Roar with Shari. . . All Things Justice for Women & Survivors

I’m talking to Attorney Greg Gianforcaro who is a fierce fighter against the Catholic Church and the priests that sexually abused Greg's childhood friends.  Greg goes against the Catholic Church who Karney calls, "perpetrators by proxy".

Attorney and former altar boy as a child, Gianforcaro decided to represent many of his friends after they came forward as adults with allegations of sexual abuse by a priest at the St. James Parish in Mendham. 

It turned out to be not just a few cases, but dozens of his friends alleging abuse by Father James Hanley during his 10 years as a priest from 1973 to 1982. Hanley was never charged because the criminal statute of limitations had expired in all of the cases.

 “Priests do not become pedophiles, pedophiles become priests. In their role as priests for centuries, they had unfettered access to children,” says Gianforcaro.  

Listen to Greg and Shari Karney talk legal shop and dig into the details on the law for adult survivors of child sexual abuse and pedophilia within a religious context and the Catholic Church.  Shari Karney is a victims’ rights attorney who represents victims of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment. Currently, Karney and the nonprofit, Roar As One™ are working on educating Congress on the need to eliminate all statutes of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse. There should be no time limits for justice for survivors of child sexual abuse.  Children so preyed on, exploited, and cruelly harmed should have human and civil rights.  Those who use power under a religious cloak should not be able to use their power to sexually abuse young helpless children. Karney believes that every victim deserves to have their voice heard. Through empowering victims of child sexual abuse, we stop the vicious generational cycle.

In this bonus episode, we discuss that while Mia Farrow tries to shield 7-year-old Dylan from the trauma of repeated questioning about sexual abuse, Allen’s legal and PR team drives a narrative that Mia is a scorned woman and unfit mother who brainwashed her children. What ensues is a harrowing custody battle where Allen tries to get sole custody over Dylan, Moses, and Ronan Farrow. 

You get to experience the legal system, its bias towards women and children. People say the system is "broken." We say the system was designed this way to have power and control over women and children. Every mother's nightmare. A custody fight, where she goes to war to save her children, and the alleged perpetrator goes to the nuclear option to win. Win at all costs, no matter the damage.

In HBO's Allen v. Farrow, this episode sheds new light on the fact that Connecticut state prosecutor Frank Maco, despite believing there to be grounds to continue, elected not to criminally prosecute Woody Allen for the alleged sexual abuse of Dylan. 

While Allen continues to receive accolades in Hollywood and is supported by famous actresses who worked with him, the momentum of the #MeToo movement coupled with Ronan Farrow’s public support emboldens Dylan to go public with her story for the first time. This podcast is about breaking silence when you are ready, and how empowering it is to Roar as One. 

In this episode, I’m talking with former Jehovah's Witness member, Debra McDaniel (a member of the LGBTQ+ community) who alleges that she was raped and abused by her Jehovah's Witness Presiding Overseer while the Watch Tower Organization turned a blind eye.  Debra reveals her shocking truth about the child sexual abuse she endured from the age of 7-18 years from her  congregation's highest leader,  while the Watch Tower Organization, did nothing to protect or help her and other victims of vicious, widespread, rampant, child sexual and physical abuse.   McDaniel says, she and other victims begged for justice but were shunned instead. 

Scripture shielded the accused, while the victims beg for justice.  Survivors are shunned by family and ––Debra McDaniel

Debra says that Jehovah’s Witnesses ACTIVELY covers up child sexual abuse knowing they are protected by statues of limitations and religious privileges. They also successfully misuse religious Constitutional protections and penitent-priest evidence protections to deny victims of church sexual abuse, justice. "It emboldens them and their attorneys to argue against justice for victims, young and old,” says McDaniel.

Debra’s story of abuse at the hands of Jehovah’s Witnesses was portrayed in the documentary, by Trey Bundy, of Reveal News Organization, entitled the “Witnesses “airing on Oxygen network. In her book, Out with Consequences  Debra highlights the turmoil of dealing with abuse while also being a part of the LGBTGQ+ community.

Listeners Please Note: 

Shari Karney, the host of Roar with Shari. . . All Things Justice for Women and Survivors is a survivor and practicing attorney in California, representing victims of child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.   Even though Shari Karney is a licensed attorney in the State of California and practicing in the areas of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, this podcast is intended for informational purposes only, there is no expectation of confidentiality and is not intended nor should it be construed as legal advice.  For legal advice you should seek competent legal counsel. If you’re interested in speaking to Karney’s law practice they can be reached at www.karneyadvocates.com.

