Conspiracy of Faith
| Conspiracy Of Faith: Fighting for Justice after Child Abuse The true story of the author's search for justice following his abuse as a child by a teacher at his Catholic school, revealing the difficulties of prosecuting paedophiles within a Church that too often refuses to face up to the problem. ISBN-13: 9780718830588 |
About this Book
In this powerful book, Graham Wilmer recounts the traumatic experience of being sexually abused as a child by a teacher at the Salesian College in Chertsey, Surrey, and explores the life-long impact that child abuse has on males. He exposes the Salesians in the UK who failed to report the abuse and protected the teacher, painting a disturbing picture of the ineptitude and incompetence of the police, the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), central and local government, NASUWT (The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers), the Roman Catholic Church, and the criminal justice system in their collective failures to act when he finally disclosed what had happened.
Despite the recommendations of the Nolan Enquiry into child abuse in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, and the recommendations of the Bichard Enquiry, Graham Wilmer’s story shows just how difficult it is to prosecute teachers who abuse children in Roman Catholic schools.
This is a brave account by a man who suffered in forced silence for forty years until finally making the difficult decision to lay bare the truth, seek justice and bring those who had conspired against him to account. It raises many important issues about the way our society deals with sexual offences against children, and draws the disturbing conclusion that the vast majority of child abusers still operate with impunity, and will continue to do so unless the criminal justice system is radically changed in favour of the victims of abuse rather than the perpetrators.
This is the only book dealing with sexual abuse in a Salesian school. Although it may make you angry, it is not without hope, and will help others who have been through similarly traumatic times at such a young age.
About the Author
Graham Wilmer was sexually abused by a teacher at the Salesian College in Chertsey, Surrey, for a period of two years, and forced to remain silent once he told the school authorities what had been happening. He founded the Lantern Project to help other victims of sexual abuse.
A major feature article on Graham Wilmer and his book has been published in the Guardian at:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/biography/story/0,,2140955,00.html
The Lutterworth Press
PO Box 60, Cambridge, CB1 2NT, England
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 350865 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 366951
email: publishing@lutterworth.com
Comments
"A well written book"
Wed 9th Jan 2008
I am often asked to review this type of book. It is a necessary part of my job. Survivors often want to tell their story, but seldom is such a book as well written as this one.
A trap, which many survivors fall into, is to blame any misfortune from which they suffer upon the abuse they suffered in childhood. Whilst it obviously has a profound influence, life is a multi-factorial experience, with many different triggers, all of which combine to make us who we are.
In his book, Graham manages to avoid angry criticism in a delightful way, which only reinforces our immense sympathy for his situation. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all. Professionals, particularly, should read it as an example of how not to provide a victim of abuse with the justice they so richly deserve.
Peter Garsden
Vice President - The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers
http://www.childabuselawyers.com/