Letter: Support the victim, not the sex offender

Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 20, 2026

Editor,

In response to the letter by Tarly Shupe — shame on you. Supporting a member of your church does not look like 50 people showing up to gawk at victims of Christopher Blunt’s sexual crimes (the reason you described as “neither here nor there” and reported on in early May) during victim impact statements. It is holding him accountable, it is saying we do not tolerate these choices, it is saying here’s how we will facilitate you serving your mandated sentence, and then after as you hopefully pursue the additional help you clearly need. It is serving his victims all the compassion, grace, respect and generosity you can muster as a community.

The actual takeaway here is that supporting his victims should be your concern, not writing to papers trying to defend yourselves or him from their words. Shame on you, and shame on whoever told you writing your letter was a good idea and not a self-serving, ruinous sign of what Trinity Lutheran Church will allow, even encourage.

Amanda Berman

Seattle