Please also note that Karney Law is owned by Shari Karney. Karney is the founder of Roar as One. Roar as One is a nonprofit, Karney Law is a law firm and they are otherwise unaffiliated.

In this episode, Shari Karney delves into HBO's Docuseries Allen v. Farrow Season 1.  

THE SECRET.
The secrets that surround incest and child sexual abuse, especially when it occurs in the family.

Shari Karney is the victim of father-daughter incest. She understands what the child victim feels and the predatory obsession of the perpetrator. She understands Dylan Farrow's confusion, self-blame, sadness, depression, denial, guilt, and trauma.  And how trauma compounds trauma.  She also understands the mindset of predators, perpetrators, and incest aggressors. How they groom their victim, the community, the public. How the perpetrators can mask as 'caring fathers', excuse their obsessive inappropriate behavior toward the child as 'loving' their child victim too much. How the victim feels confusion, guilt, and pain, both physical and mental. Dylan Farrow, Woody Allen's adopted daughter with Mia Farrow, alleges that Woody Allen sexually abused her when she was 6 years old. She also details Allen's uncomfortable, unrelenting obsession with her.

This episode delves into alleged incest and the shame and secrets surrounding it. We see firsthand, the grooming process that predators use to prepare the family, community, professionals, and even, as a celebrity, the media, for the sexual assault to come. Dylan “He was always ‘hunting’ me.” Neighbors, members of the family, multiple family friends reported Allen was intensely obsessed with Dylan. One time, Dylan remembers in this episode that Allen told her to “suck his thumb.” In time, it became clear that Allen put incredible focus on her. “He didn’t want to see the other kids. He wanted to see only me,” Dylan said. We learn that all victims are groomed. Grooming is subtle, hiding in the shadows, often invisible to victims. 

Allen v. Farrow:

THE ENABLERS

Where there is incest, there are enablers. Mothers, fathers, siblings, neighbors, therapists, doctors, churches, schools. As the victim is groomed, so is the community. In this episode of Allen v. Farrow (HBO) we see how the community and family is groomed. How we are all groomed by narcissistic, predators, especially, the rich and famous.

This episode focuses on Allen’s sexual relationship with another of Mia’s adopted daughters, Soon-Yi. Within seven months of the shocking discovery of Dylan’s allegation of incest by Woody Allen, he further tears the family apart by a startling revelation about his sexual relationship with Soon-Yi.

Allen, a public relations genius, is able to distract the media, the police, prosecutors, and the public, away from Dylan’s allegations of incest and onto another allegedly consensual relationship with Mia Farrow's other adopted daughter, Soon-Yi. The public, courts, legal system, media, become enablers to Allen’s Hannibal Lector plot to twist the truth. 

In this episode, I’m talking to Jenny Coleman who works with perpetrators, sexual abusers and pedophiles in trying to STOP them from abusing again. Stop It Now! is a perpetration prevention program to help and support people who have abused, or are at risk of abusing children...so that they stop and get treatment. 

Jenny says, “ We believe in compassionate, respectful support to all...even if that person has harmed someone.”

Some have called,  STOP IT!STOPIT NOW!  ‘OFFENDER FRIENDLY’.  Jenny says, “absolutely not true, but she says, “ I understand how victims of sexual abuse may feel this way.”

STOPITNOW OFFERS A  Helpline service created to provide accessible, confidential information, guidance and support to anyone who is worried that a THEY ARE SEXUALLY HARMING A CHILD, or knows someone who is,  concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual feelings or behaviors toward children, has survived sexual abuse, or is simply seeking information to keep children safe from harm 

Stop it now is a perpetrator, child sexual abuser program.  

Jenny Coleman is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), serving on their prevention committee and is a member of the National Association to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse.

Listeners, Please Note:  Shari Karney, the host of Roar with Shari. . . All Things Justice for Women and Survivors is a survivor and a practicing attorney in California representing victims of child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
 
 Even though Shari Karney is a licensed practicing attorney in the State of California practicing in the areas of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, this podcast is intended for informational purposes only, there is no expectation of confidentiality and is not intended nor should it be construed as legal advice.  For legal advice, you should seek competent legal counsel. If you’re interested in speaking to Karney’s law practice they can be reached at https://karneyadvocates.com

In this episode, I’m talking to attorney David Angeloff, Esq., whom I call, the Workplace Justice Warrior, an experienced attorney for anyone who is being sexually harassed or sexually assaulted in the workplace. He is an outstanding trial lawyer.  A Man with a good heart, a brilliant mind, and the soul of a shaman.  Spiritual, deeply empathetic, yet warrior-like for survivors. I’ve gotten to know David; firsthand and you’re going to want to hear what he has to say. 

