Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2981

Published: Aug. 9, 2022, midnight

Tonight's special guest is Steve McEvoy from Covington, Louisiana, who was first abused by a summer school teacher in the summer between 5th and 6th grade. His predator was a member of the clergy, a deacon. Steve was encouraged to be trained as an altar boy by this man who sometimes molested him as other students watched. Steve was trapped and did not know how to escape. "I could tell no one," Steve explains, "as we were taught that clergy was the next closest thing to GOD." When the new school year commenced, Steve found a way to start drinking which became even easier in high school. "I became a full time alcoholic, my first sobriety came in my early 20's and was sober for 15 years." Life moved forward with raising a family and working. In 2018 his life was thrown into chaos again, when he saw his original predator on the evening news. His breakdown came as a surprise to his wife, who had no idea what was going on. "2019 was my year of hell," Steve says, "blaming myself for what had happened and wanting to commit suicide again. I came home drunk by 10 in the morning begging for help from my wife." She took him to a behavioral hospital for help. "By midday I had signed myself in. It was here that I realized none of this was my fault, however I was once again 12 when my mind thought of the past. With the support of family, friends, co-workers and others I've gained more and more strength."