Thread by @katierouquine

Hi @The_ACNA, public and private language matters.

"I can also confirm that language like "good survivors" and "bad survivors" was also used to discredit those affiliated with ACNATOO."...

https://twitter.com/RobSturdy/status/1571864530543681536

Hi Comm Director @frandrewgross, your choice of words for @RNS – that the ACNA was, "thankful for the courage of the BelieveUsToo survivors who chose to go public last week and for all survivors who are working to build up the Body of Christ” – were and are still damaging.

Hi Alan Hawkins, your side conversations stirred the pot, poisoned the well, and succeeded in fanning the flames. What is one of a fafillion ways I've seen this with my own eyes? The following quote comes from an email from a longtime Rez member (two tweets, caps mine):

(Email from longtime Rez member 1/2):

"I’ve attached the [BelieveUsToo] letter released last night by the survivors of the abuse. Their letter is very powerful and an indictment of the province leadership. Please forward this to all your contacts within the church..."...

(Email from longtime Rez member, 2/2)

..."and with the [BelieveUsToo] letter FROM THE TRUE VICTIMS, the truth can finally be known. We are not doing this to foment rebellion within the ACNA, but to restore our Bishop and call those who were behind these lies to account".

I mean, you do the math @The_ACNA. Where is your proper shame? Where is your appropriate regret? Does your heart break for the division you've caused? Do you realize you've cut off your nose to spite your face and dehumanized abuse survivors in the process?

"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire..."

..."With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

-James 3: 5-6, 9-10

Part 2: I'm back. Here are other examples from the fafillion I've observed that might drive the point home – the point being how @The_ACNA leadership has (at least) tacitly ALLOWED and (at worst) actively CULTIVATED division around good/bad survivor groups.

These are direct quotes from ACNA *clergy*. Yup. I could copy/paste plenty of others from laypeople, but that seemed like low hanging fruit (you can't muzzle us laypeople 👋 🤣😉 ).

First up, we have Chris Findley, regarding the BelieveUsToo statement:

"Grateful for this. As difficult a situation as it is. ACNAtoo was rotten and I’m glad they had the courage to step away."

Next up we have Drew Collins, who states the following (after sharing an article that's concerned about justice for priests who are accused of misconduct):

"ACNAtoo would trample all over the rights of the accused."

Then we have Lee Nelson, with the following 4 quotes:

1. "Is real spiritual abuse abuse? Yes. Of course. But, much of the time, it’s toxic people acting out. They don’t need to be enabled by vigilantes who have pledged to always believe them."

In reference to one of ACNAtoo's abuse stories being published, Lee Nelson comments:

2. "He should sue you [ACNAtoo] for defamation. You people are scoundrels."

In response to the second BelieveUsToo letter, Lee Nelson remarks:

3. "ACNAtoo is a sham. But we already knew that."

As part of a conversation concerning waiving attorney-client privilege, Lee Nelson says:

4. "Thing is, they [ACNAtoo] are not after justice. They’re after ruining the names of good men."

Lastly, we have 2 quotes from James Gibson. This first one accompanied him sharing the first BelieveUsToo letter:

1. "Everything we warned you about ACNAToo turns out to be true--and then it gets even worse. Please read this in its entirety and share it as widely as possible."

This second quote from James Gibson was part of a longer conversation around allegations and abuse cases in various dioceses:

2. "I don't live in your #ACNAToo bubble. I have also heard the stories of the survivors from #BelieveUsToo. I trust them. I don't trust #ACNAToo."

But please, go on and tell me how there is no bias and how @The_ACNA was very, very neutral with their ordained clergy and Really Set An Example for being mature and evenhanded and would never think of referring to some survivors (or survivor groups) as good vs bad.

Spoiler alert: of course they divided survivors into good vs bad, real vs unreal. Besides the numerous folks who heard that disparaging language w/their own ears, we see it clearly in the above comments...from what I imagine the ACNA might term "good (and real) clergy".

Leadership in @The_ACNA, you've added injury to an already painful situation by playing favorites, stoking division, and looking the other way. If it was unintentional, repent with a contrite heart. If it was deliberate, repent upon this realization that your sin is plainly seen.

"[Shepherds] you haven't strengthened the weak, healed the sick, or bound up the injured. YOU haven't brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them HARSHLY & BRUTALLY...My sheep were scattered over the whole earth, and NO ONE searched or looked for them.."

..."Because my shepherds did NOT search for my flock, but cared for THEMSELVES rather than for my flock, therefore...I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock...I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them." -Ez 34

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
-Proverbs: 28:13

The fish rots from the head.

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