see me

to answer "What is in the best interest of the child" I agree - it is tricky because every case is different. I feel that there should be an OPTION. In my situation I cannot comment too much on the facts of my case - but I can give a general opinion... I do not feel young children should be exposed to pedophiles, regardless of the DNA of that pedophile. If when they are older (18 perhaps) then they can talk to the parent and decide what type of relationship they want to have with that person. BUT the same kind of "hold" on a child that causes the child to be in fear to NOT speak up for 4 years of molestation and another 6 years of silence keeping that secret - is the same type of hold the parent will continue to have if the child is going to keep seeing them. (My opinion of course) How about this comparrison: A parent physically beats a child- to the point that a scoial worker gets involved... is that one child taken away or all of the children taken away? Answer: ALL children are taken away due to the parent being unfit to care for them properly. Just a thought... As to the question about the law- it is a proposed law that I am meeting with the governor on. Thus - the petition is needed. Again, we are happily surprised about the amount of signatures that are flying in! Thanks for sharing your opinions. I appreciate it.

"I also must wonder, if a released sex-offender is not allowed to live, work or shop within 1500 feet of any minors; how many places in America cold he possibly live, work or shop? You would pretty much have to locate an 'adult-only' community somewhere." I think the point is- if they are not even allowed to work in say, a DAY CARE CENTER - then WHY allow them to visit with a biological or adopted child alone?

Thanks so much! I am sending Andrew Vachss a packet rigt away!

You guys are awesome! I cannot begin to tell you the excitement inside that I have- every hour- I go to my fax- there are 5-10 pages of signatures! College students all over the country are busy on campus' getting the petition signed! By Monday -all 50 Senators will have been faxed the B.A.T.E.'s Law information. We have signatures from Florida to Washington state! Keep up the much appreciated work!

You guys are awesome! I cannot begin to tell you the excitement inside that I have- every hour- I go to my fax- there are 5-10 pages of signatures! College students all over the country are busy on campus' getting the petition signed! By Monday -all 50 Senators will have been faxed the B.A.T.E.'s Law information. We have signatures from Florida to Washington state! Keep up the much appreciated work! Lisa

Seeing how things are "first hand" does that mean you are signing my petition and faxing it to me??? Lisa

True - email petitions do not work - that is why you must fax me a signature! :) Thanks for the info though. What I do is call and then FAX the B.A.T.E's law write-up to the senator, congressman etc. I also have appointments with them! I'll keep everyone updated as much as possible! Soon- you better be seeing me on TV!

Signature_page.doc Dear friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances, and those we do not know if this was forwarded on to you, Have you ever stopped to think about this? A convicted pedophile is not allowed to work, live or otherwise be around children -- ever. If he had molested the children next door he wouldn't be allowed to EVER "go" around, write, email or in any way communicate with those children forever. Why, then, is this same convicted pedophile allowed to retain his/her parental rights, complete with custody, "alone" time and ample opportunity to abuse again (all experts agree that this sickness NEVER goes away for life). The law doesn't protect the very children that in many cases are most vulnerable! You may or may not know about a family crisis that we have been dealing with for over 2 years. While trying to live a "normal" life, our family has been dealing with the fact that our children’s father (Lisa’s ex-husband) molested the children repeatedly and over many years without Lisa's knowledge. When we found out after Lisa's divorce, we immediately took action to protect the children, he pleaded guilty and is in jail under Megan’s Law. However, there is a serious loop-hole in the law. We won the court battle but the results did not leave our children protected. The law is not protecting our children from this pedophile as he (from jail) is attempting to sue for custody through his sister (whom the children have never met and don't know and whose words in front of a judge's representative were, "he's only molested one child"). We are urging you to please read our story at: www.bateslaw.blogspot.com We have been in contact with our Senator, Congressman, and Governor and we are now asking you for help. We need to start a petition to get the current law changed for convicted child molesters. The petition is to go around the country as we are emailing and faxing all of the senators and congressman in all states. We have the web site (above) and a toll free fax line ready to go. Attached to this email you will find a cover sheet and a signature page. Whether you are able to just send your signature or a several pages of signatures, all are needed. Pleased use your personal email contacts, (please remember not to spam) personal contacts and work contacts to help us out. This is going out all over the country. We feel after you look at our link above, you too will see why it is urgent to get a new law in place which protects the children of the convicted pedophile. Many other families have experienced what we are going through right now, but NOW is the time to make a change and we believe we can do it. Thank you for your time and thank you in advance for your help in getting thousands upon thousands of signatures! Much love and prayers to you all, Matt, Lisa and children

