News Reaction To Stephen Collins' (from "7th Heaven") Confession Of Sexual Molestation

[radicalgratitude]

I grew up watching 7th Heaven, a TV show in the United States. Ironically, my dad (my abuser) and I liked to watch it because it was a rare television show that talked about God. (My dad was a religion teacher.) The dad on the show, Rev. Campbell, was a minister and I was often jealous of this fictitious "happy" family.

Today, TMZ.com posted that the man who played the dad, Stephen Collins, admitted to sexually abusing girls. Sadly, he has a daughter of his own.

I guess one good thing that can come out of this is that it will help people to see that child molesters don't look like Boo Radley. They are charismatic and often well admired people. Such is the case with my dad. He's a well regarded member of society. It just hits close to home.

Really I'm posting this because this news story brings up a great deal of emotions for me and some unresolved trauma. I'm hoping that others who would like to comment on how it's affecting them would feel free to do so.

 

[ms spock]

I was really upset to see that as well.

I am pleased that he admitted that he did it, rather than put the victims through the pain of court.

But I was really upset about it @radical gratitude.

 

[xena21]

It also surprised and upset me. I always just thought him being in some religious show would make him more morally righteous or good than other men. I know that isn't real, but I grew up in a crazy religious household with both Catholic and Protestant input. Both were strict but the Protestant became my main religion, and it was so rigid concerning doing everything by the Bible and being righteous. It made me think that anyone that said they were protestant were good people. I was influenced to think that all protestant people were righteous if they gave their life to God. I didn't understand that people could still be evil.

Obviously since getting older I have learned that people are not what I thought they were growing up. It took a lot though for me to find this out. My family was so strict with this designation that I didn't really see beyond it, and I just believed Christians were all somewhat good. It has amazed me to see how evil some people are. I'm assuming they aren't true Christians. Either way, going back to this individual who molested children, it does hurt quite a bit when you see him on a religious type show, and then hear he is a pedophile. Those things always make you look at human nature again.

 

[ms spock]

It seems more and more child rapists are being called for what they have done now. I was sad about this one and sad about Rolf Harris.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

WHAT!?!?!?!

This is so weird. I ALWAYS thought he was a creep! I ALWAYS had a bad feeling about him! Geezus, 6th sense!?!?

This makes me so sick.

 

[Loveneverfails]

I'm oddly upset about this. Stories on the news don't usually effect me so strongly. But this one makes me want to cry. The truth of the matter is often it's the 'spiritual' men who end up having the biggest skeletons in their closet. People who openly profess their goodness to the world and want to be admired for it are often using it as a mask for who they really are. My sexual abuser maintained a very healthy and attractive reputation within society(both church and work and family) and as a result most were and still are skeptical he's capable of the things he does. That's how they work. Maybe this story in particular is a trigger for me.

 

[sun seeker]

This kind of thing is SO common! I don't even bat an eye anymore when I hear that some "upstanding citizen" or "pillar of the community" is actually an abuser behind closed doors. There is no better way of hiding than to establish a position in the community where few people are likely to question them. Churches - I'm not saying all, but more than people would believe - are a great cover for all kinds of abuse.

I've heard enough horror stories that I'm automatically suspicious of supposed upstanding citizens.

 

[radicalgratitude]

I'm oddly upset about this. Stories on the news don't usually effect me so strongly. But this one makes me want to cry.

Maybe this story in particular is a trigger for me.

Totally! I was doing really well and this news story really set me back. I am so sad and so angry. I have been a mess ever since I heard about this yesterday. It is too similar to my own story. Not that my dad would ever admit what he did... I just feel sick.

 

[Ed Norton]

Why am I not surprised?!?!
I never did like that guy

 

[radicalgratitude]

I had an appointment with my therapist today. We were able to pinpoint why it affects me so much. My dad's public image is very similar to his, and I had amnesia about everything. The moment when I remembered and realized that he molested me, everything came crashing down like an avalanche. Memory after memory appeared, with no ending in sight.

When I was growing up, I wanted a dad like Rev. Camden and I ignored that he was played by an actor. (Just like I wanted to pretend that I had a good relationship with my dad.) Now that the actor admitted to molestation, it brought the "avalanche" to the surface again. I had processed the memories of the abuse in therapy, but as it turns out, finding out about said memories is a trauma in itself. Realizing that my dad isn't who I thought he was is definitely something I need to process in therapy!

 

[ms spock]

This kind of thing is SO common! I don't even bat an eye anymore when I hear that some "upstanding citizen" or "pillar of the community" is actually an abuser behind closed doors. There is no better way of hiding than to establish a position in the community where few people are likely to question them. Churches - I'm not saying all, but more than people would believe - are a great cover for all kinds of abuse.

In the Catholic Church, that I grew up in, it was very common. I don't know if you are watching The Royal Commission into the Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, but many are being called to task on their prior abuses. Child Rapists around Australia (except in families, and I hope that will come,) are being put on notice.