Letter from Doug Morse

WINGS Note: A reader has sent us this letter from Doug Morse, with their comments inserted [marked Comment: and styled italic].
Morse was in the work from 1982 to 2023 in Canada (BC, Alberta and The Maritimes). There are multiple allegations against him.

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CONFIDENTIALITY – DO NOT FORWARD THIS COMMUNICATION ON – OTHERS ARE RECEIVING THIS INDIVIDUALLY.

Comment: For multiple generations now, this CONFIDENTIALITY has been used as a disguise to cover up a multitude of behaviors that are immoral and illegal to try and salvage a person’s reputation along with the church reputation.  Doug, that boat has long since sailed and based on the allegations against you, as well as your admittance to allegations, everyone connected to this church should know exactly where you stand.

Accountability

Definition: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for ones actions.

Comment: When reading this definition of accountability, it is a true definition, however the words following don’t backup the definition of Accountability.
MISCONDUCT Definition – unacceptable or bad behavior by someone in a position of authority or responsibility.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Definition – Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, as a form of child abuse in which an adult uses a child for sexual stimulation.

I feel terrible … as I should, for the distress I have caused others. I have no one to blame except myself.

Comment: It is interesting that you start this letter with how you feel along with looking for a place to put your blame, yet realizing you come up short.  How do you feel about the child whom you violated?  This is not about blame, this is about accountability, remember?

This letter is meant to clarify what has recently transpired. Last week I was approached to answer for an incident of misconduct 36 years ago.

Comment: Doug, I think it is important to call a spade a spade.  You will see that I added a few other definitions to the header of your letter.   A misconduct is when you stole some kids mascara, or filled your car with fuel from a company fleet card.  What you were approached to answer about wasn’t an incident of misconduct!!  You were called to answer about an incident of Child Sexual Abuse 36 years ago.

I took ownership on the accusation as I did then. It was a brief event where I was inappropriate while in a place of authority. The individual was under the age of legal consent being 17 at the time.

Comment: It is a good thing to hear that you have taken ownership, although your word choice here is interesting in the fact that you still call it an “accusation”.  If you had of taken ownership of this event, 36 years ago, as you state in this paragraph that you did, you would have reported this to the minor’s parents, the ministry and the law.  You would have removed yourself from a place of authority, and done your time in the correctional and legal arena.  You have fooled yourself Doug, into thinking that you have taken ownership and accountability for these actions.  Another thing that is EXTREMELY telling is how you have minimized this CSA as a “Brief Event” with an “individual under the age of legal consent being 17 at the time”.  For that CHILD who you sexually abused, this wasn’t a “Brief Event”.  This was a LIFE CHANGING event that they have carried with them since that fateful day you abused them!   You were the adult, they were the child and it doesn’t matter if they were 7 years old or 17 years old.

When it happened the two of us addressed the situation immediately whereby I took full responsibility and expressed remorse. We agreed that it was satisfactorily resolved. And for the next 36 years we have remained friends and in contact without ever speaking of my failure that day. I do not know why it has been brought forward recently after all this time but except it as the will of God.

Comment: Doug, I think you pride yourself as a bright man. To see you think that anything in this paragraph has any validity to it is quite laughable.  When someone, in a place of power, sexually abuses a child, there is no equality of power where “the two of us” could equally address a situation of CSA.  I also question if your expression of remorse was actually a fear of this child saying something and you getting caught.  As a survivor of CSA, I can speak with authority that this “friendship” you have had over the last 36 years with this child you abused is NOT a friendship, it is an Abuser/Victim relationship.  The last sentence in this paragraph exposes your true stance on CSA.  For you to say that you do not know WHY it has been brought forward is very telling about your deep seeded stance on CSA.  After all that has been hidden and “swept under the rug” for the last several generations, which you have been masquerading as an advocate for the last few years, one would think that it would be EXTEMELY clear to you why this CSA is being brought to light.  I do agree that this is of God.  God brings to light, all that is hidden.  Can you imagine, how this person who you sexually abused 36 years ago feels as they watch you present to this group of hurt and wounded church members, who have trusted you, a persona of an innocent man? 

I have voluntarily stepped away from any church community functions and must now live my remaining days in such a way as to prove the past 3+ decades represent the person God wants me to be.

Comment: I have so many thoughts here.  Doug, you have deceived many people by your lack of transparency.  People who have been already hurt and injured.  You have taken from people their kindness, their love, their trust.

I have also been instructed to ‘reinvent’ my life from this point on which requires safe and firm parameters in my personal relationships. I will continue to practice what I have implemented the past 35 years but with an even greater diligence.

Comment: You have also been given some other instructions.  You have been asked to “Do the right thing and turn yourself in!”  Report to the RCMP, in the community the CSA took place and let them know what you did.  Once, you have done that, you can look at your reinvention.

Once again, I am grieved at the distress and hurt and disappointment I have brought to so many of you.
My earnest prayer is for the healing ministry of Christ Jesus to bring peace to the church community, those ministering, victims and even for myself.

Comment: Doug, at no point in this communication have you stated your grief and distress and hurt that you have brought to the child you sexually abused.  At no point have you expressed your grief, distress and hurt and disappointment at your breech of authority.  It seems like you are grieved, at the distress and hurt and disappointment you have brought to so many people because of how it is going to affect YOUR future.

I have sincerely sought to be a part of a solution to the sorrow of recent years in our church community.
With this matter at hand God has conveyed to me that I am not the man to do this, no matter how good my intentions have been.

Comment: Doug, you have deceived yourself to believe that you have sought to be part of a solution to the sorrow in recent years in our church community.  If you had been honest with yourself, you would have been transparent in your past behavior, not kept it in a box hoping that no one would find out.  You would not have roamed this province masquerading as an innocent man.

Please except this poor effort to express what I am feeling in my heart.

Comment: I do accept this poor effort as an expression of how you feel in your heart.  This letter expresses very clearly that you are very sorry that you have been outed.  It has also expressed your lack of remorse towards the child you sexually abused and the vast number of people who you enticed and beguiled to support you emotionally and naturally over the last few years, as well as your many decades in the ministry.

Doug Morse

* I must also acknowledge the great measure of kindness and trust many of you have shown me these past decades, unworthy of such as I am. And even the Christian kindness extended my way this past week, so greatly appreciated and needed.

* Psalm 51 was my experience years ago. I believe I have reflected God’s grace since then, demonstrating to His Glory, what He can accomplish in broken, repentant lives.

* I have been in touch directly with some of you and will reach out more in the days ahead. Currently I am trying to find a place to live, and just keep my head above water. Your patience is valued.