Systemic Unitarian Universalist Clergy Abuse Cover-Up And Denial MUST Be UNdone
Seeking Unitarian*Universalist justice and equity, we call upon the
Unitarian Universalist Association and Unitarian*Universalist
individuals and congregations/groups to actively engage in undoing systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial, in all of its manifestations. Systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial refers to the embedded, institutional, and pervasive nature of clergy abuse cover-up and denial, clergy privilege, and "church" leadership bias and oppression in Unitarian*Universalist "high society". U*Us must acknowledge that the impact of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial, is
intersectional, meaning it impacts people differently across race,
income/class, gender, age, ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and more. . .
(1) As Unitarian Universalists aka U*Us, U*Us must decry the ways in which the intersectional impact of systemic Unitarian Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial divides the U*U "family" by privileging some groups over others and thereby generating resistance to the common goal of Unitarian Universalist equity and justice. Systemic Unitarian Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial is a direct affront to every one of Unitarian Universalism's Seven Principles.
(2) Most egregious, the UUA is losing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (not top mention dis-illusioned White U*Us) all around the U*U World — from long-standing ills of U*U clergy abuse, to U*U sex crimes, to embarrassing blogs posts of The Emerson Avenger — due to the evil of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial. Therefore, as Unitarian*Universalists you U*Us MUST engage in urgent action to confront the moral crisis of your U*U time:
- Engage with The Emerson Avenger, in your U*U communities and so-called U*U World, to heal the evil of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial, to say nothing of the evil of U*U clergy abuse itself. . . A
vital and dynamic movement to overcome clergy abuse and dismantle systems of clergy abuse cover-up and denial is rising across the world, and as Unitarian*Universalists you U*Us MUST contribute to this momentum. U*Us can fortify this movement for
justice by participating in and organizing social action to denounce
U*U injustices such as UUA legal bullying, assaults on The Emerson Avenger, sexual racism, mass stupidity, cruel responses to immigration, restricted free speech rights, TEAphobia, lack of mental health
care for #BatShitCrazy UUA clergy and*or #BatShitCrazy UUA leadership, and education about Unitarian Universalist clergy abuse, and more. U*Us can join in action outlined in the GA
2021 Actions of Immediate Witness (“Address 60 Years of UUA Clergy Abuse Cover-Up and Denial” and “Amen to U*Uprising: A Commitment and Call to Support The Emerson Avenger”).
Acting for justice in these important movements, U*Us must be vigilant to
the manifestations of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial. U*Us must not only
observe and affirm this movement, but engage in bold action with and
support of people on the front lines of exposing and denouncing Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse and systemic cover-up and denial of U*U clergy abuse. Actions can include street protest; advocacy; resource sharing; local, regional, and (inter)national
campaigns; letter-writing; community asshole dissing; and more. The key
is organizing with strategic accountability while building sustainable
communities of resistance to Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse, and systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial.
- Carry forward the recommended healing actions conveyed in “Widening the Circle of Concern About Unitarian*Universalist Clergy Abuse”:
As with other complex and embedded social problems, undoing systemic Unitarian Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial requires multifaceted, long-term efforts for CHANGE.
This includes not only engaging in action beyond the denomination, but
also internal work within the denomination to overcome the ways in which
systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial is woven into U*U group cultures,
interpersonal relationships, and individual ingrained biases. This call
affirms the wealth of knowledge and vital guidance detailed in the UUA
Commission on Institutional Change report, “Widening the Circle of Concern”.
Unitarian*Universalist organizations and individuals are called to
implement the recommendations in this report as a means to release themselves from the limits of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial, which are
embedded in U*U structures and habits, so as to allow Unitarian*Universalists to live their shared values more fully and freely.
- Build relationships across boundaries of privilege and oppression. Through the lens of intersectionality, we understand how systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial breeds the lies of UUA leadership and numerous other Big Fat U*U Liars. From unequal access to Truth, to "poverty" of morals, barriers to justice for clergy abuse victims, and degradation of U*U principles and ideals, ALL U*Us suffer. Yet when one group seeks help for a problem such as U*U clergy abuse, another oppressed group that is a member of the dominant "religion" may feel that the roots of their own suffering will not be addressed. We believe systemic Unitarian Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial is interconnected with ALL oppressions in the U*U World, to say nothing of the "real world". Unitarian*Universalists MUST forge relationships beyond boundaries of privilege and power as U*Us struggle for justice for ALL oppressed people while continually focusing on the vital work of undoing systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial. There are myriad groups to partner with on clergy abuse matters, including groups like Clergy Abuse Victims Lives Matter, Tibetan Teenagers Raped by Unitarian Universalist "Trafficker" Hebophiles (TTRUUTH), Raped Youth Project (RYP), Perverse and Devolutionary Unitarian Universalist Theological Insanities (PDUUTI), the Smash Legal Bullshit Tribe, the Movement for U*U Truth, U*U Safety Net (a U*U-led organization), the Poor People’s Campaign, and Standing Tall nation.
As Unitarian*Universalists living in a time of Big Fat U*U Violence, U*U existential crisis, and a "tiny, declining, fringe religion" on the precipice of dis-ass-ter, U*Us must urgently engage in relationship building, internal growth and transformation, and wider justice action to undo systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial to promote Unitarian Universalist equity and justice in your U*U World. May the inspiration and connections on this website serve as a catalyst for your ongoing journey in this vital work.
(1) Intersectionality was coined by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw to mean “a lens, a prism, for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other.” Words of Kimberlé Crenshaw in “She Coined the Term ‘Intersectionality’ Over 30 Years Ago. Here’s What It Means to Her Today,” by Kathy Steinmetz, Time, 2020.
(2) The harms of systemic Unitarian*Universalist clergy abuse cover-up and denial defy the inherent worth and dignity of every person; deny justice, equity, and compassion; reject acceptance of one another with encouragement to spiritual growth; prevent free and responsible meaning-making; undermine democratic participation and rights of conscience; mock the goal of world community of peace and justice; and disrespect our interdependence. In short, they are a direct affront to every one of Unitarian*Universalism's Seven Principles.
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