Turning Point: When To Believe A Child's Word
Nightline - November 14, 1996
The following film clips (Part 1 and 2) are from a Nightline episode which aired on November 14, 1996.
This particular newscast was about the backlash against survivors of child sexual abuse coming forward and speaking out.
A group of people who claimed their children falsely accused them of incest banned together creating the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF).
What this group basically did was take research out of context to prove
that therapist were implanting false memories into their clients that
their parents molested them. The reason for the backlash, was the fact
that adult survivors of child sexual abuse started to file civil suits
against their offenders -- who often were their parents.
Due to
the number of frivolous law suits filed, many therapists quit working
with anyone who disclosed child sexual abuse histories. This all
changed in 2002, when the cases of clergy sexual abuse broke in Boston and also cases within various religious communities, camps, and the boy scouts.
Below
is the historic exposé, in which Nightline, with Ted Koppel, exposed
the False Memory people for what they really were and an article that
appeared in the New York Times regarding this show.
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When To Believe A Child's Word - Part 1
ABC-Nightline - November 14, 1996
When To Believe A Child's Word - Part 2
ABC-Nightline - November 14, 1996
