Monday, July 20, 2009

NOW's CALL TO CRIMINALIZE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF ADULTS BY CLERGY

Rev. Dr. Traci West, Vicki Polin, Maria Taylor
As many of you are aware, back in June, Vicki Polin, founder and CEO of The Awareness Center spoke on a panel at the National Organization for Women (NOW) national conference on the topic of clergy sexual abuse against adults.  The organizer of our workshop just notified me that the resolution for NOW to support a call for action to criminalize sexual exploitation of adults by clergy passed out of committee and was adopted on Sunday as one of the 2009 NOW resolutions!  

We are all asking that everyone to contact their state and local NOW chapters to work with them to achieve some of the goals outlined in the resolution.  It is up to each and every one of us to make this resolution mean something.  One of the primary goals is to continue our educational efforts, to continue to speak out and inform the wider public about the extent and impacts of this hidden form of sexual violence.  Each of us can give presentations and workshops at NOW events at the state and local level, as well as continue to participate at the national level.

It is also recommend that everyone contact your local rape crisis center in your community or the coalition against sexual assault within your state and neighboring states to schedule workshops/presentations on this topic.  We have a long road ahead, and every step counts.  The list of all state coalitions is linked at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's website:



CALL TO CRIMINALIZE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN BY CLERGY
WHEREAS, the National Organization for Women (NOW) has fought hard to shatter societal silence regarding all forms of sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, public misunderstanding and lack of knowledge regarding adult victims of sexual exploitation by clergy have contributed to silencing the voices of these victims; and
WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of victims of sexual exploitation by clergy are adults, predominately female congregants victimized by male clergy; and
WHEREAS, adult victims of clergy sexual exploitation are routinely blamed for this abuse and revictimized by the public, severely ostracized by their own congregations, and disbelieved by religious authority figures from whom they seek solace and protection, resulting in devastating social isolation and confusion; and
WHEREAS, in addition to coping with the physical and emotional impacts of sexual violation, victims of sexual exploitation by clergy often also suffer loss of faith, loss of religious tradition, loss of spouse, loss of employment within religious organizations or with faith-affiliated educational institutions, self-blame by the victim, and loss of support from family, congregation, and community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NOW chapters be encouraged to participate in educational and advocacy campaigns to increase public awareness that the majority of victims of clergy sexual exploitation are adult women and that sexual violation by a spiritual leader has profound life-altering impacts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NOW entities be encouraged to support state legislative campaigns for statutory reform, in particular to add clergy to the enumerated categories of professionals covered in fiduciary-duty laws in states having such laws, and for criminalization of sexual relations between similarly enumerated categories of professionals in states not having fiduciary-duty laws; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that NOW disseminate information on the extent and impacts of clergy sexual exploitation of adult women, including legal avenues of redress and model legislation, on the NOW website and via other media outlets that NOW regularly utilizes for its advocacy campaigns.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

CALL TO ACTION: Alleged Sex Offender Rabbi Jack Sparks is now working in a new synagogue

The Awareness Center was just informed that Rabbi Jack Sparks is now "the rabbi" of Temple Hativkah - Homestead Jewish Center in Homestead, Florida. The Awareness Center is asking everyone to call and write to the Board of Directors of the synagogue and ask them what safety plan they have in place to protect their children from this alleged sexual predator. Be sure to let them know that if another child is molested after being warned that they can be held responsible in a court of law.

Rabbi Jack Sparks was arrested on May 12, 2008 on charges of child endangerment of a fourteen-year-old boy. Sparks took the boy on a shopping trip to the Fairfield News and Tobacco store on New London Road in Newark and encouraged the boy to pick out a magazine in the "back room" where pornographic magazines are kept. The boy declined, picking out a gaming magazine instead.

Dr. Rabbi Jack L. Sparks, holds a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Boston University, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees in curriculum and instruction, Jewish studies, counseling psychology and elementary education. He has been an educator in Jewish Private Schools for 25 years in Boston, MA; New York City, NY; Miami, FL; Austin, TX and Talleyville, Delaware.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for an individual who molest children to work in the education field and also to move around from state to state. There is a fear that Rabbi Sparks could have left a trail of victims along the way.

