Trial Date (+ Update)

[Donna]

Dear Friends,

[i]A year ago I and the 5 youngest were in exile at a safe house, where we stayed
from St. Francis of Paola to the feast of St. Anne (almost 4 months). I was
granted temp. sole physical custody of our 6 minor children, including the eldest girl
who refused to flee...thank God for documentation and prayers. [/i]

[color="#2E8B57"]The children were appointed a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), who has been doing a lengthy
investigation of my abuser. I also have been investigated for over a full year [/color]- beginning
w/ the shelter which must be sure residents' situations are valid, and that was 24/7 monitoring pretty much and during great crisis.

The harrassment still continues, it is documented. [color="#2E8B57"]Trial is set June 11 - unless we can deal through mediation. We are waiting for the final reports of GAL and custody evaluator.[/color]

[color="#2E8B57"]The GAL told the court ours is the most complex case she's ever seen and that she has spoken to over 100 people.[/color] The abuse was overwhelmingly psychological, which makes it palpably evil, a sharp and keen intelligence used like in chess, a systematic, cold, progressive intent and action to drive one to despair and desparation.

It worked - twice. For our then-minor son (eldest) fled before I did.

[b]And I am healing.[/b] And those souls God entrusted US with do not have to see theses things again, and it was breaking their strong little spirits.

My abuser was a Catholic author who has since abandoned Tradition. I have not.
I [i]have[/i] turned permanently away from the misogynistic Jansenists, whether lay or clergy. My abuser also used clergy names in his affadavit.

[color="#2E8B57"]So...this situation and need for prayer esp. for the children, does belong on this Catholic Phorum.[/color]

I have told the children multiple times: I'm[i] for [/i]marriage, I'm [i]for[/i] fathers and
family. Took time to realize that the malice demonstrated meant I was being elected (so to speak) as head. I had to protect my children. I was shocked for so long, I really gave my will up to actively be that helpmate, to support him being the head.

[b]But when our son was ill, to intubation, the ICU, even to last rites...it is thoroughly documented and affadavited, the neglect and worse my abuser engaged in toward that worthy boy[/b]. The doctors and social workers at the hospital had many questions...and they kept asking me if my abuser was our son's "real" father...and that's when I first began talking about the abuse, summer of '07.

I've been fighting like mad for two years now (the year of great assault before fleeing) and I'm getting tired. [color="#2E8B57"]So I need you, again. And I thank you, again.[/color]

So far the reports or recommendations are simply in response to the behavior of my abuser (eg he lost joint legal custody late last year). I pray things will not proceed to trial and I am very afraid of our young adult son being subpeona'd. It is def. possible with my abuser.

Pardon the length of this...[color="#2E8B57"]the minor children are kindergarten to 9th grade...and I love them so much and am so proud of them. They came to love the shelter, can you believe it,[/color] they want to visit; whenever I even mention the town the shelter is in, they get excited and happy.

Edited May 17, 2009 by Donna