|
In Reply to: what can the FGs do seriously? posted by porceleindoll on December 08, 2002 at 15:59:45:
Much has been said about weighing the consequences and protecting your loved ones. I thought I'd offer the legal angle:
The way you put it, SGA's were pure victims and did not do anything wrong. From a legal standpoint this might not hold up. Unfortunately, there were SGA's who took care of finances for the FCF, and even SGA's who participated in abusing other younger kids in Victory camps. We can all blame each other about who made us do what, but in the end someone has to take responsibility. Ultimately that should be the upper leadership of the F. who gave directives, and those specific creeps who molested children.
If exmembers give testimony about financial irregularities that took place 10 years ago, the repercussions are negligible compared to having been a child molester. If you knew about crminial activities and lied to authorities to cover it up when there was an ongoing investigation, that's potentially right up there with losing credibility and reputation, but may not mean much else in reality, no retroactive jail senetnces for perjury, especially if you are coming out and speaking against the F. now.
What matters most is what an ex-member has been doing since he/she left. Someone like James Penn, who though part of the WS inner circle, part of the upper leadership, part of the lying and cover-up during investigations, is also someone who was instrumental in going public and exposing the F., and causing 1000 people to leave. I doubt he would go down with P & M, if SGA's managed to get the F. leadership in court.
We all know what we did, what our part was. Most of us "merely" witnessed things we should have spoken up about. Some of us skipped town and kidnapped our children away from one of their systemite parents, thanks to counsel from leadership. Some of us did important jobs like handling finances, but were not part of the policy making, and could have been book-keepers or errand boys. I'm not sure, but those that were policy makers, victor camp wardens or child-molesters don't seem to post here. Or maybe they don't speak up about it. For those, the repercussions are pretty serious no matter what.
There are many ways to chip away at the F. It all depends what goes to court. A molestation and abuse case? Suing the F. for college funds and labor costs? It depends what the parameters of the investigations are. To expose the whole F.?
When these questions are answered, when it becomes clearer, each of us FGA's will know how much we're willing to jump in. I'm sure that many of us here will not stand by idly while SGA's need help and extra supportive and collaborative testimony.
