Sir,

I read with disbelief Rita White's column on Monday that somebody in this day and age could be so ignorant.

Sexual abusers prey on unsuspecting children with not only their sexual abuse but also verbal abuse, and more so than anything else their psychological abuse.

A paedophile in a trusted role, whether it be a family friend, teacher or religious example who flagrantly abuses that trust, is every parent's nightmare.

The person is normally so close to the child's family that they are very much part of the family, hence making access to the child so much easier.

The child is put in such a position that they are continually forced and/or threatened not only with their life but the life of their loved ones if they reveal "the secret".

The abused person comes to believe they must accept this abuse - there is no hope. They lose belief in themselves.

How would an adult ever believe that this is happening?

"The secret" that is so abhorrent to our community is a fact and not a pretty one.

The reason most abused victims only report abuse to the police some years down the track is because it normally takes some time for that person to gain some self-worth, some self-respect and to try to love themselves as they are continually told by the abuser that nobody loves them, and nobody would believe that they are having these terrible things done to them, that it is all in their minds, or everybody does this.

How much self-confidence would you have after this Rita? None, I bet.

Again the newspaper article on the recent allegations are just that, allegations. They have not been proven by a judge and jury, and until that time I believe I will not judge the individual.

Rita, I personally think it is about time that you handed in your pen as you seem to be more worried about the grammar or pronunciation of the written word than you are about the very special people in this world that have had to live the ongoing nightmare of being abused.

They live with it night and day, something or someone always willing to remind them.

Rita, you don't know how lucky you are that you can sleep at night without the continual nightmares of your childhood abuse coming back to haunt you. Wouldn't you rather prove your faith in humankind in a more positive way by seeking that all abusers be tried?

The old adage says "innocent until proven guilty", not innocent because they are in the public eye.

Am I alone in this opinion?

Fran MacRae

Bowral