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| Maggots live from consuming dead things, just as synod officials feed from dying church bodies. |
But that will do even less than getting on a TV show and explaining the problem to a helpful guru like Dr. Phil. The case has been settled, as Augustine said, "Roma locuta est, causa finita est." The purpose of any meeting is to manipulate the individual into thinking something is being done.
WELS has perfected a system of abusing laity and clergy, followed by blaming the abused person. The formula is easy to understand:
1. Some can do nothing wrong (Ski, Glende, Larry Olson, Paul Kelm).
2. Some can do nothing right. (That would be you, if you are reading this.)
Those who are in Category 1 can engage in any crime or sin--including murder, embezzlement, alcoholism, teaching false doctrine, wrecking congregation, FBI level file swapping, adultery--and still remain unscathed. No one even remembers any of the details.
Bringing up anything of substance will elicit sympathetic responses, but that is only to gain more information in protecting the abuser.
Soon enough the victim will start experiencing the WELS shunning machine. Step by step, the coldness seeps in, like an early spring fog. Nobody can see anything is wrong except that you - a horrible sinner - have spread hatred and distrust. You are the problem. You are hated out of the synod, one way or another.
If the crimes are bad enough and well publicized, the abuser is rewarded with various synodical honors, including speaking assignments that tell everyone, "This man is a Son of the Church, and Holy Mother will guard and preserve his sanctity."
The best approach is to sit down with an attorney, not a synod official, and relate the facts. The attorney will take it from there. WELS routinely violates various laws and regulations. The synod officials assume a mantle of infallibility, but they are still subject to the law. Their failure to supervise makes them liable. I helped one victim win a $400,000 settlement against WELS - simply by telling her lawyer the facts.
Did the truth have any effect on behavior of Fox Valley WELS? A group of like-minded individuals got nowhere, as intended, and Synod President Mark Schroeder showed up to protect Ski from the consequences of his behavior.
