In the first of two special episodes, we explore the widespread problem of child sexual exploitation and grooming, highlighting the shocking extent of this evil, and considering the systematic patterns revealed by several high‑profile cases involving wealthy and influential individuals. We examine how power, institutional failure, and silence have enabled a level of abuse and trafficking which brings shame on our societies. As always, we hone in to see where our prayers and intentions may be most needed.
WARNING: Listeners should be aware that this episode contains descriptions that may disturbing.
Intentions and prayers start at 25 minutes 58 seconds.
Suggested Intention Focus for this week
This week, as an estimated 300 million children globally experience sexual exploitation every year, especially via online abuse, we suggest holding as our main intention:
We will that every adult who may work in organisations, live in communities, or otherwise know of circumstances where children are being systematically groomed or sexually abused will be moved to challenge deference toward those who have wealth, fame or power, and to respond to the cries of the powerless who are or may be being abused.
Please join us in holding this.
Read Ellen’s blog entry for Sacred Feminist, ‘Why is there a market for sexual slavery?’ at http://sacredfeminist.com/why-is-there-a-market-for-sexual-slavery/
While not specifically relating to child grooming, the following relate to the broader topic of abuse committed by men and advocacy for women and other victims:
Advocacy to prevent violence against women and girls, advice for what men can do, White Ribbon: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/allies. One man (a White Ribbon ambassador) speaks out: https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/we-speak-up/joseph-smith
Men Behaving Badly: Leaders Who Play The Religious Card, our episode focused on men in positions of power who use religious narratives to justify their ideologies: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-s4zbu-18e6f49 .
Chapter markers:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:43 Reflecting on Child Exploitation
00:05:06 The Scale of Global Abuse
00:10:00 The Epstein Case Unveiled
00:10:40 Al-Fayed’s Systemic Abuse
00:12:32 R. Kelly and His Victims
00:13:51 Notable Scandals in History
00:17:06 Institutional Failures and Complicity
00:19:51 The Grooming Process
00:23:41 The Role of Society in Protection
00:25:37 Call to Action for Change
00:25:58 Intentions and Prayers
Sources referenced in this episode:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56110052
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58801183
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases_by_country
https://thediplomat.com/2024/09/malaysia-charges-businessmen-in-cult-linked-child-sex-abuse-scandal/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Ikhwan_child_abuse_scandal
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/12/24/enough-with-buck-passing-child-abuse-in-the-church-is-systemic
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213421001411
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg559zz3d8o
https://eurochild.org/news/europes-hidden-crisis-child-sexual-abuse-online-at-unprecedented-levels/
https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/07/Child-sexual-abuse-of-African-Asian-and-Caribbean-heritage-children-A-knowledge-review.pdf
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgp1x028r9o
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/baroness-caseys-audit-of-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse
https://www.childlight.org/newsroom/over-300-million-children-a-year-are-victims-of-online-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse
https://www.childlight.org/newsroom/child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse-is-a-multibillion-dollar-industry-our-new-report-shows-who-benefits
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9568794/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/child-trafficking-by-country
https://www.csacentre.org.uk/app/uploads/2024/02/Trends-in-Offical-Data-2022-23-FINAL.pdf
https://news.sky.com/story/ghislaine-maxwell-how-girls-were-lured-to-be-abused-by-jeffrey-epstein-12500819
https://theconversation.com/jeffrey-epstein-is-not-unique-what-his-case-reveals-about-the-realities-of-child-sex-trafficking-270127
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7dgrkp2vzo
https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/blog/elimination-of-violence-against-women/wealth-power-and-impunity-sexual-abuse-by-powerful-men/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/world/europe/harrods-mohamed-fayed-brothers-sexual-assault.html
https://theconversation.com/four-ways-mohamed-al-fayed-silenced-whistleblowers-in-his-organisation-240936
https://19thnews.org/2021/09/r-kelly-has-been-convicted-of-sex-crimes-against-black-women-why-did-it-take-nearly-30-years/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/r-kelly-sentenced-xxx-sex-trafficking-case-rcna35832
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_Gymnastics_sex_abuse_scandal
https://www.npr.org/2024/04/23/1246647531/doj-settles-larry-nassar-usa-gymnastics-sexual-assault-victims
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/08/us/larry-nassar-fbi-mishandling-claim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochdale_child_sex_abuse_ring
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9y0lvpyqvo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685559d05225e4ed0bf3ce54/National_Audit_on_Group-based_Child_Sexual_Exploitation_and_Abuse.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/baroness-caseys-audit-of-group-based-child-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse
https://research.hud.ac.uk/media/assets/document/hhs/RelationshipBetweenPovertyChildAbuseandNeglect_Report.pdf
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/05/14/jeffrey-epstein-investigation-women-487157
https://novaramedia.com/2022/01/14/why-do-rich-and-powerful-people-become-abusers-because-they-can/
https://www.thesafeguardingalliance.org.uk/safeguarding-sector-faith-based-communities/
https://www.christsoldiergirlfitness.com/prayers-against-child-abuse/
https://care.org.uk/cause/human-trafficking/seven-ways-to-pray-about-human-trafficking
https://www.worldvision.org/child-protection-news-stories/matthew-25-protecting-children-prayer
https://stmaryshaverhill.org.uk/_data/site/76/news/685/2024_12_06_Litany.pdf
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/how-british-teen-model-was-lured-jeffrey-epstein-s-web-n1056901
https://www.childlight.org/uploads/publications/into-the-light_2025-01-31-092530_brzc.pdf
https://time.com/6552063/jeffrey-epsteins-unsealed-court-documents/
https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-report
https://www.npr.org/2021/07/20/1017968999/jeffrey-epsteins-victims-speak-out-in-perversion-of-justice-by-julie-k-brown
https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227884
https://www.jornalavancosmedicina.com/index.php/am/article/download/40/46
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4907083/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8685723/
https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/newly-released-data-show-increase-trafficking-human-beings-2024-02-28_en
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html
https://www.celcis.org/application/files/5717/3168/8745/CELCIS_Child_Sexual_Abuse_and_Exploitation_2024_Overview_Analysis_Report_-_November_2024.pdf
https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/operation-stovewood-seven-men-jailed-total-106-years-sexually-abusing-two-young-girls
https://stopthetraffik.org/what-is-human-trafficking/definition-and-scale/
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/statistics-briefings/child-sexual-abuse
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.12537.pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8205446/
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/9/6/98/pdf
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperDownload.aspx?paperID=48830
https://ojs.uniska-bjm.ac.id/index.php/AN-NUR/article/download/6130/3624
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3730282/
https://ssslearning.co.uk/safeguarding-articles/child-criminal-exploitation-gangs
https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/news-and-blogs/statement-from-the-childrens-commissioner-on-action-plan-to-tackle-grooming-gangs-and-sexual-abuse/
https://thecpsu.org.uk/resource-library/best-practice/protecting-children-in-sport-from-grooming-and-sexual-abuse/
https://berks-bracknell.trixonline.co.uk/chapter/safeguarding-children-from-abuse-linked-to-faith-or-belief
https://www.swansea.ac.uk/project-dragon-s/
https://safeguarding.network/content/safeguarding-resources/harmful-practices/child-abuse-linked-to-faith-or-belief
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/larry-nassar-loses-last-appeal-in-sexual-assault-scandal
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/larry-nassar-now-abuse-timeline-b1920783.html
Join us in person for intention holding:
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.
Our websites:
www.heartfulimpact.com/ Our show website.
https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.
https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.
https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.
https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.
Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.
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Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.