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	I Am a Victim of Sexual Abuse by a Priest By Larry Kramer Globe Gazette [Iowa] March 16, 2005 Since hearing that Robert Riess, my abuser, was murdered in Mexico in February, I realized the Catholic Church isn't doing all it can do to stop the abuse. So knowing I can no longer sit by and let our children continue to be hurt, I sat down and developed a new approach to force the church to change. My theory is based off running a business. In any business, the only time they make major changes in the way they do business is when they are spending more than they are taking in. This is when they stop and take a careful look at why they are not profitable. So the same would apply to the Catholic Church. If it is spending more money on sexual abuse cases than the church supporters are bringing in, it will force the hierarchy to take a close look into the "why." My basic new approach is this: Church members need to withhold money from the church until the hierarchy takes a close look at "why." By doing this you are telling your church that hurting our children is unacceptable. At the same time, we, the victims, need to go after compensation from the church. Instead of us filing for financial settlements, we should seek a much more rewarding settlement. We shall ask the church to teach and educate our children, all parents, teachers, etc., about sexual abuse. We see on TV, radio and newspapers every day ads to tell and warn children and parents of the dangers of smoking, drugs, drinking and driving, etc. Schools teach these things very early on to children. We have DARE programs, all these things to teach and educate our children. The cigarette companies have had a huge lawsuit against them. Part of that settlement was to teach and educate, to warn about all the dangers of smoking. They have had to pay for ads, commercials, warning labels, etc. I am proposing to do the same thing. What I am proposing is this. I think we need to do the same types of things to make the children aware of sexual abuse, to make them aware that under no circumstances is it OK. If we can "teach and educate" children and parents about sexual abuse, that it is wrong no matter who is doing it to them, how to spot and stop it, and who to tell when it happens, then we will take the power away from the abusers and make safe the environment of our children, all children of abuse, not just by the religious. This is my plan; it is the only viable plan that I can see to protect our children from this horrible injury. But I need you and all your help. Please force the church to do the right thing and protect our children. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my request. I only hope I have gotten through to you enough to have your support and encouragement. — Kramer has said he was sexually abused as a teenager at Visitation Church in Stacyville.
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