Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2675

Tonight's special guest is Brian Toale from New York City, NY, who grew up in a middle-class suburban Catholic family on Long Island. He explains, "I went to Catholic School through high school, where I was sexually abused by the Amateur Radio Club's moderator for most of my senior year." Brian goes on, "Senior Year is supposed to be a time of college preparation and has far-reaching effects on one's future career and life, especially in an elite private school like mine." He explains, "Because I was being sexually abused during this time and spent that year trying to emotionally survive living with the abuse, terrified anyone would find out, I was crippled instead of prepared for my life after graduation." There were many unexpected consequences. "I spent the next 20 years crashing and burning at anything I tried to do to redeem myself in my own eyes, without ever once thinking the abuse had anything to do with my failure at living. After 13 years of marriage, a career that resulted from finally holding a job for a reasonable length of time, and a five-year-old daughter, I hit my worst bottom ever and entered 12 Step Recovery and started therapy." Brian's better now. "I reached a turning point almost five years ago when I sent a letter to my former high school's current administration, the Bishop, and law enforcement to report the abuse and its effects on my life. It was a symbolic giving back the shame I had carried on my back for 45 years to the institution that hadn't kept me safe. That simple act changed my life and started me on a road of advocacy that included lobbying for the NY Child Victims Act, speaking at press conferences, creating a personal website and blog, and becoming a SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) Leader in Manhattan, NY."