Signature_page.docDear friends, family, co-workers and acquaintances, and those we do not know if this was forwarded on to you, Have you ever stopped to think about this? A convicted pedophile is not allowed to work, live or otherwise be around children -- ever. If he had molested the children next door he wouldn't be allowed to EVER "go" around, write, email or in any way communicate with those children forever. Why, then, is this same convicted pedophile allowed to retain his/her parental rights, complete with custody, "alone" time and ample opportunity to abuse again (all experts agree that this sickness NEVER goes away for life). The law doesn't protect the very children that in many cases are most vulnerable![/u] You may or may not know about a family crisis that we have been dealing with for over 2 years. While trying to live a "normal" life, our family has been dealing with the fact that our children’s father (Lisa’s ex-husband) molested the children repeatedly and over many years without Lisa's knowledge. When we found out after Lisa's divorce, we immediately took action to protect the children, he pleaded guilty and is in jail under Megan’s Law. However, there is a serious loop-hole in the law. We won the court battle but the results did not leave our children protected. The law is not protecting our children from this pedophile as he (from jail) is attempting to sue for custody through his sister (whom the children have never met and don't know and whose words in front of a judge's representative were, "he's only molested one child"). We are urging you to please read our story at: www.bateslaw.blogspot.com We have been in contact with our Senator, Congressman, and Governor and we are now asking you for help. We need to start a petition to get the current law changed for convicted child molesters. The petition is to go around the country as we are emailing and faxing all of the senators and congressman in all states. We have the web site (above) and a toll free fax line ready to go. Attached to this email you will find a cover sheet and a signature page. Whether you are able to just send your signature or a several pages of signatures, all are needed. Pleased use your personal email contacts, (please remember not to spam) personal contacts and work contacts to help us out. This is going out all over the country. We feel after you look at our link above, you too will see why it is urgent to get a new law in place which protects the children of the convicted pedophile. Many other families have experienced what we are going through right now, but NOW is the time to make a change and we believe we can do it. Thank you for your time and thank you in advance for your help in getting thousands upon thousands of signatures! Much love and prayers to you all, Matt, Lisa and children

Shellon - You said: "We remove children from their homes when we suspect abuse, neglect, blah blah. But children are left in homes when their parents KNOW!!! about people like this man. And still allow them access to their babies." Are you thinking that I KNEW he was abusing my daughter and I was still staying with him or allowing him in my home? IF so, Please know that you are mistaken.... The moment I knew I called the police..... Just wanted to clarify....

