Thread by @cherinmarie2

Bp. Stewart Ruch has called today for a @MidwestAnglican Diocese-wide day of fasting, in light of recent accusations of usurpation of power against Ruch made by @The_ACNA Abp. Foley Beach.

midwestanglican.org/letter-from-bi…

Today, June 9, also happens to be my daughter’s 14th B-day. 🧵

Remember my daughter, Bp. Stewart Ruch?

The 9-year-old little girl who was sexually abused by your @MidwestAnglican Catechist, but who you failed to properly believe and support?

The little girl whose abuser your diocese helped to find an expert defense lawyer?

The little girl whose family had to wait an entire month for pastoral care and support from your cathedral, @ChurchRez, while you personally attended her abuser’s bond hearing and provided financial support to her abuser’s family?

The little girl whose parents you gave Rev. Rand York permission to confront about dropping the sexual abuse charges against @MidwestAnglican Catechist Mark Rivera?

The little girl whose mom was kicked off the church vestry by Fr. York after reporting Mark Rivera to the police?

The little girl who @ChurchRez members gossiped about and slandered, to the point that our family no longer felt welcome or safe attending your cathedral?

The little girl who lost two church homes because she was not believed and protected by @MidwestAnglican leaders?

The little girl whose story you’ve seemingly gone to great lengths to dismiss and undermine, including holding a private @ChurchRez meeting to assure parishioners that there were no mandated reporting failures, pastoral care failures, or mishandling regarding her abuse?

That little girl attended @ChurchRez 4 years ago today, on her 10th birthday, mere days after disclosing that she had been sexually abused by Catechist Mark Rivera.

She has now watched for 4 years as you continue to minimize her story and shirk accountability at every turn...

By all means, hold a @MidwestAnglican day of prayer and fasting today. Ask your clergy and parishioners to pray fervently about the injustices that have been done against you and your diocese...

...Know though that it wasn’t Mark Rivera sexually grooming and abusing my daughter in the pews at one of your @MidwestAnglican churches that has left this little girl never wanting to set foot in a church building again...

...It was @MidwestAnglican priest, Fr. Rand York, turning his back on my daughter and our family, while providing unwavering support to her abuser. It was you applauding York's actions, knowing he had failed to report and had grossly mishandled our daughter's allegations...

...It was @ChurchRez member Molly Ritchie, privately disparaging my daughter, casting doubt on her allegations, and later standing up at private @MidwestAnglican church and diocesan meetings to bolster your narrative against our family's story...

...It was Mary Sue Preisler, a @ChurchRez parishioner and former friend, shunning our family after we reported Mark Rivera's abuse and later writing a character letter to the judge, proclaiming Mark's innocence and asking for a lenient sentence...

...Most importantly though it was you, Bp. Stewart Ruch, and your blatant refusal to admit, apologize for, and be accountable for your mistakes that has left my daughter never wanting to trust church leadership again...

My daughter hasn’t lost her faith in Jesus - she just sees that right now your church looks nothing like him.

So as you all gather to fast and pray on her birthday, I am reminding you of this little girl.

She is still watching and waiting...