OPEN LETTER
Bishop Riah Abu El Assal
TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSIONER
The Bachelor of Divinity degree that I received in 1964 came from the first university ever built in India . It was founded in the city of Serampore , in 1818 by William Carey , a British shoe-maker and a Baptist missionary to that sub-continent ( 1793-1834 ). This same William Carey is noted for his call a day before he commenced his journey to a land he knew very little about :
‘ EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD . ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD .’
In following like-wise , the International Tribunal For Natural Justice resolved to take upon itself the task of addressing what maybe described as an ‘ impossible mission ,’ i . e . human trafficking and child sex abuse , both a crime against humanity , and a sin against God . The Tribunal ’ s attempt is not only for God ’ s sake , it is also on behalf of the millions of people created in His beautiful image ... those who sufferer at the hands of traffickers and abusers every day .
The first step on this long and challenging journey has already been taken , and taken in the right direction . The Tribunal called for a three-day inquiry , April 16 , 17 , and 18 , 2018 , at Westminster Hall in London , England . The intention was to allow time and space for victims , and working with victims , to come forward and testify . To expose and target those engaging in this new form of modern slavery , forced labor , sexual exploitation , commercialization of new born babies , sexual abuse of women and children , creating a multi-billion dollar criminal industry . The ultimate goal is to track down all involved in this inhuman and barbaric business . Encouraging others of the same mind , people with dignity and guts , to join hands to put an end to this demonic exercise . In pursuing that goal , the Tribunal invited several people , many from different parts of the world , to come testify . The recording of their testimonies was and is simply for future action on their behalf .
The case and the cause of children under the age of consent was present on our hearts and minds . We were informed that tens of thousands of them are being brutally and sexually abused and left to live with fear and feelings of shame that many are unable to forget , and moreover , will never be ready to forgive .
We took notice of recent actions taken by Church leaders : His Holiness Pope Francis , reflecting on a child abuse case by a bishop in Chile , admitted ‘ grave error ’ in his judgement , adding : “ I confess this caused me pain and shame .” He also invited the victims to come before him in Rome so he my beg their forgiveness . Justin Welby , Archbishop of Canterbury , reflecting on cases of child abuse by church people , admitted failure : “ We fully accept the failures of the Church of England in the area of safeguarding .”
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