How do you feel when you read about the latest beating, torture or death of a child? Most of us are sickened, sad and angry, but maybe what's less obvious is that physical and sexual abuse, and the neglect of children does more than hurt those children. It is a huge social and moral disaster in increases stress and makes life tough for everyone.

Child abuse is generally considered in four categories. Neglect, sexual molestation, emotional abuse, and non-accidental physical abuse; the category that I chose was non-accidental physical abuse. Non-accidental physical abuse occurs when such things as beatings, burns, bites, or scalding water cause an injury.

The statistics are appalling. One in four girls and one in eight boys will be sexually abused before they turn eighteen. In the year 2000 879,000 children in Canada were found to be victims of abuse. 1,200 children died of abuse and neglect in...