Free Republic

It was one of those phone calls no parent wants to receive. In fact, it was the beginning of a nightmare for Jean Cohoon. Cohoon's daughter, MeLisa Cleary, 30, a mother of three, was missing. It's a story which, tragically, is repeated all too often in America today. A woman's car is found, her purse and cell phone are left behind, but she is nowhere to be found. During the first three days after MeLisa's disappearance, a frantic search for the young mother took place. Family, friends, neighbors, and good people who simply wanted to help began the search for...

Statistics may vary, but many experts agree child abuse has reached epic proportions in America and, for that matter, worldwide. On the Internet, there are literally thousands of web sites devoted to child pornography. Drug addiction and substance abuse has contributed to a social disease which has made the most vulnerable in our society the targets of individuals who look at children as either possessions or valuable commodities rather than the precious future which they represent. Thankfully, there are organizations like Catholic Charities which diligently work to place at risk children in loving foster care. And government, through organizations including...