David takes on cases and fights for employees and workers in employment law, representing employees and workers who are sexually harassed or assaulted at work by co-workers, bosses, executives, and others.

David defines what sexual harassment and assault at work and in the employment context look and feel like. How to know if you’re being sexually harassed or sexually assaulted at work and have legal rights.

 And if you feel you are being sexually harassed at work, what do you do about it? 

David is a trial lawyer and part of the Stalwart Law Group in Los Angeles, CA.

David believes that all discrimination in the workplace needs to be looked at. 

 David Angeloff, lays out for us,  in a clear, no-nonsense way, how to know if you are being sexually harassed/sexually assaulted at work and what to do.  Buckle your seatbelts. You're going to want to hear this.

In this episode, I’m talking to Palm Beach's  State Attorney  Dave Aronberg who says "Matt's in a whole lot of trouble. Child sex trafficking is punishable by up to life in prison," says Palm Beach Co. state attorney Dave Aronberg of the accusations facing GOP lawmaker Matt Gaetz.

"Even if they can't make a case of child sex trafficking, if you've proven to have sex with an underage girl, that's a felony in Florida, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison."

Dave Aronberg for what many are now calling in Florida, “The Pedophile Coast” because of Jeffrey Epstein and accused  Congressman Matt Gaetz, and Donald Trump, among many others. As the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida he has first-hand information about Congressman Matt Gaetz's alleged sex trafficking of underage girls and the sexual abuse criminal case. 

"Matt's in a whole lot of trouble. Child sex trafficking is punishable by up to life in prison," says Palm Beach Co. state attorney Dave Aronberg of the accusations facing GOP lawmaker Matt Gaetz.

"Even if they can't make a case of child sex trafficking, if you're proven to have sex with an underage girl, that's a felony in Florida, punishable by up to 15 years in state prison."

Dave says,  “The most serious crime in Florida is child sex trafficking, punishable by up to life in prison." There’s a 10-year mandatory minimum. The more information that comes out, the fewer defenses Matt seems to have left. 

“For Gaetz, the problem is, it’s not just child sex trafficking,” Aronberg said. “If they can’t prove that and can only prove he had sex with an underage girl, well, that would be a violation of the state law against having sex with a minor. And that is a 15-year maximum sentence. And you have to register as a sex offender. Even if it’s solicitation of a sex act, that’s also a felony, plus registration as a sex offender. There are no good outcomes here, I think, for Matt Gaetz in the future.”

Dave Aronberg is a frequent guest on MSNBC and CNN. He's also the State's top Palm Beach Prosecutor where Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of sex trafficking underage girls, soliciting prostitution before Dave Aronberg took office. But Dave is acutely aware of the devastation that Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators committed against underage girls. 

Before that, Dave served as a state Senator for Florida for 8 years. Dave is a tremendous leader in so many ways and is recognized as a formidable enemy to child sexual abusers, sex traffickers, rapists, and all predators, pedophiles, and perpetrators of sex crimes against women and children.  Dave understands sexual trauma, resilience, and the healing process victims and survivors must endure, in order to overcome sexual victimizations. He shows compassion for rape victims, rape survivors, child sexual abuse traumatized victims and survivors, and believes in women supporting women, women empowering women. The law can bring justice to survivors, says Dave Aronberg.  

Teresa Lancaster, Esq. Teresa Lancaster is an Attorney and Advocate for victims of childhood sexual abuse who was featured in The Keepers, a seven-part award winning documentary on Netflix. You may know Teresa from the Doe/Roe against Father A. Joseph Maskell case where she sought to expose the sexual abuse which occurred at Archbishop Keough High School while she was a student there. Teresa went on to join SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) where she helped and continues to help other victims of child sexual abuse. She spearheaded efforts to pass the Hidden Predator Act in Maryland. This act removes the statue of limitations on child sexual abuse cases and allowed for a two year window for those whose cases were previously overruled to seek justice. Teresa currently works with Joanne Suder at the Suder Law Firm P.A. in Baltimore, Maryland representing survivors of child sexual abuse.