If you or anyone you know was abused by Rabbi Jack L. Sparks please contact Newark Police Department or The Awareness Center.


CONTACT
Temple Hatikvah/Homestead Jewish Center
183 NE 8th Street Homestead FL 33030 (also known as Campbell Drive or SW 312th St)

Mailing address:
PO Box 924250 Homestead FL 33092-4250
Phone: 305-248-5724 ~ Fax: 305-258-4645

Officers
President: Mitch Rabin lcnmitch@yahoo.com

1st Vice President: Carol Silver silv5622@bellsouth.net

2nd Vice President: Sandy Liebowitz sandellini@aol.com

Treasurer: Judy Creque pps2585670@bellsouth.net

Recording Secretary: OPEN

Corresponding Secretary: Carole-Ann Santelli missca44@bellsouth.net

Director of Education / Cantorial Soloist: Eilat Schmalbach eeschmalbach@bellsouth.net

Immediate Past President: Justin Enfinger jenfin@earthlink.net


Board of Directors

Sue Nulman shnkatz@bellsouth.net

David Feinberg k4idn@aol.com

Susan Burakoff-Hopkins shopkins33031@yahoo.com



Trustees

Darryl Silver

Larry Creque lazman55@bellsouth.net

Friday, July 17, 2009

Cantor Stanley Rosenfeld (AKA: Stanley Rosenthal) - Parol Violation Hearing


The Awareness Center received an e-mail this morning regarding Cantor Stanley Rosenfeld (AKA: Stanley Rosenthal). I was informed that Rosenfeld has a parole violation hearing set for this coming Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at around 9:30am. This past Wednesday he was deemed mentally competent to be brought in for a hearing, and was transferred to the ACI without bail.

We need everyone's help to get the news media to do a story on this case. Rosenfeld is a seventy-five-year-old convicted sex offender pending new child abuse charges (Child Abuse in the 2nd Degree).

As I'm sure you are aware, the best way to prevent people like Mr. Rosenfeld from offending again is to keep cases like his in the public eye. Please help keep Stanley Rosenfeld from re-offending another time. How many times chances should this convicted sex offender be given?

Stanely Rosenfeld, is the former cantor and spiritual leader at Temple Am David received a 10-year suspended sentence after pleading no contest to molesting a 12-year-old boy he was tutoring.

* Parole Board
Varley Building, 40 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: 401-462-0900
Fax: 401-462-0915
Email: parolebd@doc.ri.gov

---------------------------
State of Rhode Island Department of Corrections
July 17, 2009
http://www.doc.ri.gov/inmate_search/search_details.php?inmateid=526852


INMATE DETAILS FOR CURRENT INCARCERATION
Inmate ID Last Name First Name MI Name Type Race Sex Age Last Residence Security
526852 ROSENFELD STANLEY S Real WHITE Male 75 PROVIDENCE INTAKE SERVICE CNTR

INMATE SENTENCES
Case No. Count Date Imposed Retro Date Sen. Status Term YR-MO-DAY Desc. Good Time Release Date
K2010122A 2 9/13/2002 7/15/2002 EXPIRATION SENTENCE 0-18-0 SECOND DEGREE CHILD MOLESTATION 12/23/2003

INMATE CHARGES
Commit Date Case Number Bail Type Bail Amount Disposition Description Disposition Date
7/15/2009 K2010122A HELD W/O BAIL $0 CHARGE PENDING CHILD ABUSE 2ND DEGREE 7/15/2009
7/15/2002 K2010122A HELD W/O BAIL $0 SENTENCED SECOND DEGREE CHILD MOLESTATION 9/13/2002
11/17/2001 K2010122A HELD W/O BAIL $0 DISCHARGED AT COURT SECOND DEGREE CHILD MOLESTATION 11/19/2001
10/21/2008 K2010122A HELD W/O BAIL $0 RELEASED TO IMH CHILD ABUSE 2ND DEGREE 1/29/2009