The worst case of child abuse

... I've seen in a long time. I was crying by the time I got to the end of this article - which took some doing.

I have one question. Why, oh why, oh why was no action taken before?

The good news is that the girl has been rescued and seems to be doing well. Thank God.

http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article750838.ece

If ever someone was wrong in the head, this is him

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20080615/Baby.Killed/

A man was discovered kicking a toddler to death in the street; when interrupted, he carried on!

Is insanity the only explanation? Surely there can be no other.

Would YOU leave a two-year-old alone for the weekend?

Kelly Tollerton did. She decided to spend the time partying with her boyfriend, while her son was locked in the kitchen.

As described here and here, she says she thought a friend was looking after him. Obviously, that didn't happen, but she seems more concerned with denying her responsibility for the situation than with the fact her child was left to fend for himself. I know that if I had left my child in the care of someone else who then abdicated that responsibility, I'd be beside myself. Wouldn't you? Miss Tollerton seems quite satisfied with the situation.

The poor boy's ordeal only came to light when the downstairs neighbours reported water leaking through their ceiling - obviously he had turned on the tap for a drink of water and been unable to turn it off again. It's extremely fortunate that was the case, otherwise who knows how long he would have had to suffer for.

Miss Tollerton will be sentenced later this month, and has been told to expect imprisonment. She certainly deserves it, but I hope she also receives some psychiatric help which she so obviously needs.

This is awful

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=560851

While looking up the previous the report, I found this one, where God obviously isn't welcome in these people's lives at all.

A dreadful example of organised - and commercialised - child abuse if ever there was one. Why aren't these people prosecuted? Or in treatment?

I will make no further comment. Read the report - but make sure you're sitting down. It's not pleasant.

A Wonderful Miracle

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=559442

Joel Bearder was born with a heart condition that meant he was starved of oxygen. Attempts to operate failed and he was given only a few days - weeks at the most - to live.

Now, eight months later, he is as healthy as ever. His heart, instead of failing, started to work normally. The doctors are mystified and say they've never seen anything like it before.

This is truly a miracle. I am sure I am with his parents in thanking God for helping Joel to live. God obviously has plans for him in later life.

Shannon is safe, thank God

Nine-year-old Shannon Matthews of Dewsbury, who was missing for 24 days, has been found hidden in a flat not far from her home. A man has been charged with abduction.

As in all such cases, we don't know all the details about what happened, probably it will become clear later, but the important thing is that Shannon is unharmed.

Please include everyone involved in your prayers, especially this week when we remember that Jesus paid the ultimate price for all of us.

Horrific abuse on Jersey

The dreadful things uncovered at the former Haut de la Garenne children's home bring tears to my eyes.

While investigations are proceeding - and look to continue for some time - so far we have had reports of systematic abuse going on for years, some of it so bad as to result in injury or even death.

Although the home closed in 1986, many of the victims and abusers are still alive. Are the latter still abusing? What did they do it for? ("I was only obeying orders" just doesn't work.)

How people can spend so much time deliberately hurting others, particularly children, is beyond me. That their minds must be warped is pretty obvious, but an explanation - and with luck a cure - would be welcome.

I hope that the publicity, while welcome as it can help trace those responsible, is not distressing for the victims who will have got on with their lives now and may not appreciate being reminded of it.

Corporate Child Abuse in New York

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jan/24/usa.world
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7206570.stm
and many others.

Yvonne Bray thought it would be nice to take her family to New York on a short holiday.

Unfortunately, she became ill while there and had to go into hospital. The hospital, deciding that the Misses Bray could not stay with their mother overnight, called Social Services. The SS, instead of being sensible and taking them back to their hotel - or even finding them emergency foster accommodation - sent them to prison.

OK, so maybe it wasn't called a prison, but read the description: the girls, aged 13 and 15, were photographed, strip-searched, forced to shower while being watched, had their clothing taken away and issued with a uniform, and made to spend the night in a public dormitory under constant supervision.

Fortuantely, they were rescued by their mother the next day. To add insult to injury, Ms Bray senior is now flagged as being under investigation by the SS!

While checking reports on this story, I came accross a different example, also from New York: a 5-year-old boy was handcuffed for having a tantrum in class, see http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/25/2008-01-25_5yearold_boy_handcuffed_in_school_taken_.html

Eventually, his mother was called, who called her babysitter - who was closer to the school - to collect him. The school refused and instead sent him to hospital. Who sent him home.

What is it about the USA that generates so much hatred of children? Is there something in the water, or what? Can't something be done? It's been going on for far too long.