Of all the misery-making aspects of the Church scandal, the impact upon the sacrament of Confession is particularly upsetting. The entire world seems caught up in a situation of emotional blackmail and cronyism regarding sexual misconduct.

As someone who has been sexually assaulted more than once, this past week has been traumatic. I've been genuinely torn. Why do I hesitate to throw the book at Kavanaugh, a rich prep school kid oblivious to his privilege? Is it my own pro-life partisanship? While thinking about it, and other traumatic memories, one came back to me, something that shaped my life and my fear and loathing of mob mentality, sort of the way @roddreher's high school experience did to him.

International Women's Day coincided with @EricaKomisarCSW's book crossing my path again. The glib platitudes circulating while anyone who challenges the consensus is shouted down got me thinking (oh dear). For a decade I worked as a nanny, at daycare, and in foster care. I've avoided speaking about what I observed b/c I love the children I've cared for & preferred to focus on that. Who wants to argue w/ people emotionally motivated to interpret facts in the most comfortable way?