Tuesday, May 16, 2006

RI Temple Sued for abuse by Cantor Stanley Rosenfeld

From: Timothy Conlon
Date: May 16, 2006 12:27 PM
Subject: RI Temple Sued for abuse by Cantor



Today, we filed a 22 page complaint in Providence Superior Court against Temple Am David and convicted child molester and Jewish clergyman Cantor Stanley Rosenfeld. The lawsuit seeks damages for a boy Rosenfeld confessed to molesting during the course of his religious education at Temple.

Rosenfeld was hired to train the boy for bar mitzvah, but used closed-door sessions at the Temple as an opportunity to abuse him. Rosenfeld pleaded no contest to 2 counts of child molestation, and later was incarcerated for violating his probation with having contact with two other young boys. He acknowledged other incidents of molestation in his past and that he has "to constantly fight his desire for boys."

At the heart of the claims against the Temple is the allegation that other Jewish synagogues had problems with Rosenfeld, but he was allowed to move from one to another and offend again.

Rhode Island's Parole Board website lists Rosenfeld as one of only 22 "high risk offenders" in the state –

http://www.paroleboard.ri.gov/L3_offenders/listings.htm.

"We are familiar with the problem religious institutions have had controlling child molesters who want to use a position of trust to abuse children. The Jewish community needs to understand that this problem is more widespread than anyone might like to think." said attorney Tim Conlon, representing the family."

In 2002 this office handled nearly 40 cases against the Diocese of Providence. A complete copy of the complaint and supporting documents can be obtained by calling 272-6757.


Timothy J. Conlon
TJC•ESQ
The Turks Head Building
76 Westminster Street, Suite 1310
Providence, RI 02903
401.272.6700 (voice)
401.272.6701 (facsimile)
http://www.tjcesq.com

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

REad the article in todays Providnece Journal--- perp admitted to prior acts and teaching at jewish and public schools in ny. BTW perp claims he is orthodox

May 17, 2006 4:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It Hurts"
By Jan Groenveld

IT HURTS to discover you were deceived - that what you thought was the "one true religion," the "path to total fredom," or "truth" was in reality a cult.

IT HURTS when you learn that people you trusted implicitly - whom you were taught not to question - were "pulling the wool over your eyes" albeit unwittingly.

IT HURTS when you learn that those you were taught were your "enemies" were telling the truth after all -- but you had been told they were liars, deceivers, repressive, satanic etc and not to listen to them.

IT HURTS when you know your faith in God hasn't changed - only your trust in an organization - yet you are accused of apostasy, being a trouble maker. It hurts even more when it is your family and friends making these accusations.

IT HURTS to realize their love and acceptance was conditional on you remaining a member of good standing. This cuts so deeply you try and suppress it. All you want to do is forget - but how can you forget your family and friends?

IT HURTS to see the looks of hatred coming from the faces of those you love - to hear the deafening silence when you try and talk to them. It cuts deeply when you try and give your child a hug and they stand like a statue, pretending you aren't there. It stabs like a knife when you know your spouse looks upon you as demonised and teaches your children to hate you.

IT HURTS to know you must start all over again. You feel you have wasted so much time. You feel betrayed, disillusioned, suspicious of everyone including family, friends and other former members.

IT HURTS when you find yourself feeling guilty or ashamed of what you were - even about leaving them. You feel depressed, confused, lonely. You find it difficult to make decisions. You don't know what to do with yourself because you have so much time on your hands now - yet you still feel guilty for spending time on recreation.

IT HURTS when you feel as though you have lost touch with reality. You feel as though you are "floating" and wonder if you really are better off and long for the security you had in the organization and yet you know you cannot go back.

IT HURTS when you feel you are all alone - that no one seems to understand what you are feeling. It hurts when you realize your self confidence and self worth are almost non-existent.

IT HURTS when you have to front up to friends and family to hear their "I told you so" whether that statement is verbal or not. It makes you feel even more stupid than you already do - your confidence and self worth plummet even further.

IT HURTS when you realize you gave up everything for the cult - your education, career, finances, time and energy - and now have to seek employment or restart your education. How do you explain all those missing years?

IT HURTS because you know that even though you were deceived, you are responsible for being taken in. All that wasted time........ at least that is what it seems to you - wasted time.

THE PAIN OF GRIEF

Leaving a cult is like experiencing the death of a close relative or a broken relationship. The feeling is often described as like having been betrayed by someone with whom you were in love. You feel you were simply used.

There is a grieving process to pass through. Whereas most people understand that a person must grieve after a death etc, they find it difficult to understand the same applies in this situation. There is no instant cure for the grief, confusion and pain. Like all grieving periods, time is the healer. Some feel guilty, or wrong about this grief. They shouldn't -- It IS normal. It is NOT wrong to feel confused, uncertain, disillusioned, guilty, angry, untrusting - these are all part of the process. In time the negative feelings will be replaced with clear thinking, joy, peace, and trust.

YES - IT HURTS BUT THE HURTS WILL HEAL WITH TIME, PATIENCE & UNDERSTANDING

There is life after the cult

May 22, 2006 9:27 AM  

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