Hello Lowlylollypoppy and others.... Sorry I did not respond earlier - I've been off the internet for a few days.... To answer some of your qustions - I think some posts clarified a bit but - I wanted to answer you.... Ok - about my comment: “(YES, YES, YES - he is HIGHLY supported by the Branch and state leadership - they packed his house up when he was arrested and visited him in jail and encouraged him on the phone etc...) He is in the ministry to this day.” "As a believer, I find the above statement troubling. I appreciate that, in light of pending litigation, you may or may not be able to answer the questions it raises in my mind, but, to the extent you are able, could you more specifically characterize the nature of this support? " What I mean is that I told them specifically what was happening WAY BEFORE AN ARREST WAS MADE and that Mark was telling LIES but - I was the "corrupt one off the Word " since I had left the ministry 6 months prior to the conversation with them. (This was with the STATE leadership by the way...) My 2 oldest were still "IN" the ministry and they were harrassed by the other "believer kids" and there was even a teacher in their school that threw mean remarks at my daughter while at a school event (Which I handled with the principal of the school!) "I mean, was it that leadership believed statements being made by MN that he was innocent of the charges – and so they supported him against what they would have perceived to be an unjust attack? Or was the evidence more overwhelming – so that any TWI support might be construed as their attempt to simply condone known and proven child abuse? Would you say they were trying to offer a helping hand to a guilty but repentant sinner, or simply protecting him, evidence be damned, because he is part of the household? The first, in light of the ultimate conviction, might most generously be construed as misguided leadership, the second, well, I can’t see how anyone in any well-meaning organization could oppose the victim and support the accused if the evidence against the accused was that strong." Ummmmmmm..... not sure how long you have been in the ministry but - I was in from age 17 to age 35...... I was a leader and I am here to tell you - the ministry covers for A LOT. I know personally someone rapped by LCM who was told "That was such a long time ago - how can we help you get over it?" !!!!!!!!! Soooooooooooooooooo - I can persoanlly say - I am not surprised by the ministry's response. (Just my 2 cents worth on that one!) I’d also be curious to know how MN came to be alone with your child (and others if there are more cases pending). Did the opportunity present itself as part of some TWI sanctioned function? In the years during which my family interacted with MN, I cannot recall any occasions when, as a result of some TWI function, I was required or encouraged to leave my children alone with him. In reading the press release, it appears that the abuse occurred over some period of time. Nothing in my experience would have allowed opportunity over some period of time as part of some regularly occurring TWI function. Well, he was my husband at the time.... actually the abuse started when we were engaged.... I was a single mom running the southern part of NJ at the time...he was my Way Corps Fiance' - what is not to trust right? THEN when we got married - we were dropped from the WC for Mark's weaknesses (A whole other story!) and when we were in PA we took turns being a part of Ministry classes - one class - he'd go and I would babysit our children and vise versa.... it was durning the time I went to class that he took advantage of my daughter...... READY FOR THIS??? HE EVEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER WHILE I WAS IN THE HOPSITAL RECOVERING FROM THE BIRTH OF OUR CHILD! My daughter, at a young age, thought I knew because we'd be eating breakfast together and Mark would say "I had great cuddle time last night..." and I, as a good mother thinking there was some great father/daughter bonding time, would respond " That is great!'" This lead her to believe that I knew and that it was OK - then she got a little oder and heard about a friend who had a dad that went to jail for the same behavior and she put an end to the whole thing by simply stating "I'm telling Mom" when he came up to her room and the abuse stopped. Sadly this was not until 4-5 years later. So, there are some answeres for you to think on...... I have nothing to hide. What ever I mention is covered in public documents from court. That is why I am now able to comment on some. There is still an open case in PA - so, other things I cannot tell yet. What I would like to conclude is that throughout our marriage counseling and separation - it was always ME who had the problems accordig to our leadership. It was me not submitting enough or not doing "something" Mark had a good answer for everything. The leadership COULD have at least apologized ot harassing my children or saying - "We were wrong for believing Mark" but they continue to COVER and HIDE and accuse me of being OFF the WORD! I have never been more ON in my life! And even Mark's family (mainly his sister) has not once been on my daughter's side. (I know that they read this so, this is mainly to them) The grandfather has stopped being a part of the children's lives, the sister begged us not to press charges - accused me of being UNLOVING and sent me articles and pages of quotes on how I need to be forgiving.... I was right for doing what I did and if I had my way Mark would be in for LIFE... thank GOD for the Judge who saw through him and gave him what he could - life time parole and on Megan's Law for life ... When I get the court documents and article in the mail I'd be happy to show you all. It is simply SICK what Mark put my daughter through. He made her go through YEARS of abuse and then she had to relive it and prove she was telling the truth. Our family does not live the victum mentality - we have moved on and we are having a BLAST with life. Life as it should be - enjoying God's blessing and seeing miracles every day! OK - this was probably way too long but - I've kept this quiet for over a year now - so, Way Ministry people - wake up - Just because this happened to my daughter does not mean this behavior is not covered up all over the place - I could write a 1000+ page book on all of my emails from people and what has happened to them! (Well, actually you can just spend time reading ALL of the posts from this site!) Love you all! :D-->

To all of you who have expressed your kind words - thank you - it means more than you know.

excathedra , I meant there is an open case against Mark filed by us as well....... It happened in 2 different states....

Hello, I have read ALL of the posts about the case against Mark N. I am the one who filed. Though I cannot say too much about all of the things that happened (Due to the fact that a Pennsylvania case is still open against this person...) I can say - thanks to all who prayed for our family. We are doing just fine and at least have some closure in this situation. My daughter is the bravest person I know and I will always admire her strength and courage to stand up to Ministry people who supported Mark. (YES, YES, YES - he is HIGHLY supported by the Branch and state leadership - they packed his house up when he was arrested and visited him in jail and encouraged him on the phone etc...) He is in the ministry to this day. I have raised Mark and Susie's child since he was one year old (When we got engaged and we married when he was 2) Susie's siblings and parents are thrilled that I kept him and will be continuing to raise him - I consider him one of my own. He is a wondersul, cheerful boy who takes after his kind hearted mother. Yes - I am OUT of the Way ministry... I was out long before I found out about Mark's abuse... I did try to caution any parents that had their children at Mark's house - especially after we divorced and he was ALONE with kids - but the state leadership QUICKLY dismissed me and anything I had to say. (After all - I was the one out of hte ministry so I must be incorrect right?) Hopefully some of them are reading the internet News so they can help their children. again, thanks to all who knew and who were praying for our family.